BearTek Shark Tank Update | BearTek Net Worth

BearTek is a Bluetooth smart glove created by Willie Blount and Tarik Rodgers. It is designed to help you control your smartphone, music player, or other devices without physically touching them.

BearTek glove has a module inside, allowing the user to control the device wirelessly. The material used for the glove is drum-dyed leather palm and fingers, and it is made in the USA. The BearTek glove also supports the control of an action camera such as a GoPro.

What Is BearTek?

BearTek is a company that manufactures and sells special blue tooth gloves that are designed to control smartphones, cameras, and other devices. The gloves have six touchpoints that create different commands and a module in a pocket on the wrist.

BearTek gloves pair with devices via blue tooth technology, making them safer and warmer than taking off gloves. The gloves range in price from $79-$250 depending on the style and which modules are included.

The company was founded by Willie Blount and Tarik Rodgers and launched in 2012. The products are available on Amazon. BearTek was a range of gloves that allowed users to use their GoPro cameras and smartphones without removing their gloves.

You can use BearTek gloves to operate digital devices by using finger motions remotely, so one can communicate, record videos, or listen to music without removing the gloves.

BearTek gloves target athletes and outdoors enthusiasts, including runners, bikers, motorsports fans, and winter sports enthusiasts. Willie Blount and Tarik Rodgers of BearTek seek to end this deadly human problem.

BearTek Shark Tank Update | BearTek Net Worth

They hope to bring “safety, convenience, and control” to everyone on the planet through the brilliant development of their Bluetooth SmartGloves, which can be worn anywhere from the ski slopes to the sidewalk.

BearTek Bluetooth SmartGloves is a pair of gloves created for the common adventurer. BearTek Gloves are available for every occasion, from traditional wear to snow sports to riding, and they have various options to meet everyone’s needs.

These bags’ weather-resistant leather and nylon structure protect against the elements but conceal some of their most outstanding features.

BearTek gloves can remotely control a smartphone or GoPro camera directly from the palm using their fingertips.

A skier or cyclist on the highway who reaches into their back pocket for their phone is the most dangerous thing they can do while skiing or cycling. You’ll never have to worry about that with BearTek gloves.

You can wirelessly control your music, phone, or camera by touching one of the nodes on your thumbs.

Company NameBearTek
EntrepreneurWillie Blount and Tarik Rodgers
Product / BusinessWireless gloves that control smartphones and cameras
Investment Asking For$500,000 for 5% equity in BearTek
Final DealNo Deal
SharkNo Shark
Episode Season 7, Episode 16
Business StatusOut Of Business
WebsiteBearTek Website

Who Is The Founder Of BearTek?

The founders of BearTek are William Blount and Tarik Rodgers, both from Texas, with Blount located in Columbia. Motorcycle enthusiast, Willie wanted to listen to music while riding, while Tarik wanted to use his phone and camera without taking off his gloves while skiing.

The duo developed BearTek’s ski and riding gloves in collaboration. A Bluetooth sensor is built into the glove’s left hand. You can activate different device controls by pressing your thumb and a finger together.

These activities are carried out without removing the gloves, resulting in a safer and more comfortable experience.

The gloves are equipped with Bluetooth modules that allow them to communicate with the devices in their pocket. The system has a module for smartphones and one for digital cameras.

The gloves cost varies from $79 to $250, depending on the design and number of modules. They tried to fund the project through the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter in 2012 but ultimately failed.

BearTek Before Shark Tank

BearTek glove system was developed by Willie Blount of Colombia and his cousin Tarik Rodgers of Dallas. It allows users to control electronic devices by simply touching them.

An ambitious skier, Tarik is looking for a device that will allow him to take pictures, answer calls, listen to music, and control apps while on the ski slopes.

Willie, who studied electronic theory in the Marine Corps for over six years, thought he had hit upon something when he heard about his cousin’s proposal.

Willie was a passionate motorcyclist, and he always found the inability to regulate music a problem for himself and his riding companions and friends.

They collaborated to develop the BearTek Glove system, which became available after eighteen months of research, development, and testing. The BearTek founders applied to Shark Tank’s open casting session in the summer of 2015 after being encouraged by many friends.

Since they knew there was a low success rate (less than one percent of applications were accepted) and a low likelihood of getting selected, they had little optimism; but they were still in a fortunate position.

They were chosen to appear on the show and ultimately appeared in February 2016.

How Was The Shark Tank Pitch Of BearTek?

Willie and Tarik appeared on Shark Tank demanding an investment of $500,000 in exchange for a 5 percent stake in BearTek. 

BearTek sold 1500 units in 15 months at a profit of $200,000. Tarik says he invested $500,000 to get the company started.

Final Deal: No deal between BearTek and Sharks.

What Happened To BearTek After Shark Tank?

The well-made and professionally produced video that Tarik created presented the reason for launching a new product. There was nothing different about the gloves from the ones featured on Shark Tank, but an app was developed specifically for them in the updated version.

When complete, the BearTek software can fully configure the gloves across virtually any device and support WiFi and Bluetooth on one module, allowing for greater flexibility.

The updated version of Beartek would also offer a liner option, allowing the owner to use it with their choice of gloves. Finally, Tarik mentioned that the BearTek team would develop a developer kit for third parties to create gadgets that interface with the gloves.

The Indiegogo campaign initially appeared to have ended with no supporters, but additional investigation revealed that things were not quite as they seemed.

Tarik provided the most recent update on the campaign, explaining that BearTek had received $60,000, which meant that they exceeded their initial goal, but that additional challenges had arisen, forcing them into a period of ‘Hibernation’ until the issues could be resolved.

Tarik also expressed his gratitude to the campaign backers and promised that BearTek would return stronger than ever. However, BearTek went dark in May 2019, with its website and social media accounts removed.

BearTek Shark Tank Update

Despite not securing a deal with any of the Sharks on the show, BearTek continued to operate and develop its brand and products after its Shark Tank appearance.

Their exposure from the show helped raise awareness of their innovative smart gloves and attracted attention from potential customers and investors.

However, BearTek faced challenges in the competitive wearable technology market. BearTek’s official website and social media accounts have become inactive, suggesting that the company may have ceased operations or gone dormant.

The current status of the company is unclear, but it seems that the challenges it faced in scaling its business and competing in the wearable technology market may have impacted its long-term viability.

The popularity of BearTek grew even though it didn’t get investment from any of the Sharks on the Shark Tank. However, the founder of BearkTek launched an IndieGoGo campaign to fund the project, and it raised $60,000.

BearTek Shark Tank Update

The website of BearTek went offline in May 2019 as the founder closed its operation. Eventually, the founder of BearTek refunded the money of every backer of IndieGoGo. However, you can still purchase BearTek gloves on Amazon.

Is BearTek Still In Business?

​​BearTek’s social media profiles were deactivated in July 2016. The BearTek website is no longer available for viewing. BearTek gloves, on the other hand, are still available on Amazon.

Their LinkedIn profile of Blount shows that in February 2017, he launched a new smartphone mount company in Columbia, Maryland, with the help of a former Marine Information Technology specialist.

Rodgers has also been employed at Skin Specialists of Allen/Addison in Dallas, Texas, since April 2016 as Vice President of Marketing and Operations.

What Is the Net Worth Of BearTek?

The valuation of BearTek was $10 Million when it appeared on Shark Tank. However, the net worth of Beartek is $0 as BearTek is out of business.

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