Many entrepreneurs step onto the Shark Tank stage to showcase their unique products and ideas. While some manage to grab the attention of the five venture capitalists, others leave them fuming with anger. This was exactly what happened when founder Zahra Kassam pitched her company, Monti Kids. While her product caught the interest of two Sharks, her actions during the negotiation left Robert Herjavec frustrated.
From the start, Herjavec was interested in investing in her business, but when she attempted to bring Kevin O’Leary into the deal, he backed out entirely. Let’s take a look at what she did that left Herjavec absolutely furious.
What went wrong with Zahra Kassam’s Shark Tank pitch?
When Zahra Kassam walked onto the Shark Tank stage, she was ready to score a deal for her company, Monti Kids. She was asking for $200,000 in exchange for just 2.5% equity in her business, which helps parents support their child’s development with Montessori-inspired toys and educational content. But while she believed in her company, the Sharks weren’t so sure.
Monti Kids is a subscription-based service with eight different levels, each lasting three months and costing $297. The toys and materials in each level cost $125 to produce. Kassam proudly shared that in just 14 months, the company had made $550,000 in revenue and was growing by 20% every month. Plus, she had already raised $2.8 million from investors, proving there was real demand.
Then came the biggest red flag: the company’s finances. Kassam revealed that Monti Kids was burning through $95,000 a month and had already lost $900,000. That made the Sharks uneasy, but despite that, Robert Herjavec saw something in her and made an offer of $200,000 for 10% equity. Kevin O’Leary also jumped in with a royalty deal, asking for $10 per unit until he made back his $200,000, then dropping to $2.50 per unit until he reached $600,000.
That’s when things got messy. Kassam countered Herjavec’s offer and asked if he’d take 5% equity and the other 5% in advisory shares. He agreed, but instead of closing the deal, she turned to O’Leary, trying to bring him in too. That move didn’t sit well with Herjavec. Frustrated that she was still negotiating after he had already said yes, he backed out entirely, telling her, “You’re missing discipline.”
O’Leary, however, stayed in and Kassam ultimately accepted his royalty-based offer. She still walked away with a deal, but her last-minute hesitation may have cost her a valuable partnership with Herjavec.
Why does Kevin O’Leary think making $5 million is easier than the first million?
Everyone knows making your first million is the hardest part, right? According to Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary, that’s absolutely true, but surprisingly, getting from $1 million to $5 million is a whole lot easier. In an interview via Yahoo!, O’Leary explained why building wealth gets simpler once you hit that first major milestone, and it all comes down to one thing: discipline.
O’Leary didn’t hold back when talking about how tough it was to reach his first million, calling it “almost impossible.” He believes most people struggle because they don’t have the discipline to avoid spending money on things they don’t actually need. He said “Have the discipline of not buying s** you don’t need.” Whether it’s impulse purchases or unnecessary shopping sprees, these habits eat away at potential savings and investment opportunities.
His strategy? Investing in stocks and aiming for an 8% return over time, keeping his money working for him rather than spending it on things that don’t matter. Once that first million is in the bank, O’Leary says everything changes. With more money invested, growth happens faster, and each percentage gain adds up in a way that makes reaching $5 million feel like a much smoother climb.
The trick is to stay disciplined and not lose focus just because you’ve hit a major milestone. Instead of seeing a million dollars as the finish line, O’Leary treats it as a stepping stone, using it as a foundation to build even more wealth.
You can watch all the seasons of Shark Tank on Peacock.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
