Table of Contents Show
Windcatcher is a new type of inflatable bed. If you have watched the Windcatcher being demoed on Shark Tank, you know exactly how amazing it is.
People struggle to blow up traditional air mattresses by taking one lungful at a time. It takes a long time to blow up a traditional air mattress, so you will end up with an underinflated mattress and feel dizzy.
When an air mattress is completely deflated, it is as simple as using a small electric pump to force air into the mattress. There is nothing like carrying an expensive air mattress with you on camping trips, and powering it up is a big hassle.
Some mattresses have a built-in pump but are very heavy, so you need to deflate them yourself. Windcatcher is so simple it uses regular air mattresses, and in fact, it uses air pumps completely.
The Windcatcher is a revolutionary inflatable mattress that inflates in five to five breaths. It can quickly deflate in a matter of seconds. If you can blow out a birthday cake by blowing out the candles, you can blow up a Windcatcher mattress.
The Windcatcher requires no special equipment or power source; you blow into the large inflatable chamber and inflate like a large balloon. The wind blows past you as it blows through your nose when you come out of the chamber.
The air mattress inflates very quickly; if you blow a few breaths, it will begin working as soon as you roll it up and seal it up. The mattress does not touch your skin or mouth like old air mattress valves that catch dirt and germs.
Thankfully, the large air valve attached to the mattress makes it as easy as deflating it.
Suppose you have ever attempted to deflate an ordinary inflatable air mattress. In that case, you know what to do open the valve slowly, force all the air out of the mattress, then try to get all the air out of the side baffles and roll the mattress up for packing.
The Windcatcher technology allows people to deflate their air mattresses in a few seconds easily. There is no need for anything special.
The Windcatcher air mattress is both very comfortable and the easiest to inflate. The Windcatcher AirPad2 is built with a thick 4-inch mattress that will give you all the support you need for a good night’s sleep.
When fully inflated, the Windcatcher AirPad2 measures 74 x 20 x 4 inches; when rolled up, it measures only 8.5 x 4.5 x 4.5 inches. It is very compact for a mattress. It weighs only about 2 pounds.
| Company Name | Windcatcher |
| Entrepreneur | Ryan Frayne |
| Product | Innovating Air-Catching Mattress Pads |
| Investment Asking For | $200,000 For 8% equity in Windcatcher |
| Final Deal | $200,000 For 5% equity in Windcatcher |
| Shark | Lori Greiner |
| Episode | Season 7, Episode 6 |
| Business Status | Out Of Business |
| Website | Visit Website |
What Is Windcatcher?
Windcatcher is an inflatable mattress that inflates within no time. The Windcatcher product line comprises inflatable outdoor and travel gear that is easy to inflate thanks to a patented rapid inflation valve.
Windcatcher is a revolutionary air bed featured on Shark Tank. It has been gaining momentum as a popular and reliable sleeping option ever since.
The Windcatcher is an inflatable mattress that inflates and deflates in less than 30 seconds using a built-in pump, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual inflation. Its unique design includes extra baffles in the bottom portion to provide superior stability, comfort, and support while sleeping.
Windcatcher can also be used as an outdoor chair or lounger with its innovative multi-functional shape. The Windcatcher mattress comes with an easy-to-store travel bag and only weighs 4 lbs when deflated for maximum portability.
When Windcatcher first appeared on Shark Tank, several sharks were impressed by the idea and invested in the company.
The Windcatcher mattress stands out because of its technology. It does not require a pump or electricity to operate. It inflates instantly by blowing into the built-in valve.
Who Is The Founder Of Windcatcher?
Ryan Frayne, from Brooklyn, New York, is the founder and creator of Windcatcher. He presented Windcatcher on the Shark Tank show in 2015.
Windcatcher is a unique product that appeared on the American TV show “Shark Tank,” which allows entrepreneurs to pitch their business ideas to a panel of investors.
Ryan Frayne invented the Windcatcher technology, featured on the show in 2014 during Season 6.
The Windcatcher is an innovative inflation technology designed to quickly and easily inflate air mattresses, sleeping pads, and other inflatable products without a pump or mouth inflation.
The core concept behind Windcatcher is its ability to rapidly draw in and amplify the user’s breath, making it possible to inflate large items in a matter of seconds.
The Windcatcher design incorporates a special valve that allows air to flow in but not out, so you can inflate an item with just a few breaths. This valve also makes it easy to deflate the item quickly when you’re ready to pack up.
After its appearance on “Shark Tank,” Windcatcher received significant attention and interest from consumers and investors.
Ryan Frayne eventually partnered with investor and entrepreneur Lori Greiner, who offered a $200,000 investment in exchange for 5% equity in the company.
Since then, the Windcatcher technology has been licensed to other companies, and its applications have expanded beyond outdoor gear to include products such as life vests and medical devices.
Windcatcher Before Shark Tank
Ryan Frayne from Portland, Oregon, designed Windcatcher, a brilliant device that helps users avoid becoming breathless in the first place by preventing them from becoming breathless in the first place.
Ryan was inspired during a family trip to the beach. After watching his brother attempt to inflate a bed and mostly fail, he decided there must be a simpler method.
Ryan returned home to experiment with various valves until he discovered a phenomenon called air entrainment, which he discovered could dramatically improve the effectiveness of inflating objects.
Despite air entrainment being a proven technique, Ryan observed that no other company was developing inflatables that used it, at least not commercially.
Ryan developed a prototype of an inflatable toy he named the Air Bag; it could be inflated quickly with a valve that entrained air. He also designed a valve that allowed instant deflation of the bag.
Ryan took the usual approach innovators took to turn their ideas into tangible products: he turned to Kickstarter and began a campaign in May 2013.
Kickstarter backers responded enthusiastically to the $50,000 goal to cover setup costs. Towards the end of the campaign, Ryan had raised roughly $150,000, nearly three times the amount he had requested.
Ryan had big plans for the future, but he knew he would need the assistance and connections a business expert could provide to earn the millions he was certain his invention was worth.
This motivated him to apply to Shark Tank in October 2015 and become a guest on the show.
How Was The Shark Tank Pitch Of Windcatcher?
Ryan Frayne appeared on Shark Tank requesting an investment of $200,000 in exchange for an 8% stake in Windcatcher. Mark Cuban asks if he can give you $200,000 for an 8% equity plus some money if you pay upfront.
Chris Sacca asks Lori if she can accommodate her deal. I am very excited to be a part of that. Jim would like to join the deal. He would love to get some part of it.
Lori wants a larger stake and two Sharks working with him. He is willing to pay $200,000 to enter the retail industry. He says he does not want to take 20% of your equity. Lori offers him $200,000 and 6% equity. He accepts that. Lori offers him $200,000 for 5%.
Kevin O’Leary offers Ryan $200,000 for 8% of his share. Ryan wants to spend $200,000 doing that. Kevin has cut the equity he wants to hold by at least 40%. He is also going to get a $200,000 royalty.
He gets five percent for working with him. Kevin raises his offer to Kevin O’Leary. He combines it with his ability to get a better deal with other venture capitalists.
He will give him $200,000 for a royalty of 6% on all sales and a total of $800,000 plus 3% equity.
Ryan thinks that forcing him to pay the money back immediately is unfair. It is unfair to make him immediately pay it back. Kevin asks him to counter with another offer. Ryan is getting only 2 percent of the equity.
Lori offers $200,000 with 5% equity. Now, Kevin’s equity is 2 %. Lori offers him 200 000 for five (5) percent equity.
Robert Herjavec offers $200,000 for 10% equity. Lori gave him $200,000 for 6%. It appears Robert agrees. Lori gives the final push.
Robert offers $200,000 for 6%. Lori offers him $100,000 for 1%. Then he drops to $200,000 for 3%.
Lori Greiner offers him $200,000 for 15% equity. They love him, and he agrees. She will help him acquire it in retail. He is going to get it branded.
She prefers the way he writes his hand on his contract. Lori offers him $200,000 for 5% equity. The man makes the decision. He agrees to commit to the agreement with Lori.
Ryan Frayne leaves the Shark Tank stage with a deal from Lori Greiner for Windcatcher.
Final Deal: Lori agrees to a deal for $200,000 at 5% equity in Windcatcher plus a line of credit.
Windcatcher Shark Tank Recap
The Shark Tank pitch of Windcatcher was impressive and caught the attention of the investors. Ryan Frayne, the inventor of the Windcatcher technology, demonstrated how the product worked and highlighted its unique features during his pitch.
Frayne started his presentation by explaining the issues with traditional inflating air mattresses and other inflatables, such as the time-consuming process and the need for a pump or mouth inflation. He then introduced the Windcatcher as a quick and efficient solution to these problems.
To showcase the effectiveness of his invention, Frayne demonstrated how quickly the Windcatcher could inflate an air mattress. He blew into the special valve, and the mattress was fully inflated within seconds. The Sharks were visibly impressed by the speed and ease of inflation, and Frayne quickly deflated the mattress to emphasize its convenience.
Frayne then presented the business opportunity, explaining the potential market for Windcatcher technology in various industries, from outdoor recreation to medical devices. He sought a $200,000 investment for a 5% equity stake in his company.
The Sharks were intrigued by the Windcatcher technology and its potential applications. Some expressed concerns about the product’s patent protection and the possibility of competition.
However, investor Lori Greiner recognized the potential of the Windcatcher and offered the full $200,000 for 5% equity, which Frayne accepted.
The successful pitch on Shark Tank helped propel the Windcatcher technology into the public eye and secured a valuable partnership with Lori Greiner, ultimately contributing to the company’s growth and success.
What Happened To Windcatcher After Shark Tank?
The popularity of Windcatcher reached sky-high after its appearance on Shark Tank. However, the deal between Lori Greiner and Windcatcher was unable to finalize.
Sadly, Ryan Frayne passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2018, and Windcatcher was operated on by her wife, Lori Frayne.
There hasn’t been a single post on Windcatcher’s social media account since June 2019. Windcatcher’s website remains active but does not feature any products for sale. Windcatcher seems to have gone out of business.
Windcatcher Shark Tank Update
Windcatcher has earned considerable attention since the show first aired, and Ryan has been the subject of some light-hearted internet speculation. Ryan had prepared for the influx of orders following the show’s appearance and was pleasantly surprised when prospective customers arrived.
The Windcatcher airbags were on sale for a month following the episode instead of paying the full retail price of $99 to maximize his sales and raise awareness about Windcatcher products.
Ryan reported that sales had ‘gone through the roof due to the program. The technical ingenuity of Windcatcher was also noticed.
Inc.com named Windcatcher one of the seven best Shark Tank pitches of 2015, a month after Ryan’s appearance.
Windcatcher was named one of the 12 best gifts for travelers on Shark Tank by Forbes, an influential finance website, right before Christmas 2015.
Lori’s anticipated license deals have already begun to be signed. Windcatcher technology is licensed to Canadian Tire and Eagle Creek Travel Products in their air mattresses in Canada and worldwide.
Eagle Creek intends to incorporate Windcatcher technology into further products in the future.
Finally, Ryan Frayne established a modest online following his debut after exuding an aura of magic and mystery.
Lori Greiner, a Shark partner, and an award-winning firm gives him the confidence to sit back and relax. Maybe Windcatcher will become so huge that it will leave us all in awe of its magnitude in the future.
Is Windcatcher Still In Business?
After the Shark Tank appearance, Windcatcher experienced a significant increase in exposure and interest from both consumers and investors. Ryan Frayne’s partnership with Lori Greiner was pivotal in the company’s growth and development.
Post-Shark Tank, Windcatcher worked on improving and expanding its product line, which initially included outdoor gear such as air mattresses and sleeping pads.
The technology found new applications beyond outdoor recreation, with uses in life vests, medical devices, and other inflatable products.
The increased exposure and success of Windcatcher attracted the attention of larger companies. In 2017, it was announced that Exxel Outdoors, a major outdoor gear company, had acquired the Windcatcher technology.
Exxel Outdoors planned to integrate Windcatcher into its existing product lines and further develop and expand the technology’s applications.
This acquisition allowed the Windcatcher technology to reach a broader audience and benefit from the resources and expertise of an established company in the outdoor gear industry.
The integration of Windcatcher into various products and industries demonstrates the technology’s versatility and potential for ongoing growth and success.
The deal between Lori and Windcatcher ultimately failed, as another company with identical technologies was involved in litigation. Lori Greiner withdrew from the transaction.
Unfortunately, that was not all. Ryan was diagnosed with terminal cancer two weeks after filming his Shark Tank Pitch.
Eagle Creek has licensed the Windcatcher “Rapid Inflation Valve Technology” after its appearance on Shark Tank.
Although specific details about Windcatcher’s current performance and financial status are not publicly available, the acquisition by Exxel Outdoors and the continued expansion of the technology into new applications suggest that Windcatcher has experienced significant growth and success since its appearance on Shark Tank.
The travel accessory manufacturer is utilizing the technology in its Fast InflateTM Pillow. Windcatcher is out of business.
What Is the Net Worth of Windcatcher?
The valuation of Windcatcher was $2.5 million when it appeared on Shark Tank. The net worth of Windcatcher is $0 since the company is out of business.
