After developing a passion for basketball training to help his son improve his skills, Tony Devine created The Original Profender, a basketball training device designed to simulate real defenders by stretching and moving dynamically. The device aimed to provide athletes with a realistic training experience to enhance their defensive and offensive skills.
To grow the business and reach a wider market, Tony appeared on Shark Tank Season 3, Episode 8, seeking investment. Let’s see how his pitch went and what happened afterward.
| Company Name | The Original Profender | |
| Founder/Co-Founder | Tony Devine | |
| Founded | Early 2010s (exact year not specified) | |
| Product | Basketball training device | |
| Asked For | $75,000 for 15% equity | |
| Final Deal | No Deals | |
| Shark | No Sharks | |
| Episode | S3 E8 | |
| Air Date | March 9, 2012 | |
| Business Status | Out of Business | |
| Website | Visit Website | |
| Headquarters | California, United States | |
| Annual (Revenue) | Estimated up to $1 million at peak | |
| Worth / Valuation | $500k | |
| Buy and Watch | Buy Now | Amazon Prime |
Business Pitch Episode Recap
Tony Devine entered the Shark Tank seeking $75,000 in exchange for 15% equity, valuing The Original Profender at approximately $500,000. He demonstrated the basketball training device, which dynamically mimics a real defender’s movements to help players improve their skills.
During the pitch, Tony revealed that he had made around $25,000 in sales in the first year by selling units directly from his truck. Each Original Profender was priced at $499.95, which concerned the sharks due to the high cost for the average consumer.
Barbara Corcoran complimented Tony’s salesmanship but expressed concern over the lack of a lower-priced $199 retail model and decided to pass. Robert Herjavec could not see a broad market for the product and declined. Daymond John also felt the $499.95 price was too steep and exited. Kevin O’Leary was unconvinced by the vision and went out, followed by Mark Cuban, who was the last shark but ultimately declined.
In the end, Tony left the tank without a deal.
Sharks Offers List
| Sharks | Offers |
|---|---|
| Kevin Harrington | No Offer |
| Kevin O’Leary | No Offer |
| Robert Herjavec | No Offer |
| Barbara Corcoran | No Offer |
| Daymond John | No Offer |
| Mark Cuban | No Offer |
| Founder’s Counter | No Counter |
| Final Deals | No Deal |
The Original Profender Shark Tank Update
Despite not securing investment on Shark Tank, Tony did not give up on his vision. He partnered with professional basketball training programs and secured customers, including NBA teams like the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets, as well as prominent college programs such as North Carolina, Texas Tech, Vanderbilt, and Syracuse.
At its peak, The Original Profender generated approximately $1 million in annual revenue. However, the company eventually ceased operations and is now out of business. No active company website is currently available.
What Is The Original Profender Net Worth?
The Original Profender’s valuation during the Shark Tank pitch was roughly $500,000, based on Tony’s ask of $75,000 for 15% equity. This valuation reflected the entrepreneur’s belief in the product’s potential and market opportunity.
However, the sharks were skeptical due to the high price point and limited consumer market, which contributed to their decision not to invest.
