BellyBuds Shark Tank Update | BellyBuds after the Shark Tank Pitch
What is BellyBuds?
BellyBuds is a “prenatal sound system” designed for pregnant women to listen to music for their unborn child.
The buds were created to let the expecting woman to walk around while still playing music to her unborn child.
William Curtis came up with the idea for the BellyBuds and then sought his buddy Matt Von Wadden, a product designer, for assistance in constructing the buds.
They are currently attempting to rescue their business following a decline in revenue.
William invented the BellyBuds when he discovered that his pregnant wife desired to play music to their unborn child but was unable to do so due to other responsibilities.
He then sought a buddy, who assisted him with the design, and the two formed a partnership.
They conducted study and discovered that music exposure to a foetus over the age of twenty weeks is critical for the development of the baby’s voice and sound recognition.
Their idea gained widespread attention after it was featured on two popular television series, keeping up with the Kardashians and Modern Family.
Who is the Founder of BellyBuds?
Curtis Williams and Matt Von Waaden.
What happen to BellyBuds at the Shark Tank Pitch?
Curtis Williams and Matt Von Waaden, the inventors of BellyBuds, pitched their firm on Shark Tank in November 2013, seeking a $500,000 investment in exchange for 12.5 percent of the company. This represents a $4 valuation.
The couple brings along a pregnant model to demonstrate how the product works, displaying how it adheres to the lady’s tummy.
They describe how the baby reacts to audio stimulation while still in the womb.
Sales were $300,000 in the first year (2012), and they were already above 500,000 in the first half of 2013.
Matt speaks up and explains that they are reaching approximately 1.8 million dollars in gross product sales. Despite the great sales, the company is now losing money. They’d sold stuff to firms who undersold it, jeopardizing their ties with other shops.
They were able to manage the situation by halting sales until the under-sellers were exhausted, so preserving their ties with their key retailers.
BellyBuds retail for $49.99 and are made for less than $10 each bundle.
Lori inquires about the patent, and Matt responds that there is a pending patent as well as multiple trademarks; Lori remarks that the trademark will not prevent their goods from being duplicated. Lori Greiner is involved.
Kevin O’Leary calls the value into doubt. The couple has merchandise in warehouses. Lori Greiner departs based on her previous business blunders.
Barb believes that the price of $500,000 is exorbitant for any amount of equity given the quantity of sales; the arithmetic do not line up, and she refuses any agreement.
The entrepreneurs’ chances are being harmed by the value. Kevin O’Leary does not feel he can profit from the pair. He’s gone.
Robert Herjavec claims he was intrigued until Mark Cuban mentioned that he and his wife had been using comparable goods for the last ten years.
Herjavec feels the competition is too fierce, and the couple lacks a market niche with enough difference to set them apart. “I don’t want to waste your time,” he adds as he walks away.
Without a patent, they will be knocked off “all the way to Hong Kong,” according to Mark Cuban. Mark has left, and Matt and Curtis from BellyBuds left without finding an investor for their company.
BellyBuds after the Shark Tank Pitch
The website was able to keep up with the flow after Shark Tank, despite an increase in traffic from 200-300 hits per day to 15,000 the night the episode aired.
Retail sales increased as well, doubling over the weekend and stabilizing at almost double in the week after the event.
Belly Buds are now accessible online, both through the website and through retail stores such as Amazon, as well as through other large retailers such as Babyland and BuyBuyBaby in the United States, Canada, and even globally.
The firm rebranded in 2017 and is now known as WaveHello.
They also launched several new items. The Soundbub is a plush toy/radio, while the LoveBub is a lamb-headed blankie that plays music and white noise.
They also sell a new-born footprint/handprint kit that may be framed.
Fast forward to August 2021, and the firm is doing well, with an annual sales of $5 million.
BellyBuds Net Worth
Owners pitched their firm on Shark Tank seeking a $500,000 investment in exchange for 12.5 percent of the company. This represents a $4 valuation.
BellyBuds Competitors
Babausa is a competitor of BellyBuds.
BellyBuds FAQS
What is BellyBuds?
BellyBuds is a “prenatal sound system” designed for pregnant women to listen to music for their unborn child.
The buds were created to let the expecting woman to walk around while still playing music to her unborn child.
Who is founder of BellyBuds?
Curtis Williams and Matt Von Waaden.
How much were they asking in the Shark Tank?
Curtis Williams and Matt Von Waaden were seeking a $500,000 investment in exchange for 12.5 percent of the company.
Did they get the deal from the Sharks?
They did not get any investment from the sharks.
When did they start BellyBuds?
Curtis Williams and Matt Von Waaden got the BellyBuds Business started back in 2009 and has been growing at a steady rate ever since.
Where is the headquarters of Belly Buds?
Belly Buds’ headquarters are in Los Angeles, California, USA.
What exactly is the Belly Buds industry?
Belly Buds works in the Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing business.
What is the phone number for Belly Buds?
The phone number for Belly Buds is (866) 500-2627.
What exactly is the Belly Buds website?
The website for Belly Buds is www.wavhello.com.
What year did Belly Buds begin?
Belly Buds began in 2009.
Are BellyBuds safe?
BellyBuds are safe customized speakers that softly stick to their baby belly and securely deliver memory-shaping sound straight to the womb.
BellyBuds is a safe and effective first step in connecting with their soon-to-be bundle of joy, whether it’s a relaxing melody or a bond-forming voice message.
Are Belly Buds worth it?
5.0 stars out of 5, it’s well worth it.
How do they use BellyBuds?
Plug their BellyBuds into any regular digital music player to get started. They then have two options on how to wear them:
1) No adhesive required – simply tuck them into their pregnant jeans or pregnancy support gear.
2) Adhesive – attach them to their abdomen with the supplied skin-safe Adhesive Disks.
Can they use belly buds with iPhone?
BellyBuds Baby Bump Headphones are compatible with the iPhone 7, as long as they include the Apple aux converter to plug into the 3.5mm aux jack.
Is it good to put headphones on pregnant belly?
Do not put earbuds or headphones straight on their stomach. The sound will magnify as it flows through the amniotic fluid to their baby, perhaps damaging their kid’s fragile ears.
Should they play music for their baby in the womb?
Listening to and experiencing music stimulates the brain of the foetus and aids in the development of brain structures.
According to new research, new-borns recall music they heard in the womb for up to four months after birth.
What volume should BellyBuds be on?
When wearing headphones on their belly, it is advisable to keep the music at or below 70 decibels.
When can they start using BellyBuds?
At around 20 weeks, a baby’s hearing is fully developed. Memories begin at the age of 30.
What is the net worth of Curtis Williams?
Unknown.
What is the net worth of Matt Von Waaden?
Unknown.