SBU
DealCycling
SBU is a cycling that got its big break on Shark Tank in Season 4, and convinced Robert Herjavec and Kevin O'Leary to invest.
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From the show
The Shark Tank pitch
- $300K
- Asked for
- 10%
- Offered equity
- $3M
- Sought valuation
- $300K
- Deal amount
- 33%
- Deal equity
- $909K
- Deal valuation
Founder Daniel Wood and David Martschinske stepped onto the carpet in Season 4, Episode 7 in the episode that aired October 26, 2012, bringing their Camas, WA business with them. SBU, the cycling, pitched in the Sports & Outdoors category, one of 154 sports & outdoors businesses to brave the Tank across all 17 seasons.
The ask was $300,000 for 10% of the company, an implied valuation of $3M.
Robert Herjavec and Kevin O'Leary teamed up at $300,000 for 33% equity. That priced the company at $909K, a haircut from the $3M the founders walked in asking for, which is how negotiations in the Tank usually go.
Season 4 saw 103 pitches, and 52 of them closed a deal on air. In the Sports & Outdoors category overall, roughly 64% of pitches have landed a shark across the show's history.
The full story
Everything to know about SBU
The SBU, or Self-Balancing Unicycle, was an electric, gyroscope-stabilized one-wheeled rideable that kept itself upright and let the rider lean to move, an early entry in the personal electric vehicle space. It came from Focus Designs, founded by Daniel Wood and David Martschinske out of Camas, Washington, who engineered the balancing technology themselves.
The pair asked for 300,000 dollars for 10 percent, a high valuation for an early-stage hardware company. The sharks were intrigued by the novelty but wary of the price and the niche market. Robert Herjavec and Kevin O'Leary made a joint offer of 300,000 dollars for a one-third stake, and Wood and Martschinske accepted the deal on the show.
The SBU stood out as a genuinely futuristic gadget at a time before self-balancing rideables went mainstream. The demonstration of a unicycle that balanced itself was striking, and the product later earned extra attention through appearances on shows like MythBusters and Tosh.0, cementing its novelty appeal.
Where SBU is now
The televised deal reportedly did not close in the end, but the exposure boosted sales and the company brought newer versions of the SBU to market. The media attention helped Focus Designs reach the enthusiast and early-adopter crowd interested in personal electric transport before the category exploded.
The SBU itself was discontinued around 2015. The Focus Designs website remains online but lists the unicycle as discontinued with no replacement products for sale. Daniel Wood stayed in the personal electric vehicle industry and later worked with the company behind the Onewheel, while David Martschinske moved into other technology work.
Where to buy SBU
The SBU is no longer manufactured or sold. The Focus Designs website is still up but describes the self-balancing unicycle as discontinued, with no current models available to purchase and no active inventory. If you are interested in self-balancing rideables today, the market has since filled with electric unicycles and one-wheeled boards from other brands that you can buy new through specialty and online retailers.
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Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy SBU?
Check current price and availability on Amazon. Note that some Shark Tank products are discontinued or sold under a new name. The company's official website is another option.
Did SBU get a deal on Shark Tank?
Yes. SBU closed a deal for $300,000 in exchange for 33% equity, with Robert Herjavec and Kevin O'Leary.
Which shark invested in SBU?
Robert Herjavec and Kevin O'Leary invested in SBU ($300,000 total as aired).
What season of Shark Tank was SBU on?
SBU appeared in Season 4, Episode 7, which aired October 26, 2012.
How much was SBU asking for on Shark Tank?
The founders asked for $300,000 for 10% of the company, a $3M valuation.
Can you still buy the SBU unicycle?
No. The self-balancing unicycle was discontinued around 2015 and is no longer produced or sold, though the Focus Designs website remains online.
Did the SBU close its Shark Tank deal?
The on-air deal was with Robert Herjavec and Kevin O'Leary for 300,000 dollars and a one-third stake, but reporting indicates the deal did not ultimately close.
What was the SBU?
It was an electric self-balancing unicycle from Focus Designs that used gyroscopic technology to stay upright while the rider leaned to control speed and direction.
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