LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Pie Wine's 'Shark Tank' debut, with the clever tagline 'Pizza's New Side Piece,' promised to be amusing regardless of the outcome.
However, at the end of their pitch, not only the Sharks on stage but even viewers at home, including another Shark, were perplexed as to why the product existed.
Best buddies Kevin Klein and Josh Green believe they've created the ideal complement for one of America's favorite foods - a sweet (and somewhat fizzy) canned wine that pairs well with pizza.
They came into the Tank looking for $200,000 in exchange for a 7.5 per cent interest in their company.
None of the Sharks on the panel were interested in investing. Mark Cuban and Kevin O'Leary have already entered the market.
Daymond John and Candace Nelson had no interest in the beverage industry. Lori Greiner, on the other hand, believed it was too early to invest.
On Reddit, fans commented, "Lori is right that it's unclear what this is? Also not sure that the term "pie" for pizza is universal across the country. Red flag that these guys are tossing out 6 figure "distributor intentions" and 7-figure projections but that doesn't mean actual sales."
Another user chimed in, "I don't know how to make it better, but the packaging makes me think it's going to be pizza-flavored wine."
One person also commented, "Their branding is honestly really off?"
On X, Shark Daniel Lubetzky also wrote, "Sharks crack me up w the “Chevaliers des Testevan” toast. Pie Pizza Wine is creative, & the entrepreneurs seem fun, but they need to explain what problem they are trying to solve. Why wouldn’t regular wine do the trick? And isn’t the match a bit niche?"
Who are the owners of 'Shark Tank' product Pie Wine?
Pie Wine is a brand-new startup formed in 2022 by Josh Green and Kevin Klein.
They've been friends for nearly 30 years, and their shared love of pizza is central to their friendship.
While the Pie Wine creators are new to 'Shark Tank,' Kevin already has a significant media profile.
Every weekday morning from 5 to 10 am, he co-hosts the Klein/Ally Show on KROQ, a Greater Los Angeles radio station where Pie Wine is also based.
Kevin has a knack for coming up with outlandish innovations, such as pizza soup, TOEsters (foot coasters), and disposable attire for Benihana patrons.
Josh, for one, has a viewpoint similar to that of the 'Shark Tank' hosts.
He graduated from the University of Miami's Herbert Business School and School of Law and worked in investment research for many years, notably as an Investment Banking Analyst at Merrill Lynch.
Who is the richest Shark on 'Shark Tank?'
The wealthiest shark on the American reality television show 'Shark Tank' is American billionaire Mark Cuban, whose net worth is predicted to exceed $5 billion by 2023.
On August 9, 2009, the inaugural episode of the American corporate reality television show 'Shark Tank' aired on ABC.
'Shark Tank' Season 15 airs on Friday on ABC at 8 pm ET.
