carterkostler

Funny thing is... they called me and asked if I wanted to be on the show. They told me that they googled "teen entrepreneurs" and my name came up so they sent over an email. After saying yes there was months of practicing my pitch in front of my parents and my producer night after night. In terms of scripted-ness, absolutely NONE!

That's awesome! They call it the Shark Tank effect for a reason... the night that my episode aired I sat in my kitchen refreshing the sales page on my computer and every second that I hit that button another 1,000 dollars would come in. We ended the weekend by doing over a QUARTER MILLION dollars in sales.. it was insane. As to Robert's offer, I have no regrets about the decision I made. 40% was too much and my parents and I didn't think he had the business connections to propel the product further.

To put this all in perspective I was in a studio back lot in LA.. Wardrobe, hair and make up, then i got escorted (by golf cart) to the stage set where filming takes place.. I stood behind the doors.. ready to walk in and heard "QUIET ON SET" and nearly shit my pants.

That WAS the case.. originally just by going on the show you had to give up 3-5% equity but months before I came on they got rid of that policy. I got lucky!

Definitely be prepared for the stress that comes with it.. constantly pitching, rehearsing, memorizing numbers and stats about your business can be pretty monotonous after awhile. The whole experience, ESPECIALLY THE BUILD UP is nerve wracking. Most of all... soak it all in. You're out in beautiful California on a movie sound stage surrounded by all these cool props and shit.. (Walter White's Green Aztec was 10 feet away from my trailer)