🐘 The elephant in the medicine cabinet

Today we are going to take a look at a company from Season 1!

Author

Andrew Smith
July 19, 2024

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Happy Friday!

When I was a kid, taking medicine was my least favorite thing in the world. My mom had to come up with all sorts of tricks to get me to take it without a fuss. I’m sure many of you can relate!

Today's Shark Tank update is dedicated to all the parents who have had to face the battle of getting their kids to take their medicine.

Get ready for the heartwarming story of Ava the Elephant, a company that makes medicine time a little less daunting for kids and has grown steadily since its debut on Shark Tank Season 1.

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Meet Tiffany Krumins, the creator of Ava the Elephant. Tiffany was a nanny who struggled to get a young boy with Down Syndrome to take his medicine.

She knew there had to be a better way and came up with the idea for Ava the Elephant—a talking medicine dispenser that makes the process fun and friendly for kids.

When Tiffany pitched Ava the Elephant on the very first season of Shark Tank, the sharks were impressed with her innovative solution to a common problem. Tiffany was seeking $50,000 for a 15% equity stake in her company.

To demonstrate how Ava worked, Tiffany showed the sharks how the dispenser, shaped like a cute elephant, would encourage kids to take their medicine with a friendly voice.

Mr. Wonderful holding Ava the Elephant

Barbara Corcoran immediately saw the potential and offered Tiffany the $50,000 for 55% equity. Despite the high equity stake, Tiffany accepted the deal, knowing that Barbara’s expertise could help bring Ava the Elephant to life.

After the show, Tiffany faced some challenges. Manufacturing issues and finding the right partners slowed down production.

However, with Barbara’s guidance and investment, Tiffany persevered and got Ava the Elephant into major retail stores like CVS and Walgreens.

A few years later, Ava the Elephant was featured in an update segment on Shark Tank, where Tiffany shared the exciting news that Ava had sold over 100,000 units!

Tiffany’s journey wasn’t just about sales. She was also diagnosed with cancer, which added another layer of challenges to her entrepreneurial journey.

Despite this, Tiffany’s determination and positivity never wavered. She continued to fight both her personal and professional battles with grace.

Today, Ava the Elephant is a beloved product that has helped countless parents and children. It’s available online and in stores nationwide, and its success story is a testament to the power of perseverance and innovation.

If you know a little one who dreads medicine time, purchasing Ava the Elephant might just be the perfect solution to turn those frowns upside down!

That’s all for this week! Before you go, please take a second to leave me some feedback. It really helps me know how to make these emails even better!

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Talk soon,
Andrew Smith