You Kick Ass – Customized Action Figures
DEAL
EPISODE SUMMARY
🕓 Air Date: May 8, 2015
Asking For:
$100,000 for 10%
Investor:
Mark Cuban
Deal:
$100,000 for 10%
PRODUCT SUMMARY
You Kick Ass transforms customers into personalized action figures by allowing them to upload a photo and creating a 3-D model of their head, which is then attached to a chosen body style.
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Background Story
Alesia Glidewell and Keri Andrews, the dynamic duo behind You Kick Ass, are on a mission to turn ordinary individuals into personalized action figures, bringing out the superhero in everyone. Based in the vibrant city of Seattle, Washington, the founders bring a unique blend of creativity and technical expertise to their venture. Alesia Glidewell, known as the Hero Creatrix, draws from her background as a voiceover artist and motion-capture model, where she had the exciting opportunity to be the model for a character in a video game. Through this experience, she delved into the intricacies of 3-D modeling, gaining valuable insights into the process of transforming photographs into lifelike models.
Meanwhile, Keri Andrews, also known as Transforma Girl, contributed her skills from the world of website development and digital marketing, having previously worked for the Bing Search Engine at Microsoft. The inception of You Kick Ass emerged from Glidewell’s exposure to 3-D modeling during her time as a video game character model. Combined with Andrews’ expertise in website development and digital marketing, they envisioned a company that would turn individuals into their own personalized action figures.
This vision materialized into a unique process where customers could choose a body style, upload a photo, and use the company’s software to transform the image into a 3-D model. The result is a detailed, customized action figure that reflects the unique features and personality of the customer. The founders’ passion for turning ordinary moments into extraordinary superhero experiences resonated with the Sharks, leading to an investment deal with Mark Cuban, who recognized the potential of You Kick Ass as a technology company with a captivating vision for personalized 3-D products.
The Product
You Kick Ass offers a one-of-a-kind product that transforms individuals into personalized action figures, turning the fantasy of becoming a superhero into a tangible reality. The process is both simple and engaging. Customers begin by selecting a preferred body style from a range of options. They then upload a single photograph of themselves to the You Kick Ass website.
The magic happens through the company’s innovative software, which utilizes the uploaded photograph to generate a highly detailed 3-D model of the customer’s head. This model is seamlessly integrated with the chosen body style, resulting in a lifelike, customized action figure. Customers have the freedom to select various features such as hairstyle and accessories, adding a personal touch to their miniature superhero counterpart.
The finished personalized action figure is then 3-D printed with precision and care. The product serves as a unique and thoughtful gift, capturing special moments or celebrating achievements. Customers can purchase these personalized action figures directly from the You Kick Ass website.
How It Went
The company’s position before Shark Tank
You Kick Ass is positioned as an emerging player in the personalized action figure market, having recently completed a successful crowdfunding campaign. The company is based in Seattle, Washington, and its founders, Alesia Glidewell and Keri Andrews, showcased a strong vision for their venture during their pitch. At the time of the pitch, You Kick Ass had not yet officially entered the market, having just concluded a crowdfunding campaign a month prior.
The founders shared their ambitious goal of raising $100,000 in exchange for 10% of their company, emphasizing their belief in the universal appeal of personalized action figures. You Kick Ass operates with a direct-to-consumer model, enabling customers to purchase their unique action figures directly from the company’s website. The cost per personalized action figure is $60, making it an accessible and attractive option for customers looking for distinctive gifts or memorable keepsakes. In terms of funding, the founders disclosed that they had invested $120,000 of their own money into the venture.
The company’s financial health and performance were not detailed in the pitch, given its pre-market entry status. While the founders highlighted the success of their crowdfunding campaign, the specifics of available capital, profits, losses, and the company’s current structure remain undisclosed. It is evident, however, that You Kick Ass garnered interest and secured an investment deal with Mark Cuban on the show, which could serve as a significant boost to the company’s future growth and development.
The Negotiations:
The negotiation process for You Kick Ass on “Shark Tank” involved a dynamic interaction between the founders, Alesia Glidewell and Keri Andrews, and the Sharks, each vying for a stake in the personalized action figure venture. The Sharks expressed initial concerns about the product’s quality, particularly regarding the resemblance of the 3-D printed heads to the customers. Lori Greiner and Kevin O’Leary jointly offered $100,000 for a 10% equity stake, while Mark Cuban took a different approach by proposing $100,000 for a more substantial 25% share.
Barbara Corcoran raised quality concerns, emphasizing issues with the appearance and seam on the neck of the action figures. Ultimately, the founders chose to go with Mark Cuban’s offer of $100,000 for 10%. While this deal aligned with the founders’ initial ask in terms of equity percentage, it differed significantly from the other Sharks’ offers. The negotiation showcased the importance of the Sharks’ diverse perspectives and investment strategies, with Lori Greiner and Kevin O’Leary presenting a joint offer focused on equity, and Mark Cuban providing a higher investment amount for a larger stake in the company.
The negotiation process also shed light on the founders’ vision for You Kick Ass. They expressed their intention to leverage their software as a competitive advantage, exploring opportunities beyond personalized action figures, such as digital products that utilize the 3-D head without the need for physical printing. Mark Cuban’s offer aligned with their vision for the company as a technology venture, marking a significant milestone for You Kick Ass on their journey to bring superhero fantasies to life.
