![]() He answers that over at the Hot Dog Truck.The Fire Fighter1 is a fire hose that connects to a swimming pool pump and serves to put out a fire by quickly throwing water forward. When I started Melni Connectors, many said it would never work, but I kept at it and look where we are now.” Find what it is and immerse yourself in it. You need to figure out what makes you happiest and when you do its rewarding. Mark had this to say to aspiring entrepreneurs: “Follow your bliss. I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.” He still likes to play piano too his album is on Youtube if you’d like to give it a listen. “it was a bizarre process,” he says, “but our producer gave s lots of tips. He called it “surreal” because the producers came looking for him. He also hinted that a large cable company was interested in purchasing Melni Connectors.Ĭlearly, Mark enjoyed his Shark Tank experience. He signed a deal to develop irrigation connectors for Irrigation Components International. I think huge companies that make crimping equipment will work against us in background.” Melni didn’t stop at electrical connectors. We are a disruptor in this industry and we have a revolutionary product, but it’s a tough nut to crack. Melni has reasonable expectations for his new product launch. “When these come in to market, a lot of products won’t be necessary,” he explains. Right now, we aren’t selling into the consumer market, but some day I’d like to see my connectors next to the big spools of wire at the Home Depot and other stores.” We want to concentrate on selling to the professional electrician in the commercial market. “Our initial sales are 100% to electricians. The company also wanted an Underwriters Lab (UL) listing which takes time. His connectors have 7 US and international patents and getting those squared away takes time – and money. The reason it took three years to get from the Shark Tank to real distribution is Melni’s attention to detail. It was interwoven like a Chinese finger trap – the more you pull, the tighter it gets. “I was visualizing copper wire twisting around a drill bit. Mark worked with his dad at a charter bus company in Santa Barbara where he was exposed to “all things mechanical.” That’s where he first envisioned the Melni Connector. “It’s been a long time since I had my AHA moment,” he explains. Melni recently shipped their first order. The Chicago-based company gives Melni 30 plus sales agents in the field who’ll sell to wholesale electric supply distributors across the USA. Electrical connector distributor Remke also invested in Melni Connectors. “When the company’s value reached $15 million,” says Melni, “Mark invested an additional $1 million.” Cuban isn’t the only new investor. Melni likes Cuban’s input, but he also likes his cash. ![]() He does it all himself and I can’t for the life of me comprehend how he does it.” Melni Connectors Update on the Deal ![]() Sometimes it’s hard to understand how he responds to us and his other entrepreneurs so quickly. Mark Melni has nothing but praise for Cuban. That’s why he invested $500,000 for 12% of the business – with an option to buy additional shares. ![]() “I never heard the term FOMO before we went on Shark Tank,” Melni explains.” For whatever reason, Cuban knew Mr. Melni, who carries one of his connectors in his pocket every day, is animated and excited about his company the day we spoke. It wasn’t a typical Shark Tank deal, in fact, Mark knew nothing about the business of electrical connectors at all, he invested because of “FOMO” or Fear Of Missing Out. Since making a deal with Mark Cuban in season 6, there hasn’t been a lot of news in Shark Tank circles about this deal. I talked to Mark Melni not too long ago to get a Melni Connectors update.
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