ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / NEWS

Kevin O'Leary was ready to invest in a nurse's company but he had one brutal condition: "You got to..."

The Boston-based nurse sought $100,000 for 10% equity in her company, Tranquilo, a baby-care product.
PUBLISHED MAR 8, 2025
Kevin O'Leary and Melissa Gersin in as still from 'Shark Tank' Season 8 Ep 16. (Cover image source: YouTube| CNBC Ambition)
Kevin O'Leary and Melissa Gersin in as still from 'Shark Tank' Season 8 Ep 16. (Cover image source: YouTube| CNBC Ambition)

Although Kevin O'Leary does seem affable during pitches on "Shark Tank" and even gets emotional once in a while, he can be sharp while scrutinizing numbers and ruthless when it comes down to negotiating a deal. Maternity nurse Melissa Gersin came to the business reality show with a unique childcare product and sought $100,000 for 10% equity in her company, Tranquilo. The maternity nurse combined her experience and expertise to create a vibrating baby mat that replicated the soothing sensations of the womb.

"I'm a maternity nurse and as an infant crying specialist I know the secret to stop any fussy baby's wails the trick is to activate a baby's calming response by mimicking what they've experienced in the womb," Gersin explained. But, while the product was good enough to impress sharks, Mr. Wonderful was rather blunt when he put forth his condition to invest in her firm.



 

Gersin demonstrated the product on a screen, and the sharks seemed to be instantly captivated with the results. She added that parents could use the infant care product practically anywhere without "losing their sanity" because the mat was washable, portable, and had a waterproof exterior. She then disclosed that she had patents and that, in less than a year, she made a profit of $65,000. After conducting some market research, she intended to retail the product for $99, even though it cost $20 to create. After the impressive pitch, Daymond John offered $100,000 for 20%, along with a licensing deal.



 

However, Kevin O'Leary had a shocking condition for his offer of $250,000 for 25% equity. He said, "If you really want to make this a business you got to be 100% focused I'll give you a quarter of a million dollars for 25%, you got to stop working you've got to be 100% getting smart that's enough Capital to get you going replace your salary and you can build some inventory." Lori Greiner agreed with him and added, "I think he gave you a great offer he's giving you basically what you asked for but he's giving you more money but you have to give up a lot more." Gersin created the product herself, contributed $180,000 of her own funds, worked 80 hours a week as a nurse, and invested in the company. 

Kevin O'Leary at Emerge Americas 2022  on April 18th, 2022 in Miami Beach, Florida.(Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by Manny Hernandez)
Kevin O'Leary at Emerge Americas 2022 on April 18th, 2022 in Miami Beach, Florida.(Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by Manny Hernandez)

"I actually won't do the deal unless you quit your job," O'Leary clearly stated. However, Gersin remained indecisive about the equity that she was willing to share. She offered 15% to O'Leary, which he countered with a demand for 20%. The other sharks backed out after noticing that the maternity nurse was not ready for a profitable deal. All eyes were on Robert Herjavec, who put in an offer of $200,000 for 15%. Gersin acknowledged the deal and accepted it, as per Looper, but the final details did not work out for both parties, and it fell through. The maternity nurse did not quit her job and failed to make time for the growth of her business. The Betesh Group's infant products branch, Boom Consumer Products, purchased Tranquilo in 2018. Gersin released a press statement saying, "I'm excited to have sold 'my baby' to Baby Boom so that they can bring this unique and effective sleep solution to parents around the world."

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
While some tried to figure out what it was, others were annoyed.
15 hours ago
The new scam is sending out letters with bogus toll-free numbers that connect to scammers.
16 hours ago
When Harvey heard a relatable answer, the memories came rushing back to him.
1 day ago
Gas prices have been one of the bright spots of the U.S. economy, and the outlook for 2026 is here.
1 day ago
The player, Jenane who tried hard to ace the Cover Up game was overwhelmed with emotion
2 days ago
On Christmas day, the contestant, Paul pulled off a win with the tiniest of margins.
5 days ago
This tech giant is betting on the next primary computing device for the world.
5 days ago
This marked the second time this week a player lost out on the $100,000 prize.
5 days ago
Turns out Harvey was just trying to help out a player get some points.
6 days ago
Host Ken Jennings accepted an answer despite an error that most found unacceptable.
6 days ago
The U.S. district court judge's ruling comes ahead of a verdict on tariffs by the Supreme Court.
6 days ago
The player, Erica Sciuto picked all the letters that she needed to win.
6 days ago
While the host comically tried to hide the mistake, the prop was clearly on the floor.
7 days ago
Harvey wasn't prepared to hear some of the answers, at all.
7 days ago
Starting January 7, about 7,000 defaulters are set to receive notices from the Education Department.
7 days ago
Even the host, Ryan Seacrest was surprised to see the good player lose out.
7 days ago
Walmart has deployed several AI-powered tools to deliver a smooth shopping experience.
Dec 23, 2025
The warehouse retailer is making a layout change, which may dictate how long customers wait for checkout.
Dec 23, 2025
Retailers including Best Buy, Kohl's, Macy's, and more will charge a fee on returns.
Dec 23, 2025
Hearing the answers, Harvey wondered how the team that won the question got so far in the game
Dec 16, 2025