Cindy and Gabe Trevizo and their four children are an outdoor family. There is soccer and baseball, picnics and weekend camping, monkey bars and sand castles. Too often there isn’t a suitable place to clean the dirt and germs off of all those little hands—and the big hands also. It became more of a problem for the Trevizos in 2018 during a really bad flu season and their youngest child was still an infant and very vulnerable. They had attended a birthday party at an amusement park. It was great fun, but the party hosts neglected to make sure there was soap in the restrooms. Since it’s said that we encounter 800,000 germs in an ordinary hour, imagine what the family would be taking home to the baby after an amusement park!
Gabe knew that hand sanitizers have their place, but are not a “cure-all.” They will never replace good ol’ soap and water for getting everything off of your hands: germs, dirt, grime, grease, heavy metals and harmful chemicals, such as insecticides. He checked the internet for a solution, but found none, so he got to work. He had a successful campaign on Kickstarter and was able to fund research and development, design engineers and a patent attorney. He created the world’s first portable handwashing system: the Suds2Go Bottle and Suds2Go Caps.
Suds2Go Bottle
The dual-purpose water bottle allows people to wash their hands wherever they go and keep themselves hydrated. The 25-ounce bottle is stainless steel, double walled and vacuum-sealed, guaranteeing your drinking water will stay refreshingly cold. It also comes in some attractive colors, such as cranberry, midnight, ocean and bubble gum.
The patented design includes an integrated foaming soap dispenser and pump in the lid and two separate BPA-free plastic valves, one with a restrictive flow for rinsing your hands, one for drinking. The dispenser is refillable with Suds2Go foaming soap or your own. It holds 65-75 pumps worth of soap (only 2 or 3 pumps are necessary per handwashing).
Simply pump the foaming soap into the palm of your hand and rinse off with the valve that metes out the water so that it isn’t wasted.
Suds2Go Caps
The caps are pre-filled with foaming soap (enough for 30 pumps) and attach to a disposable plastic water bottle. All you have to do is press the cap onto the bottle, and you have a convenient, portable handwashing device. One pump dispenses enough soap to thoroughly wash your hands. Rinse off with the water in the bottle.
Sing Your Way to Squeaky Clean Hands
Remember to scrub your hands for 20 seconds, the length of time it takes to sing or hum “Happy Birthday” twice. When you want to change it up, “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” once or “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” three times work.
Suds2Go Partners with Water for Good
The Water for Good mission is to end water poverty in one of the world’s poorest countries, the Central African Republic. They drill wells and then maintain them, as traveling technicians make sure the clean water continues to flow. For every 52 bottles sold, Suds2Go provides water for an individual for an entire year.
Suds2Go in the Shark Tank
The founders of Suds2Go pitched their product on Shark Tank Season 12, Episode 21. They sought a $200,000 investment for a 10% equity stake in their company. Their presentation highlighted their product’s unique features and its relevance for outdoor hand hygiene. They reported impressive sales figures, boasting about $392,000 in revenue from selling 4,000 bottles within the first six weeks of their company’s launch. This sales performance was a significant part of their pitch.
During the negotiations, Daymond John made an initial offer of $200,000 for a 22.5% equity share, which was countered by Gabe Trevizo asking if Daymond would consider a 20% equity instead. However, Robert Herjavec interjected, criticizing Daymond’s equity request as excessive. He then proposed $200,000 for a 15% stake, which the entrepreneurs accepted. The deal with Robert valued the company at $1.3 million.
| Initial Ask | $200,000 for 10% equity |
| Sales Figures | $392,000 from 4,000 bottles in six weeks |
| Daymond John’s Offer | $200,000 for 22.5% equity |
| Counter Offer by Entrepreneurs | Asked for 20% equity (Daymond John) |
| Robert Herjavec’s Offer | $200,000 for 15% equity |
| Deal Closed | $200,000 for 15% equity with Robert Herjavec |
| Company Valuation | $1.3 million |
Suds2Go After Shark Tank
Following their appearance on Shark Tank, Suds2Go has seen considerable growth and positive developments. Robert Herjavec continues to guide the company in manufacturing, technology, and marketing. His support is instrumental in helping Suds2Go aim for global expansion. The company has received significant positive feedback on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, bolstering its public image and customer engagement.
Financially, the company witnessed a notable boost in sales post their Shark Tan appearance. Their product has been featured in several media outlets, including Better Homes and Gardens, Gearhungry, and GMA, marking significant achievements for the startup.
Suds2Go has expanded its product line by introducing two new products: a replacement pump and their own brand of Suds2Go foaming hand soap. These products, along with the original offerings, are available on their official website and various online retailers like Amazon and eBay.
The brand has not only focused on business growth but also on community contributions. Inspired by the founders’ personal experiences, Suds2Go promises to donate a cap to an organization aiding food-insecure and displaced children for every bottle sold. This charitable aspect highlights their commitment to social responsibility beyond business success.
Suds2Go has capitalized on its Shark Tank exposure to expand its product range, increase sales, and enhance its community involvement. The company’s trajectory post-show demonstrates a successful integration of business growth with social impact.
