After winning big at the Chicago Innovation Awards to end 2022, Chicago startup Pluie is taking center stage once again.
Showcasing their flagship product, a self-sanitizing diaper-changing table for public restrooms, Pluie founder and CEO Addie Gundry and co-founder and COO Brittany Hizer will be featured on an episode of the ABC reality show, "Shark Tank," where they pitched their patented diaper changing station to a panel of investors. The episode will air on March 10.
These two moms launched Pluie in 2020. The product can now be found in restrooms in more than 20 states nationwide, including in airports, stadiums and amusement parks.
Powered by a UV-C light system that's turned on when the table is folded and not in use, Pluie says it can kill 99.9% of germs, bacteria and viruses.
Gundry felt it was an accomplishment just to have the episode air.
"About 40,000 companies apply and they only end up filming about 140 of them, and out of those 140, only 96 actually make it to air," she said.
She sees it being as much of an opportunity to build brand awareness as it is about raising capital.
For instance, when Sacramento, California-based Fight Fire First appeared on the show, the 2022 startup saw sales double, selling out immediately when the show went up. Fight Fire First sold about 150 units before the show aired early in December, and as of Feb. 22, its sales reached 350. On the show, "Shark Tank" judges Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner offered the company’s owner a $150,000 investment for 25% ownership of the company.
While Gundry admitted that Pluie's path is a little bit different as a B2B product, she said she's "ready with inventory" and hopes leads will start pouring in when the episode airs.
Pluie also plans to launch a consumer product later this year.
With VC funding down for startups across the country after a record-setting 2021, Gundry thinks it's time for startups to pursue smaller check sizes at more "right-sized" valuations.
"My perspective on the show is that I think I've noticed more people asking for less because we all understand that maybe an investment a few years ago for $500,000 was not that big of a deal for a shark, but now founders are asking for less with less favorable terms after valuations skyrocketed last year," she said.
Pluie asked for $500,000 for 5% of the company.
