ATLANTA — A Georgia Tech engineering graduate, who nearly died after being shot in an armed robbery several years ago, has pitched his business plan to the billionaire investors on the hit ABC television show "Shark Tank."
Patrick Whaley, a 2010 graduate, was scheduled to appear on the show Friday night to seek funding for his company, Titin.
The company sells weighted compression shirts, which are used by athletes to boost workouts. The jacket-like garment
contains 8 pounds of removal gel pads that evenly distribute additional weight over the chest, shoulders, abdomen and back.
"It's as if you're training on Earth and competing on the moon. As soon as you take it off, you're going to be able to jump higher, run faster and be more agile.," said Whaley.
Whaley told Channel 2's Tom Regan that sales revenue from the product jumped from $10,000 per month last October to $1 million per month in May. College and professional sports teams have purchased the product, as well as Olympic teams.
"The Netherlands Olympics speed skating team used our product for training in Sochi and won 24 medals at Sochi," said Whaley.
Whaley said he was invited by producers of "Shark Tank" to pitch his company to the billionaire panel of business investors.
He told Regan it was the toughest business plan pitch he had ever made.
"Being in front of the 'sharks' is extremely intimidating. They don't know anything about the business beforehand, and you have to condense everything you have in a concise manner. They're very quick witted. Everything is filmed live. It's a whole different experience.," said Whaley.
A robber shot Whaley in the chest in the parking deck of his midtown apartment in May 2009. He said he used a prototype of his vest to speed his recovery.
"What I kept coming back to was just don't give up. Whatever it is, you have to have faith in what you do and believe in it. And if the product is fantastic, it will grow."
Whaley said by contract, he can't reveal what happened during his pitch until the show airs.
"I can't talk about, but it's a really good episode. It's got a really good twist to it.," said Whaley.
"Shark Tank" airs on WSB-TV Channel 2 at 9 p.m.