Since 2009, ABC’s Shark Tank has handed hopeful entrepreneurs a chance to win the venture‑capital backing of their dreams. The “sharks,” who have largely stayed the same throughout the series, have truly seen it all – and that includes the top 10 dumbest products ever pitched on the show.
Why These Are the Top 10 Dumbest Shark Tank Pitch Failures
10 Morninghead (Not as Exciting as It Sounds)
First, let’s define what we mean by a “scam” in this context: a completely ordinary idea, wrapped in slick marketing, that promises big bucks from unsuspecting buyers. In other words, a brain‑dead concept that somehow looks shiny enough to sell.
Enter Morninghead – a product that claims to rescue you from the dreaded bed‑head without a shower. Instead of dry shampoo, a brush, or any real hair‑care magic, the inventor offers a simple shower cap that you fill with water, pop on your head, and give a quick shake. The result? Your hair is merely damp, not clean – a soggy, half‑done fix for those “I’m late but I need my hair presentable” moments.
The sharks burst out laughing, the pitch fell flat, and the entrepreneur walked away empty‑handed. If only the concept had been as promising as its name sounds, perhaps the outcome would’ve been different.
9 Sticky Note Holder
Organizational tools will always have a niche market, but the digital age has dramatically reduced the need for sticky notes. The product itself isn’t inherently stupid; the problem lies in the pitch’s lack of relevance and the product’s overall usefulness.
Mary Ellen Simonsen unveiled a “sticky pad” that clings to the side of a computer monitor. Her demo involved sticking a cardboard‑like pad onto a laptop screen – a less‑than‑convincing showcase. She asked for a $1 million investment, pricing each holder at $9.50, and claimed the numbers came from “surveys.”
When pressed about patents, she admitted none existed. Daymond John summed it up succinctly: no patent, no sales, a useless idea – he was out.
8 Licki Brush
This one walks the line between absurd and oddly clever. PDX Pet Design pitched a silicone, spiky‑tongue brush meant to let owners “bond” with their cats by licking them, mimicking how mother cats groom their kittens.
Co‑founder Tara began by suggesting cats see humans as big cats, not a separate species, and framed the product as a way to join that intimate ritual. Right away, the pitch raised eyebrows.
Jason, her husband, brought a live cat onto the stage while Tara demonstrated the tongue brush, even putting it in her own mouth before licking the feline. The sharks’ reactions were a mix of disbelief and amusement.Despite the obvious red flags, the product still manages to stay on the market today, proving that even the most bizarre ideas can find a buyer.
7 No Fly Cone
Bruce, a barn‑working entrepreneur, introduced the No Fly Cone – a cone‑shaped trap designed to sit over a dog‑poop scooper, theoretically keeping flies away from waste. To boost credibility, he enlisted a “spokesperson” named Seth MacFarlane, who claimed to have horseback‑riding lessons with Bruce.
The concept hinges on having a constant supply of dog waste, which makes it a niche product at best. For most viewers, the idea feels unnecessary, though a barn‑owner with a fly problem might find a use for it.
6 Fish FrenZ
Australian Shark Tank star Lourens Badenhorst presented a bait‑release container that drifts with the current, aiming to give anglers an edge. He tried to market it specifically to women, claiming they needed a “competitive edge” in fishing.
The sharks repeatedly asked whether the product was exclusive to female anglers, and Lourens kept insisting it was for women, while also saying men already know everything about fishing. The gender‑focused angle left everyone confused.
The product never secured a deal, and Lourens left without any backing, reminding us that a solid invention can be derailed by a misguided marketing spin.
5 UroClub
Imagine being on the golf course, desperate for a bathroom break, with no trees in sight. The UroClub attempts to solve that dilemma by disguising a portable pee receptacle as a seven‑iron golf club.
The design includes a privacy towel that folds over the “club” when in use. While the concept shows a genuine attempt to address a real problem, the practicality is questionable – you can’t swing a club while concealed, and it’s not a gender‑neutral solution.
Because of these limitations, the UroClub lands firmly on the list of questionable Shark Tank inventions.
4 BareEASE
Dr. Edna Ma, an anesthesiologist, introduced BareEASE – a numbing kit for bikini‑waxing. The product consists of underwear infused with numbing cream, meant to be worn about an hour before a waxing or laser session.
The sharks expressed mixed feelings, ultimately rejecting the pitch due to limited sales data and a crowded market. While the concept aims to ease pain, the idea of wearing numbing underwear feels uncomfortable to many.
Personally, the thought of numbing one’s private area with underwear is unappealing, and it’s not something most people would voluntarily try.
3 I Want to Draw a Cat For You
Steve’s quirky venture lets customers send in specifications for a custom‑drawn cat, which he then sketches and returns. Though the premise sounds frivolous, the business has actually turned a profit, thanks in part to a Black Friday partnership with Groupon.
Mark Cuban invested $25,000 for a 33 % stake, promising to help produce a cat drawing for every 1,000 orders. The model may resemble an NFT‑style “cat art” service, but it’s proven to be financially viable.
In short, the idea is undeniably dumb, yet the execution is surprisingly clever and profitable.
2 Kook’n Kap
Juli Deveau and Ozma Khan tackled the annoyance of hair picking up cooking odors with the Kook’n Kap – a simple, cap‑like cover you slip over your hair while you’re in the kitchen, preventing smells from clinging.
They marketed it as a modern twist on the classic chef’s hat. While the concept is straightforward, the pitch felt like a waste of brainpower, and the product itself offers limited value for most home cooks.
Overall, it’s another example of an idea that solves a very niche problem without broad appeal.
1 Pet Paint
Pet Paint is exactly what it sounds like: a colored hairspray designed for pets, complete with stencils for creative designs. The product promises a quick way to give your dog or cat a splash of color.
However, every time you spray your pet, you’ll end up with a messy wash‑down session. The novelty quickly wears off when you realize you’ve just added another chore to your routine.
In a world with far more pressing problems, adding paint to your pet’s fur is certainly not a priority.