Gnomes

- These are the sharks-- - five powerful,

self-made investors

worth billions.

Tonight they will

make or break the dreams

of hopeful entrepreneurs.

In the tank, the sharks

are ready to invest

using their own money,

but only for the right person

with the right idea.

- We put all our blood, sweat - and tears into that company.

Don't cry about money.

It never cries for you.

In the worst economic times

since the great depression,

- the sharks are the last chance - for entrepreneurs

to get the financial backing

they desperately need.

The offer's $1 million

for 10%.

What?!

- Why are you being - so greedy?

I've made you a good offer.

What are you gonna do about it?

Do you want it?

Yes

who are the sharks?

- Kevin O'Leary - knows how to make money.

He started a software business

in his basement,

- Kevin o'leary which he eventually sold - knows how to make money. for $3.2 billion.

Barbara corcoran--

this fiery real estate mogul

turned a $1,000 loan

into a real estate empire

worth hundreds of millions

in the shark-filled city

of Manhattan.

- Kevin harrington - is the king of infomercials.

- His gehis marketing - of products

such as the Obama coin

and the rock 'n roll stepper

- have amassed - billions of dollars in sales.

Daymond John literally turned

rags to riches

with his clothing brand fubu,

which has grossed over

$6 billion

in worldwide retail sales

to date.

- And Robert herjavec, wc, whod - his Internet companies

for over $350 million.

Now this self-made

technology magnate

is a venture capitalist

and runs

his own software company.

If the sharks hear a good idea,

they'll fight each other

- for a piece of it. - Robert just offered you nothingno, I didn't. - And told you to pound sand. I didn't do that.

I gave him a shot at the brass

ring. you're giving him nothing.

But first the entrepreneurs

must convince the sharks

to est the full amount

their asking for

- or they'll walk away - with nothing. - Would you consider--

if you do counter,

I will counter.

- That's what I love - about money.

It has no soul.

It doesn't care.

- First into the shark tank - is tod Wilson,

who has been unable to get

a loan anywhere else.

He has come to the shark tank

for his last chance

to get the money he needs

to grow his business.

I'm tod Wilson

from somerset, New Jersey.

I'm the owner

of Mr. tod's pie factory.

Can I have a personal

sweepotato pie?

Would you like anything else?

There's a big demand

for our pies,

especially the little

sweet potato pie.

The people a are lin up today.

It's freezing outside,

so they want something

warm and tasty.

- A lot of people talk about - making fresh pies.

- We actually do that. These are - raw north Carolina jumbo yams.

- We process anywhere from, - you know,

- 5,000 to 6,000 pounds - of yams a week.

We're here at the pie factory.

- I got a fresh batch of pies - coming out the oven--

some hot apple pies.

We sell over 3,000 pies a day,

all going through

this one oven.

Good afternoon.

Mr. tod's pie fae fact

pies are my livelihood. I mean,

this is what I do for a living.

I take it very serious.

- When I first started, - I was eager, I was younger,

I made some bad decisions--

bad decisions

that cost me everything.

Okay, how you like your coffee?

I've sacrificed a whole lot.

I'm on my third bank loan.

That's not an option anymore.

So I have no other resources.

I'm just tapped out.

Do you have

any coconut today?

Right now I just need

- someone like the sharks - to believe in me.

Okay, man. Good seeing you,

all right?

Let's give everybody

some pies.

- Hello. - My name is tod Wilson.

I'm from somerset, New Jersey.

In exchange for $460,000,

I'm offering you a 10% stake

- in America's - next greatest food brand--

Mr. tod's pies.

Thank you.

Got some great samples

for you today--

sweet potato pie--

wo what is that?

What did I just try, tod?

That is the, uh,

buttermilk coconut pie.

Coconut custard.

That is fantastic.

Thank you very much.

We've got sweet potato

up there, pecan,

chocolate pecan.

And as you can see,

I believe in my product.

Mmm.

Who is

the walking stuffed guy?

And as you can see,

I believe in my product.

That's Mr. pie man.

Mmm. he's part of the brand.

Where are you selling these

right now?

Well, right now, our major

market is on the wholesale side,

and we sell a sweet potato pie,

and this is what has made me

a local brand in the area.

This is real stuff,

to the tune

of almost $1 million in sales

last year selling these pies.

Come on. Hang on. You got

$1 million in sales last year?

$850,000, sir.

Did you make money

on your $850,000 in sales?

Yes, sir. We've been averaging

about 20% a year net income.

Really?

- Yes, sir. We're a wholesale - and retailer.

- So--so, tod, you're selling - these pies,

you're doing a million a year--

$850,000--

you got a cute little mascot

who follows you around.

'S the problem?

Why are you here?

- Well, the problem is, I can't - keep up with the demand.

- I've got everybody from, uh, - national food service chains

to local and national

fast-food restaurants

that want to carry the product,

in particular,

my sweet potato pie.

That's my bell cow.

- What percentage of y your - 800-plus thousand in sales

is the sweet potato pie?

Well, the sweet potato pie

represents 94%

of my wholesale business,

which is about 50%

of the $850,000.