CINCINNATI — It’s not every day you go on Shark Tank to pitch your inventions to the sharks. But what makes this even more unique is a that a 15 year old from Ohio did just that.
What You Need To Know
- 15-year-old Carson Grill invented the Touch Up Cup two years ago
- The invention caught the eyes of Shark Tank producers and Carson and his dad had the opportunity to pitch to the sharks this summer
- The episode airs Oct. 16
Carson Grill is just 15 years old and a freshman in high school in the Cincinnati area. Two years ago, he came up with an invention that has since made a big impression, landing him on the television show Shark Tank.
“I walked in there and their eyes just woke up instantly,” Carson said. “I walked in there with a lot of energy. They were excited to see another kid entrepreneur in there.”
Carson came up with the idea of the Touch Up Cup, a container for extra paint that keeps it from rusting or clumping. The stainless steal blending sphere makes it easy to never have to stir your paint again.
“You just shake it up, unscrew and you can use the cap for smaller jobs,” Carson explained.
So, after the audition process, Carson and his father Jason flew out to Las Vegas in August for the taping. After a 10-day quarantine, they had the chance to pitch to the sharks
“They were so impressed with his knowledge, what he knows about shipping and logistics, about patents about really everything along the way with his business,” Jason said. “They were very impressed and he knows what he’s doing.”
“I’m really fortunate to be able to have this experience,” Carson said. “It’s very rare to be able to go on Shark Tank, pitch in front of the sharks and hopefully get an investment in your company.”
Jason said his son has been at the forefront of the business, staying up late for calls with China, figuring out logistics and patents. He said the Shark Tank experience brought them closer together.
“He was not nervous. I was the one freaking out with all the five million viewers,” Jason said. “He wasn’t thinking about that, he was just thinking about going out, doing a great job and that’s exactly what he did. So, I’m just really proud of him.”
Carson says it’s his dad who has helped him get to this point.
“I really haven’t had worries about my age because I have had my dad to back me up,” Carson said. “He’s helped through the whole process. He’s helped me get to where I am today.”
While Carson and Jason can’t say how the episode ends for them and their product, they hope the exposure will help their business grow.
“I don’t exactly know where the Shark Tank experience is going to lead me,” Carson said. “We’re hoping that maybe people watching the episode will buy the product, enjoy seeing the product and then we’ll get into different retailers and stuff from there.”
The Shark Tank episode premieres on Oct. 16.
