In the Shark Tank archives, there’s one pitch that pushed Kevin O’Leary over the edge, making him lose his cool in front of the cameras. Typically known for his sharp tongue and ruthless business sense, O’Leary found himself so infuriated during one heated moment that he dropped expletives on live TV. 

Kevin O’Leary in Shark Tank | Credits: Sony Pictures Television

The incident was unforgettable, not just because of the foul language but because it was the only time he let his emotions get the best of him.

Kevin O’Leary loses his cool over Pavlok pitch: A Shark Tank moment for the books

A still from Shark Tank | Credits: Sony Pictures Television

In the history of Shark Tank, only one pitch made Kevin O’Leary so mad he couldn’t hold back his expletives on live TV. Maneesh Sethi, creator of Pavlok, a device designed to shock users out of bad habits, entered the tank (Season 7) hoping for a $500,000 investment for a 3.14% stake.

But the situation took a turn when his product’s scientific backing and the lack of clinical trials raised red flags. Mark Cuban called him a con artist, and Lori Greiner was quick to drop out.

Related “If I offered you $30 Million for the company, will you take it?… NO!”: Shark Tank Company That Rejected Mark Cuban’s Once-in-a-Lifetime Offer

With just Kevin O’Leary left, Sethi made a critical mistake. He turned down his offer. The founder’s reasoning: He wanted to work with anyone except O’Leary. And O’Leary, not one to take rejection lightly, erupted: 

Maneesh, you’re an a**hole, get the f**k out of here!

While most entrepreneurs would’ve seen their chances go up in smoke, Sethi and Pavlok did defy expectations. In the months following the episode, the company saw a boost in customers —10,000 more joined the Pavlok family. 

A still from Shark Tank | Credits: Sony Pictures Television

They refined the product, adding features like hand detection technology for nail biters and overeaters, and even launched a new crowdfunding campaign for their Shock Clock.

Related “They have supported us every step of the way”: Shark Tank Company Both Mark Cuban and Ashton Kutcher Invested in Experienced a Meteoric 300% Rise in Sales

Though O’Leary and Sethi weren’t a match, the business brought in more funding, and Sethi continued to grow the brand. Looking back, Sethi admitted,

Going in I knew Kevin was not a great investor fit for our company. A lot of people don’t realize investment partnerships are about way more than money. Business style and vision for the company need to align as well.

The fiery pitch might’ve ended in flames, but Pavlok’s journey did get hotter.

What’s next for Pavlok? Founder’s bold vision continues despite Shark Tank setback

A still from Shark Tank | Credits: Sony Pictures Television

What’s next for Pavlok? Despite missing out on a Shark Tank deal, the habit-changing tech is doing okay. Founder Maneesh Sethi’s vision: Helping people achieve their goals with a 100% success rate and transforming 10 million habits in 10 years. In a 2017 interview, he alluded,

I want 100% of the people who come into our ecosystem who say ‘I will achieve this goal’ … to have a 100% chance of success.

Ambitious? Absolutely. 

As reported by Looper, over 250,000 users worldwide were already on the Pavlok journey, reaping the benefits. While the 10 million goal remained a work in progress, Sethi’s drive for impact over profits was clear.

Related “Now he’s just killing it”: The Shark Tank Food Company Pitch Mark Cuban Regretted Rejecting Went From $30K to $1 Million in Sales Right After the Show

Shark Tank is available to watch on Hulu & Apple TV.
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