Appearing on "Shark Tank" is a dream for most entrepreneurs, and on Friday, Josh Inglis and Kevin Conway will get to do just that.
In 2017, Conway and Inglis co-founded Phoozy, which manufactures thermal capsules that prevent handheld electronics from overheating in the sun and prolongs battery life in extreme cold. The capsules also float in water and provide military-grade drop protection.
"It was spawned out of my own frustration," Conway said. "I love to wakesurf and wakeboard, and there was never really a great place on the boat to keep your phone out of the sun but still have it accessible."
Conway and Inglis will pitch their product on ABC's "Shark Tank," set to air at 8 p.m. on Friday. It's an opportunity they both described as once in a lifetime. The show gives founders the chance to pitch to real-life investors like Mark Cuban, Barbara Cochran and Kevin O'Leary, and possibly walk away with a significant financial investment.
"For an entrepreneur, 'Shark Tank' is like the Super Bowl," Conway said. "I've always been a big fan of the show, and I think anyone with that entrepreneurial spirit is tuning in regularly."
Conway said they applied to be on "Shark Tank" in 2018 but never made it past a first round of phone calls with the casting producers.
"We kept our heads down and stayed focused on growing out the company after that, but in January of 2020, I wanted to apply again," he said. "Immediately, a producer reached out. The timing was great because our company is much more mature."
Between the first and second time applying for the show, the Phoozy team worked diligently to produce the most effective product of its kind. Conway said they worked with aerospace engineers and rocket scientists to develop the thermal sleeves. They adapted materials originally developed by NASA for space suits to withstand temperatures above 95 degrees and below 32 degrees.
Phoozy products are available on the company's website, as well as at Lowe's, Home Depot and Amazon. They also can be found at major surf and snow shops around the globe, such as REI and Ron Jon.
"There are a lot of people who aren't aware there is a solution that provides this protection," Conway said. "We've bootstrapped this company from the very beginning, so it's huge to be able to have a platform with the size and reach of 'Shark Tank' to bring awareness to the brand and product."
Inglis said one of the most difficult parts of the process was having to remain tight-lipped about their appearance on the show. They filmed the episode in September and weren't allowed to talk about it until just recently.
"It's a whole range of emotions from excitement to exhilaration to nerves. You're pretty vulnerable up there, and you don't know how it's going to look or if it will even air," he said. "Not being able to tell anyone is difficult, especially when people are talking all the time about how we need to go on 'Shark Tank.'"
He added, "Kevin and I know how we did. We know we went in with really strong numbers and a strong story, so we're really upbeat about the whole thing."
