Pluto Pillow Shark Tank Net Worth

Pluto Pillow, which appeared on Season 12 of Shark Tank, is a groundbreaking sleep product designed to provide personalized comfort and improved sleep quality.

Pluto Pillow was founded by Susana Saeliu and Kevin Li in 2018 and conceived from a desire to solve persistent sleep-related problems primarily stemming from inadequate pillows.

Pluto Pillow’s standout feature is its hybrid and customizable design. Each Pluto Pillow is crafted according to the user’s requirements, ensuring a tailored fit that aligns with their sleep habits and physical needs.

The internal core of the pillow is made from high-performance foam that offers optimal support, while the outer plush cover, filled with tiny polyester microfibers, ensures a soft and comfortable surface. This combination promises a more restful and quality sleep experience.

Furthermore, Pluto Pillows uses CertiPUR-US certified foams, signifying that no harmful chemicals are used in the product’s manufacture, making it safer for the user and the environment.

The company also uses high-grade, hypoallergenic, temperature-regulating materials, enhancing the user’s comfort and eliminating common inconveniences like overheating.

What Is Pluto Pillow?

Pluto Pillow is a unique company specializing in creating customized pillows to cater to each individual’s needs and preferences. Customers embark on a personalized journey, starting with a questionnaire on the Pluto Pillow website.

This inquiry asks about body statistics, sleep positions, and existing pillow preferences. This information helps Pluto Pillow understand the customer’s unique requirements.

Based on these responses, the company then designs a tailor-made pillow to provide the ideal balance of comfort and support for each customer.

The personalized Pluto Pillow is not just about customization but also quality. Made hypoallergenic for sensitive users, it ensures a healthier sleep environment. What sets Pluto apart is their 100-night trial.

Customers can try their new pillow for over three months, and if they are not completely satisfied, they can return it for a full refund. This consumer-centric approach places the power in the hands of the customers, ensuring they find the perfect pillow for their needs.

Each Pluto Pillow is hypoallergenic and comes with a 100-night trial, during which you can return the pillow for a full refund if it doesn’t meet your expectations.

Who Is The Founder Of Pluto Pillow?

The founders of Pluto Pillows are Susana Saeliu and Kevin Li. Both individuals have an entrepreneurial background, bringing a wealth of business expertise to their venture.

Susana Saeliu, a University of Southern California Marshall School of Business graduate, comes from an entrepreneurial family. Before establishing Pluto Pillows, she was involved in several other business ventures.

She founded the Kora brand, a bamboo bath tissue company, and TRADEX, Inc., a reverse logistics firm. On the other hand, Kevin Li has a degree in Computational and Data Science from the University of California, Davis.

Like Susana, Kevin also hails from an entrepreneurial family. Before co-founding Pluto Pillows, he had experience working in an electronics distribution company. The inception of Pluto Pillows can be traced back to Susana’s struggle with persistent neck pain.

She would wake up each morning with severe discomfort, which she attributed to her pillows. Despite extensive market research for the perfect pillow, she found none adequately addressed her issues.

Realizing this problem, Susana and Kevin started Pluto Pillows in 2018 to provide customized, high-quality pillows to improve sleep quality.

Before appearing on Shark Tank, the duo focused on researching the best design for their unique product. They consulted with sleep experts, consumers, and physical therapists to understand what individuals look for in a pillow.

Leveraging Susana’s connections with a top pillow manufacturing company and Kevin’s data science background, they developed an algorithm allowing customers to design their pillows based on their specific needs.

Despite navigating the initial challenges of launching a startup, Pluto Pillows gradually gained recognition. Several media publications, including House Beautiful Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Architectural Digest, Oprah Daily, and Essence, acknowledged their innovative approach, greatly boosting their reputation and visibility.

By the time they stepped onto the Shark Tank stage, they had already established a solid footing in the market and were ready to scale their business further.

How Was The Shark Tank Pitch Of Pluto Pillow?

Susana Saeliu and Kevin Li, founders of Pluto Pillow, pitched their business in Season 12 of Shark Tank, seeking an investment of $400,000 for a 5% stake in their company, valuing Pluto Pillow at $8 million.

Pluto Pillow’s pitch involved a product line demonstration, a detailed explanation of their unique selling proposition (custom-made pillows based on individual needs), and a business model and financials review.

During their presentation, Susana and Kevin shared the story behind Pluto Pillow and the technology used to manufacture the pillows, including a patented algorithm that customizes pillows based on customers’ preferences.

They presented each shark with custom pillows, demonstrating the personalization feature central to their product offering.

They reported increasing sales from 2018 to 2020 regarding their financial performance. In 2018, the sales were $197,000, which rose to $473,000 in 2019, and $490,000 halfway through 2020.

The business was steadily growing, an aspect that attracted the attention of the Sharks. However, their cost of production and shipping was relatively high, with each pillow costing around $25 to $30 to produce and $18 to ship.

The Sharks had differing views on the product. Lori Greiner thought it was a competitive market and opted out.

Mark Cuban did the same but advised to predict customer preferences using previous sales data to reduce customization costs.

Daniel Lubetzky felt the business lacked uniqueness, and Kevin O’Leary expressed dissatisfaction with the company’s valuation.

Robert Herjavec was the only Shark who made an offer. He proposed $400,000 for a 20% equity stake in Pluto Pillow, believing in the product’s potential and the founders’ ability to overcome current business challenges.

However, Susana and Kevin felt the equity ask was too high and declined Robert’s offer, leaving Shark Tank without a deal.

Despite not securing a deal on the show, their appearance increased sales and publicity for Pluto Pillow. Customer reviews of the product are mostly positive, suggesting a promising future for the company.

Final Deal: No deal between Sharks and Pluto Pillow.

What Happened To Pluto Pillow After Shark Tank?

Although they didn’t receive investment from the Sharks, Pluto Pillow attracted funding from venture capital firms like Lombard Street Ventures, K2VC, and 500 Startups.

This financial backing allowed them to expand their product offerings and improve their foam core design for maximum comfort.

Daniel Lubetzky, one of the Sharks, became a customer of Pluto Pillow, highlighting the product’s appeal and quality.

The company also faced the challenge of operating with a low margin, but despite this, it thrived and reported an estimated annual revenue of $4 million.

The founders, Susana Saeliu and Kevin Li, used their expertise and industry connections to create the unique pillow design, consulting with sleep experts and therapists.

Pluto Pillow’s technology allows customization based on customer instructions, ensuring a personalized sleep experience.

The company continued to focus on the US market but expressed plans for international expansion. Pluto Pillow operated with 2-10 employees and had its headquarters in the City of Industry, California.

Despite not securing a deal on Shark Tank, Pluto Pillow flourished and became a successful business with a dedicated customer base and a solid net worth of $8 million.

Pluto Pillow’s innovative approach to personalized pillows and dedication to customer satisfaction contributed to its growth and success in the competitive sleep product market.

Pluto Pillow Shark Tank Update

Despite not securing a deal with the Sharks, the exposure on the show provided a boost to their business, leading to an increase in both orders and website traffic.

The company reportedly received positive customer reviews, averaging 4.8 stars based on 1,186 reviews. This indicates high customer satisfaction with their product.

In addition, in subsequent funding rounds, Pluto Pillow secured investments from venture capital firms like K2VC, 500 Startups, and Lombard Street Ventures.

The additional funding allowed the company to expand its product offerings, increasing the variety of materials and customization options available to customers.

Moreover, the publicity from Shark Tank resulted in Pluto Pillow receiving media coverage from various publications. They were even featured in Gearpatrol Magazine’s “10 Best Pillows to Sleep Better Tonight and Every Night” article.

The company was generating an estimated $5 million in annual revenue, valued at around $8 million as of the last report. Pluto Pillow’s official website receives around 100,000 monthly visibility, suggesting a strong online presence.

Despite the high production and shipping costs that were a concern during their Shark Tank pitch, Pluto Pillow continued to thrive and attract customers with its innovative product design.

However, they have yet to reveal further information about their sales report, leaving room for speculation about the exact financial growth after their appearance on Shark Tank.

Pluto Pillow has successfully leveraged the exposure from Shark Tank, expanded its product line, and secured substantial funding, enhancing their reputation and positioning in the customizable pillow market.

Our research shows that Pluto Pillow is still in business. The company offers customizable pillows designed for side sleepers, stomach sleepers, back sleepers, and combination sleepers.

Pluto Pillow is still in business and offers personalized and customizable pillows to meet individual sleep needs and preferences.

What Is the Net Worth Of Pluto Pillow?

According to our research, the net worth of Pluto Pillow is estimated to be $13 million. The valuation of Pluto Pillow was $8 million when it appeared on Shark Tank.