BrandYourself Shark Tank Update | BrandYourself Net Worth

BrandYourself is a digital service that provides professional online reputation management and personal branding solutions. The concept of the product was presented in Season 6 of the hit TV show Shark Tank.

The service primarily helps individuals take control of their online image and internet presence, focusing on making positive information about them appear more prominently in search engine results.

BrandYourself uses advanced search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to improve and manage the online presence of its users. It works by highlighting and promoting positive and relevant content while simultaneously diminishing any undesirable search results.

The service also alerts users whenever their name is mentioned online, allowing them to respond or interact with new mentions in real-time.

Users can identify and promote positive content about themselves with BrandYourself thanks to an easy-to-use interface, SEO tools for optimizing online profiles and pages, an online tracking system that alerts them to new mentions, and a range of other features designed to improve their image online and their brand.

This service is particularly useful for professionals who want to ensure that their online presence accurately reflects their qualifications and achievements. It also can be a crucial tool for those who have been victims of online slander or negative publicity, helping them to regain control of their online image.

In today’s digital age, where employers, colleagues, and others often turn to the internet for information, managing one’s online reputation has never been more important.

Therefore, BrandYourself’s offering is highly relevant and potentially beneficial for many users.

What Is BrandYourself?

BrandYourself is an online reputation management and privacy protection service. Its main goal is to help individuals and businesses improve their online image and protect their personal information.

BrandYourself’s services are crucial in various aspects of life, like landing jobs or clients, selling products or services, applying to college or a visa, avoiding identity theft and hacks, preventing spam and telemarketers, and protecting sensitive personal info.

Here’s what BrandYourself offers:

• Improve Google results: It helps eliminate unflattering search results and enhance your online presence.
• Clean up social media: The service removes unprofessional posts and images that could impact your personal or professional life.
• Protect online privacy: BrandYourself can remove sensitive information like your home address, date of birth, phone number, etc., from the web.
• Build a personal brand: It aids in creating an online presence that highlights your accomplishments and boosts your career.

The BrandYourself software provides a free risk scan to identify any potential factors that could put your privacy or reputation at risk. It also offers customized action plans to improve your Google appearance and clean up your social media profiles.

BrandYourself also offers managed services for individuals and businesses and API & Risk Scan Technology.

Users’ testimonials and press reviews underline the effectiveness and value of BrandYourself services. BrandYourself offers a free risk scan and can be contacted via phone or live chat for additional information.

Who Is The Founder Of BrandYourself?

BrandYourself was co-founded by Patrick Ambron, Pete Kistler, and Evan Watson in 2010. 

Patrick Ambron, the CEO, comes from a background in search engine optimization (SEO) and online marketing. He studied entrepreneurship at Syracuse University, where he met co-founder Pete Kistler. 

Pete Kistler, the inspiration behind BrandYourself, faced a peculiar challenge as a student. Despite being an award-winning university student, Kistler was being turned down by potential employers.

Upon researching, he discovered that a criminal with the same name appeared in search results when his name was searched online. Potential employers misinterpreted Kistler’s online image due to their inability to differentiate between the two individuals.

Recognizing that many people could face similar issues, Kistler and Ambron launched BrandYourself, a platform to help people manage and improve their online reputations.

Before their appearance on Shark Tank, the team had already gained recognition for their innovative platform. BrandYourself won the Most Innovative Company award at South by Southwest, a major annual conglomerate of film, interactive media, music festivals, and conferences in Austin, Texas, in mid-March.

Despite this recognition, the platform was still relatively unknown to the general public. The team decided to go on Shark Tank to showcase their innovative solution to a broader audience and secure additional funding to scale their business.

How Was The Shark Tank Pitch of BrandYourself?

Patrick Ambron, one of the three co-founders of BrandYourself, presented the product on Shark Tank. He sought a $2 million investment for a 13.5% stake in the company, giving it an approximately $15 million valuation. 

In his pitch, Ambron explained the issue many people face with damaging or misleading online content, using a hypothetical example of a well-qualified individual, “Bob,” who struggled to find a job due to some embarrassing online photos.

He explained how BrandYourself could help individuals like “Bob” evaluate their online presence, identify issues, and offer custom solutions, such as proper tagging, publishing original content, and mentions on high-ranking third-party sites.

The Sharks were initially skeptical of the valuation, given the competitive landscape of the ORM market.

Patrick explained that BrandYourself operated on a freemium model, with customers being able to upgrade to a premium service for $10 per month or opt for a concierge service designed for larger businesses and executives.

Despite impressive revenue figures and promising growth projections, the Sharks questioned the market’s lack of social media functionality and differentiation.

Kevin O’Leary and Daymond John backed out first, citing concerns with the valuation and their unfamiliarity with the market, respectively.

Lori Greiner appreciated the founders’ hustle but was worried about competing with established competitors with significant advertising budgets.

Though recognizing the increasing importance of online reputation, Mark Cuban was worried about BrandYourself’s ability to adapt to shifting technologies and withdrew his interest. 

Robert Herjavec, seeing the potential in the company, made an offer of $2 million for a 25% stake, significantly higher than the 13.5% initially offered by Patrick.

Despite some pressure from Kevin to accept, Patrick, citing obligations to other investors with whom they had raised $3 million at the same valuation, declined Robert’s offer. This decision left BrandYourself without a deal from the Sharks.

Despite not landing a deal on Shark Tank, BrandYourself saw a significant boost in sales post-appearance, driven by the “Shark Tank effect.”

The company has continued to grow since then, expanding its user base, raising additional funds, and developing new features like AI software for scanning social media content.

Final Deal: No Deal between BrandYourself and Sharks.

What Happened To BrandYourself After Shark Tank?

BrandYourself didn’t secure a deal on Shark Tank, which didn’t hinder their progress. The exposure from the show, known as the “Shark Tank effect,” resulted in a significant boost to their business, reportedly generating over $1 million in sales. This was a substantial increase compared to their performance before the show.

BrandYourself continued to grow and evolve after their Shark Tank appearance. The time between filming the episode and its broadcast saw a significant expansion in the company’s revenue, from $2 million to approximately $6 million, and the number of employees grew from 40 to over 70. 

The company raised an additional $2 million in 2016 to extend its Series A funding round. This financial injection was aimed at expanding the company’s product lineup.

The company had amassed over 500,000 users and 30,000 paid subscribers by 2017. The platform was used for students at Johns Hopkins University and Syracuse University, and the company began offering its services to high school students.

In 2018, BrandYourself appeared on the BBC’s Dragon’s Den, where they accepted an offer from Peter Jones. They also introduced a new AI software capable of scanning an individual’s social media account to detect potentially damaging photos, comments, and posts.

This innovation uses similar technology and algorithms employed by hiring managers and alerts users of problematic content. By the end of that year, their user base had expanded to approximately one million.

BrandYourself is still in business, with over 70 employees and an annual revenue of $7 million. This significant growth since their Shark Tank appearance proves the company’s resilience and ability to capitalize on market needs despite not securing a deal on the show.

BrandYourself’s continued success suggests that they were able to accomplish their vision with help from other investors.

BrandYourself Shark Tank Update

BrandYourself, a reputation management software founded in 2010 by Pete Kistler, Patrick Ambron, and Evan McGowan-Watson, aimed to enhance online presence.

Despite not securing a deal on Shark Tank, the show’s exposure led to a $1 million boost in sales. The company expanded its Series A funding with $2 million, growing to over 70 employees and generating $7 million in annual revenue.

The company’s valuation reached $21.8 million in 2021, backed by investors like Zelkova Ventures and Atlantic Venture Partners.

BrandYourself introduced AI software to detect negative social media content and expanded its services to universities and high school students.

The company’s growth showcases its ability to capitalize on market needs despite the lack of a deal on Shark Tank, and it remains operational and successful in 2023.

Is BrandYourself Still In Business?

Our research shows that BrandYourself is still in business. Established in 2008, the company specializes in online reputation management, utilizing machine learning and natural language processing to enhance search results and privacy.

As of 2023, BrandYourself maintains 87 employees and has undergone an acquisition/merger. The company’s services focus on addressing online issues, promoting positive content, and advancing careers.

It continues to operate within the business/productivity software domain, and its growth indicators, employee count, and financial metrics emphasize its ongoing presence in the industry.

The company’s growth has also been evident through its appearance on Shark Tank, subsequent funding rounds, and expansion of services.

What Is the Net Worth of BrandYourself?

According to our research, the net worth of BrandYourself is estimated to be $20 million. The valuation of BrandYourself was $15 million when it appeared on Shark Tank.

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