Tenikle walked into Shark Tank Season 13 nearly broke. Hans Dose had a product people liked, but the business behind it was falling apart — too much inventory, not enough cash, and margins that didn’t work. He left with a deal and a real shot at turning things around.
This article covers what Tenikle is, what happened during the pitch, how the business recovered after the episode aired, and where it stands today. If you’re a founder watching this story from the outside, there are a few practical lessons worth noting at the end.
What Tenikle Is and Why Hans Dose Pitched It
Tenikle is a flexible, suction-cup tripod inspired by octopus tentacles. It wraps and sticks to almost any surface — windows, dashboards, walls, furniture — and holds phones, cameras, or small devices in place.
Hans Dose built the brand around ocean imagery and a fun, multipurpose concept. The target users are content creators, travelers, and drivers who need hands-free device positioning without a traditional tripod setup.
The product worked. The business, however, didn’t. Before filming, Tenikle was weighed down by high inventory costs and thin margins. According to SlashGear, Hans was in serious financial trouble heading into the pitch. One bad quarter could have ended the company.
The Shark Tank Pitch and Deal with Daymond John
Hans appeared on Season 13, Episode 11. He walked in asking for $200,000 for 10% equity, which put Tenikle’s valuation at $2 million.
During the pitch, he didn’t hide the problems. He told the Sharks about the excess inventory, cash flow issues, and margin trouble. That kind of honesty can go either way in the Tank — it can scare investors off, or it can build credibility.
In this case, it worked in his favor. After negotiation, Daymond John offered $200,000 for 30% equity — three times the equity Hans originally offered. That’s a steep trade, but Hans accepted.
The reason makes sense when you look at what Daymond brings beyond the check. His retail relationships and brand-building experience were exactly what Tenikle needed. Hans wasn’t just selling equity — he was buying access to a network that could get the product into stores.
It’s worth noting that Shark Tank deals don’t always close exactly as shown on air. The terms above are reported by SharkTankBlog and SlashGear, but the final agreement may have been adjusted after filming.
What Happened Immediately After the Episode Aired
The response was fast. According to SharkTankRecap.com, Tenikle sold out on Amazon and its own website within about five minutes of the episode airing.
SlashGear reports that the company generated $375,000 in sales in the first six weeks after the episode. That’s a sharp reversal from the near-collapse Hans described during the pitch.
The sell-out cleared the excess inventory that had been strangling cash flow. In one episode, the problem that almost killed the business became the thing that saved it — there was finally demand to match the supply.
Cody Grandadam and the $1 Million Retail Order
One of the most important things Daymond did was connect Hans with Cody Grandadam, a marketing and manufacturing specialist. This partnership turned out to be a turning point for Tenikle.
Grandadam helped rework the margins and scale operations properly. According to SlashGear, he also helped secure a $1 million retail commitment — the kind of order that signals a business has moved from “interesting startup” to real commercial product.
This is the part of the story that often gets overlooked in Shark Tank recaps. The money matters, but the strategic introductions can matter more.
Tenikle’s Business Status Today
Tenikle is still in business. Multiple sources, including SharkTankBlog and SharkTankRecap.com, confirm the company is active as of 2023 and beyond.
Here’s where things stand based on the most recent reported figures:
- Over $5 million in total product sales since appearing on Shark Tank (SharkTankBlog)
- Products stocked in more than 1,300 Lowe’s stores, a major shift from e-commerce-only
- Still selling on Amazon and Tenikle.com, with multiple SKUs and bundle options
- Active on Instagram with ongoing product announcements and post-Shark Tank updates
The Lowe’s expansion is significant. Getting into 1,300 retail locations means Tenikle is no longer just an internet gadget. It’s a product people can pick up in person at a national chain.
Product Updates: From Tenikle 2.0 to Tenikle Pro
The product has gone through several generations. The earlier Tenikle 2.0 sold around $35 and featured flexible arms with suction cups. The Tenikle 360 added a removable fourth arm and a phone holder attachment for more mounting options.
The most recent version, the Tenikle Pro (sixth generation), addresses complaints from earlier buyers. It’s advertised with stronger suction up to 42 lbs, a universal phone mount, and 360° motion. These upgrades appear to be a direct response to customer reviews that flagged suction reliability as a weakness.
On Amazon, Tenikle products currently sit around a 3.5 out of 5 star rating. That’s not glowing, but it’s also not a collapse. Customers still cite suction issues occasionally, though the Pro version is designed to address that. The brand hasn’t topped “best car phone mount” lists, but it continues to sell and iterate.
What Entrepreneurs Can Learn from Tenikle’s Journey
Tenikle’s story isn’t just about a cool product. It’s about a business that almost failed and then used a single opportunity to pull itself back. A few things stand out for founders watching this.
1. Inventory problems are business problems
Hans had a product that worked but a cash flow model that didn’t. Carrying too much inventory without the sales to match it is one of the fastest ways to kill a small product business. Getting margins right before you scale matters more than moving fast.
2. Choosing the right investor beats chasing the best valuation
Hans gave up 30% when he’d originally offered 10%. That’s a real cost. But Daymond’s retail network and the introduction to Cody Grandadam delivered a $1 million order and a Lowe’s deal. That outcome probably wouldn’t have happened with a different Shark who offered a higher valuation but weaker connections.
3. Be ready for demand before it arrives
Tenikle got lucky. The sell-out cleared the inventory problem. But if the back-end operations hadn’t been able to restock and fulfill orders quickly, that same surge could have created angry customers and damaged the brand. The Shark Tank effect is real — but it can hurt as much as it helps if you’re not operationally ready.
4. Reviews are product development feedback
From Tenikle 2.0 to the Pro version, each generation responded to what customers reported. Suction complaints led to stronger suction in later models. That kind of iteration is how a product stays relevant instead of becoming a one-time novelty.
For more business case studies and brand growth insights, check out Repute Business.
Where Tenikle Stands Now
Tenikle came close to shutting down before Shark Tank. Today, it has passed $5 million in sales, sits on shelves in over 1,300 Lowe’s stores, and continues to release updated versions of the product.
That’s not a guaranteed success story — the ratings are mixed, and the market for phone mounts is competitive. But it is a clear example of what can happen when a business gets the right deal at the right time and executes on the opportunity instead of wasting it.
Hans Dose took a painful equity cut, found the right partner, and rebuilt the business from the ground up. For a company that was nearly out of cash before filming, that’s a significant result.
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