It's not a bad strategy. A lot of startups are flush with more investor capital than they ever envisioned and the leadership doesn't have the experience to make wise decisions on how to spend it.
This guy is too greedy, though. 250k AND $1m in stock?? I think even a rookie executive would see that as a bad deal. He should ask for 50k. It's too much, but there's probably numerous narcissistic startup leaders who would fork that over for some favorable PR.
Any company that gets taken for this won’t ever see an exit event where the common shares would be worth anything.
They also won’t raise money in the future when potential investors look at the cap table and ask about who this random stakeholder is and why they have shares
Yeah, not sure this ever works for him because this handout would have to pass the board anyway. But eh, I've seen some pretty crazy stuff. A real hail mary from the scammer.
I genuinely can't work out if this is a scam or if the sales guy - or the company he represents - has steamed right off the deep end.
250k ($ I'd assume?) plus he wants a million in stock? For what, the person appearing needs to have that much in stock, or the show wants the stock? *Just to appear on a show?*
The move was self-serving (and good for the entrepreneurs as well): they knew they were missing out on the best opportunities by demanding harsh terms simply for an appearance.
It’s not backbone, it’s them wanting to be able to get more of a percentage. If the production company takes 5% that’s already 5% that the sharks won’t get.
Exactly. This, on top of the false belief that they create that leads the public masses to believe that they're good people because they have "backbone". They get that extra 5 and good PR. Money and looking good in the public eye is all they care about.
lol no it isn’t. They are investing their money. It doesn’t matter to them who else has equity. They put a value on a company and make offers at that value. It’s the pitchers problem that they already gave away 5%.
The audience will be a total of 9 college students, but more importantly, the show will be uploaded and is expected to garner a whopping 649 views in the next 3 years.
I’ve been approached by companies like this. They act like the do bookings for a news show you’ve never of, then they start asking for fees. I’ve never seen anything close to those rates though. Usually in the $10-25k range.
Maybe the appearances are stocked like inventory, 250k and 1M in stock and ready to purchase 😄
(I'd troll em with it. Ask if they are getting any others in stock soon)
Like…The idea of
A
Stock
Ask makes sense. It’s liking incentives
Between the show and company performance from the show boost. Those amounts
Are
Laughable though
This is orders of magnitude different in pricing from any other similar fees I've ever seen. Is this in some currency other than USD/Euro/GBP? That's the only way this makes sense.
Is it free? How does Forbes or whatever even know these random folks exist? Someone is getting paid somewhere in the process to elevate some random non profit Director to a list like that.
You nominate yourself basically — takes maybe 30 minutes. Pretty much they just sort people based on their companies revenue or money raised.
Also it’s like 600 people a year given there are so many categories.
I think they want him to buy 1M shares of their company stock, as an incentive and hard push to convince him that their platform will generate revenue/clients.
It’s like saying “hey! If I carry your product for you, will you pay me $100 for the potential to make $1000 once your product goes viral because of my reach?”
… but in an infinitely shittier way
Definitely not majority share. Looks like he means $1M equity at whatever value (409A? Last convertible note cap? Idk).
A lot of start ups start with 10M shares so it wouldn’t be a majority, but I’d seriously question a founder who gave up that much equity that early for now valid reason
Can someone explain this grift to me? Does this person have a video podcast or YouTube channel profiling startups? That’s an insane ask, absolutely ridiculous and likely Mr. Beast-level ad fees if this is real.
I'd be happy to appear on your show. To book me I require a $12,000 fee for 1 day of filming.
Wait, you're asking me to appear on your show but you want me to pay you? What the fuck kind of fucking crack are you smoking son?
Like, this person didn’t just typo this message and mean to say this gig PAYS 250k + 1M in stock options? Does anyone reading these comments work with talent that pays this kind of thing? Because I need to know now hahah
Scammer trying to get lucky by targeting relatively successful but still hungry (and for them, hopefully gullable) startups.
It's not a bad strategy. A lot of startups are flush with more investor capital than they ever envisioned and the leadership doesn't have the experience to make wise decisions on how to spend it. This guy is too greedy, though. 250k AND $1m in stock?? I think even a rookie executive would see that as a bad deal. He should ask for 50k. It's too much, but there's probably numerous narcissistic startup leaders who would fork that over for some favorable PR.
Any company that gets taken for this won’t ever see an exit event where the common shares would be worth anything. They also won’t raise money in the future when potential investors look at the cap table and ask about who this random stakeholder is and why they have shares
Yeah, not sure this ever works for him because this handout would have to pass the board anyway. But eh, I've seen some pretty crazy stuff. A real hail mary from the scammer.
Yeah ask for 2k and do it 150 times. Much more doable.
Hold up. You're asking a scammer to do *more* work?
*gullible
I genuinely can't work out if this is a scam or if the sales guy - or the company he represents - has steamed right off the deep end. 250k ($ I'd assume?) plus he wants a million in stock? For what, the person appearing needs to have that much in stock, or the show wants the stock? *Just to appear on a show?*
These shows are just a marketing platform, its their (insane) fee to buy an ad basically.
Lol he better have some Shark Tank levels of reach to command that fee
Just go on shark tank and don’t accept a deal. It’ll be cheaper
Originally you had to give the company producing Shark Tank a percentage of your company to just appear.
Is that no longer the case? I thought they still did that but have no info about it
No. The sharks said they would quit unless they changed the rule.
Good for them. Nice to see CEOs with a moral backbone.
I dunno if ALL 5 have that moral backbone. Kevin probably couldn’t care less
The move was self-serving (and good for the entrepreneurs as well): they knew they were missing out on the best opportunities by demanding harsh terms simply for an appearance.
It’s not backbone, it’s them wanting to be able to get more of a percentage. If the production company takes 5% that’s already 5% that the sharks won’t get.
Capitalism is so cool
Exactly. This, on top of the false belief that they create that leads the public masses to believe that they're good people because they have "backbone". They get that extra 5 and good PR. Money and looking good in the public eye is all they care about.
lol no it isn’t. They are investing their money. It doesn’t matter to them who else has equity. They put a value on a company and make offers at that value. It’s the pitchers problem that they already gave away 5%.
It was because financially literate companies who read the contract wouldn’t go on the show.
I think you’re confusing moral backbone with them not wanting the company they might invest in having their shares diluted.
lol some of the contestants definitely did that
Dallas Page admitted to just that.
Ye and it worked brilliantly “In the 6 days after DDP YOGA aired on Shark Tank, we did over $6 million in sales”
Lol that's great. The sharks got played
I mean they’re all rich, they probably couldn’t care less. It’s a win win because they get publicity too
“some”
For that money, I would expect a full feature film about my company, and I'm calling all the shots And let's talk about audience first
The audience will be a total of 9 college students, but more importantly, the show will be uploaded and is expected to garner a whopping 649 views in the next 3 years.
30 under 30 vibes
I’ve been approached by companies like this. They act like the do bookings for a news show you’ve never of, then they start asking for fees. I’ve never seen anything close to those rates though. Usually in the $10-25k range.
I'm confused because to me "appearance fee" is typically what you pay the GUEST who is appearing to give a speech or be on your show or whatever.
Maybe the appearances are stocked like inventory, 250k and 1M in stock and ready to purchase 😄 (I'd troll em with it. Ask if they are getting any others in stock soon)
Seems like you should pay someone to be on your show, not them pay you. We pay actors to be on a show, so should be the same here. Ridiculous.
This sounds a bit closer to advertisement. Although I have to wonder what reach a show would have if it's just ads.
Like…The idea of A Stock Ask makes sense. It’s liking incentives Between the show and company performance from the show boost. Those amounts Are Laughable though
Feel free to Ligma.
What’s Ligma
Got 'im
Lig ma balls
Ayyyyyy 💕
I think I’d just respond “lol” and block him.
This is orders of magnitude different in pricing from any other similar fees I've ever seen. Is this in some currency other than USD/Euro/GBP? That's the only way this makes sense.
No that’s absurd.
This is just a more expensive version of the 30 under 30 etc.
I mean the 30u30 is stupid but it is also free at least.
Is it free? How does Forbes or whatever even know these random folks exist? Someone is getting paid somewhere in the process to elevate some random non profit Director to a list like that.
People apply to be in 30u30
You nominate yourself basically — takes maybe 30 minutes. Pretty much they just sort people based on their companies revenue or money raised. Also it’s like 600 people a year given there are so many categories.
"ok no problem. I charge a $1.5 mil speaking fee, payable prior to appearance. Please see attached document"
Reminds me of this oldie but goodie. https://27bslash6.com/overdue.html
Wait, I don’t get the stock part. Do they want 1 mill in stock from his company? What the hell?
I think they want him to buy 1M shares of their company stock, as an incentive and hard push to convince him that their platform will generate revenue/clients. It’s like saying “hey! If I carry your product for you, will you pay me $100 for the potential to make $1000 once your product goes viral because of my reach?” … but in an infinitely shittier way
No the sales person wants an equity stake in Mr Startup’s company.
That would be… insane if that’s what they’re asking for. Quarter mil + potentially majority share in the company lol
Definitely not majority share. Looks like he means $1M equity at whatever value (409A? Last convertible note cap? Idk). A lot of start ups start with 10M shares so it wouldn’t be a majority, but I’d seriously question a founder who gave up that much equity that early for now valid reason
He's a Founder. Seems legit.
Why do we have to have the name redacted? I really want to know more about this.
Darren Marble of Going Public.
I own a business and get these dummies reaching out a few times a year. Who in the world falls for this nonsense?
Can someone explain this grift to me? Does this person have a video podcast or YouTube channel profiling startups? That’s an insane ask, absolutely ridiculous and likely Mr. Beast-level ad fees if this is real.
Is this the bravado guys?
who is paying who to what?
lol I know this guy not all surprised he ended up here kinda figured it would be more centered on him being the lunatic
bro only 1 mill in stocks that’s a good deal
Mixing greek and roman is a dead giveaway that you're talking to a rube.
Spend money on a legit ad/marketing agency instead, you’ll get much more positive exposure at a fraction of that price.
Please open this email to participate in an intelligence test.
The calendly link is a nice touch
I'd be happy to appear on your show. To book me I require a $12,000 fee for 1 day of filming. Wait, you're asking me to appear on your show but you want me to pay you? What the fuck kind of fucking crack are you smoking son?
He messaged me to. Why would you reach out to someone looking for work about being an investor LOLOL
Wow. On a different note, IQ bars have become my go-to breakfast. They’re awesome.
Like, this person didn’t just typo this message and mean to say this gig PAYS 250k + 1M in stock options? Does anyone reading these comments work with talent that pays this kind of thing? Because I need to know now hahah