Veteran entrepreneurs dive into the ‘Shark Tank’

By

Jon R. Anderson

SHARK TANK – “Episode 719” – Veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs try to enlist the Sharks’ investments in their products-will it be a mission accomplished? Two military spouses from Murfreesboro, TN have built a handbag empire using upcycled military materials and piecework from other military spouses-but will the $200+ price point for a bag deter a deal? A former Marine from Dallas, TX and his business partner cousin from Columbia, MD try to sell the Sharks on their gloves that put wireless control of your phone at your fingertips, even while on the ski slopes and motorcycles. A former Air Force Major from Phoenix, AZ looks to franchise her personal organization business that can keep Americans’ homes “majorly” de-cluttered. Two veteran army rangers tout their product line, which empowers locals who make “cool products in dangerous places”-namely Colombia, Afghanistan and Laos-from sandals to sarongs and jewelry. They promote peace through business instead of bullets. “Shark Tank” revisits Air Force veteran Kristina Guerrero of La Pine, OR, owner of Turbopup, the canine meal bars, in which Daymond John invested last season, to see how her business has expanded in just 18 months, on “Shark Tank,” FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5 (9:00–10:01 p.m. EST) on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/Tyler Golden) DONALD LEE, MATTHEW GRIFFIN (COMBAT FLIP FLOPS)

The Ranger buddy entrepreneurs at Combat Flip Flops will be among the veteran- and military spouse-owned startups swimming with the sharks in an upcoming episode of ABC’s “Shark Tank,” set to air Feb. 5.

“We’re stoked to bring the Combat Flip Flops mission to the tank,” says Matthew “Griff” Griffin, CEO and co-founder of the casual footwear and accessories brand that not only helps revitalize war-torn regions by employing locals to manufacture its gear, but also returns a portion of profits back to downrange locations.

“We’ve all seen and heard ‘Shark Tank’ success stories,” says Donald Lee, Combat Flip Flops’ chief marketing officer and co-founder. “We hope this is the catalyst our company needs to provide large-scale, peaceful, sustainable change in areas of conflict.”

Also featured in the episode:

  • Lisa Bradley and Cameron Cruse, two Army spouses in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, who built R. Riveter, a handbag company using upcycled military surplus and piecework from other military spouses.
  • Angela Cody-Rouget, a former Air Force officer from Phoenix who looks to franchise her Major Mom personal organization business.
  • Willie Blount, a Marine veteran from Columbia, Maryland, and his business partner, who will try to sell the Sharks on their BearTek ski and motorcycle gloves that allow you to wirelessly control your phone or GoPro.

The episode will also check in with “Shark Tank” veteran — and Air Force vet — Kristina Guerrero of La Pine, Oregon. She’s the owner of Turbopup, the canine meal bars that Daymond John invested in last season.

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Jon R. Anderson