| SEASON 4 EPISODE 19 | |
|---|---|
| Pitch | cell phone screen protection |
| Entrepreneur | David Artuso and Mike Kane |
| Asked For | $160,000 for 20% |
| Deal | No Deal |
| Shark | No Shark |
| Status | In Business |
Company Background
What is CellHelmet?
With a couple of hundred dollars worth of smartphone gadgetry in your pocket, the last thing you want to do is drop and possibly damage it. Yet, inevitably this occurrence of dropping it at least seems to happen once a week to even the most cautious. CellHelmet have come to the rescue for this occurrence, offering mobile phone protective cases, screen protectors, cables, charging accessories, power banks, and magnetic mounts. Everything the on-the-go phone user needs.
Who Owns CellHelmet?
The founders of CellHelmet, David Artuso (Chief Marketing Officer), Michael Kane (CEO), and Bryan McHenry (COO), are natives of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
David is a graduate of Penn State University who worked in sales for a local ski shop prior. David has since gone on to further his studies, founded other companies, and now works as a Sourcing Manager for an electric performance brand.
Michael is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh who’d founded another company prior, CellPig, which would become CellHelmet.
Michael remains with the company as CEO and founded another company that manufactures bottles in the US. According to his Twitter account, Bryan is now a Social Media Manager for a gaming platform.
Founder’s Story
The idea for the company started with the need to create an almost indestructible cellphone case for the iPhone.
However, to get people on board and justify the $45 asking price, they wanted to partner with an insurance company to include a one-year warranty. And offer a guarantee that any phone damaged with this protective case would get a free repair or replacement.
So they began a Kickstarter campaign in 2012, raised $19,000, and sold 1300 units over four months. Then, with funds in the bank, and sales trickling in, they decided they needed to attract more significant investors to reach a larger market.
CellHelmet Shark Tank Update
Is CellHelmet Still in Business?
CellHelmet remains in business with an active website and headquarters in Pittsburgh, USA and Shenzhen, China, and a full-time staff total of around 30. And their line of products is found in over 3000 stores across the USA and on Amazon.
Following their appearance on Shark Tank, they received funding from investors who owned and operated several Verizon stores in Pennsylvania—this financial aid and mobile market insight helped them expand their reach while increasing their production and product range.
In addition, they have pivoted from offering free phone damage repair to lifetime warranties on their products only.
Don’t trust the reviews on Amazon. The owner gave away free product to boost reviews. There are better liquid glass products in the market. Cellhelmet only sells the image of them being better because there are more (unnecessary) steps for appeared value. It isn’t worth the money nor the time it will take them to respond to any damage claims.
The product maybe good but what use is it if the app doesn’t work to resister the product. I fell like I’ve been conned. I will look for a similar product that delivers.