MCsquares Net Worth and Shark Tank Update – After Shark Tank

M.C. Squares is a company making sticky notes and whiteboards appeared on Shark Tank in Season 11 (2020). Founder Anthony Franco asked for $300,000 for 10% equity and struck a deal with Kevin O’Leary for $300,000 for 25% equity which was later modified. The terms of the deal were later renegotiated to $50,000 for 11% equity.

Franco identified two primary problems. He noticed that traditional boardroom meetings made it difficult for all employees, especially quieter ones, to participate in the process without feeling the pressure of groupthink. Traditional single use sticky notes and paper planners generated landfill waste and were costly over time.

M.C. Squares offered a line of reusable, adhesive free dry erase sticky notes (“Stickies”) and personal whiteboards. The stickies relied on micro suction technology to stick to smooth surfaces that could be wiped clean and reused thousands of times. Replacing the need for traditional paper notes.

Scaling too quickly and burning through cash during pandemic period led to severe financial trouble. While the company is not actively operating at a profitable scale today. It has no formal overall “net worth” valuation on public record post bankruptcy they successfully restructured.

MCsquares Net Worth

Anthony Franco asked for a $300,000 investment in exchange for 10% equity in MC Squares. This meant he valued his company at $3 million. He made a deal with Kevin O’Leary for $300,000 in exchange for 25% equity, which valued his company at $1.2 million. After the show aired, MC Squares saw a big increase in website traffic, sales, and social media exposure. With an estimated 10% yearly growth rate (typical business growth), the current net worth of MC Squares is about $1.92 million.

Did The M. C. Squares Get a Deal on Shark Tank?

Yes, M.C. Squares creator of reusable sticky notes and dry erase whiteboards successfully landed a deal on Shark Tank in 2020 with Kevin O’Leary (“Mr. Wonderful”. Founder Anthony Franco initially agreed to a deal of $300,000 for 25% equity on the show. After the episode was filmed and prior to it airing, the company experienced rapid growth. Because they didn’t need as much capital, Franco and O’Leary renegotiated the terms to $50,000 for an 11% stake.

Despite the high profile deal and early success which included a 600% growth rate in 2020, the company ultimately faced hard financial struggles. In December 2023, M.C. Squares filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to reorganize its finances, rising operational costs and net operating losses.

Shark(s) name	Offer & Demand	Counteroffer	Accepted?
Rohan Oza	Out	N/A	N/A
Lori Greiner	Out	N/A	N/A
Kevin O’Leary	$300,000 for 25% equity	$300,000 for 20% equity	yes
Barbara Corcoran	out	N/A	N/A
Mark Cuban	Out	N/A	N/A

Founders’ Backstory

M.C. Squares was founded in 2015 by serial tech entrepreneur Anthony Franco to reduce paper waste and improve workplace collaboration. The Colorado based company gained national fame on Shark Tank in 2020 after securing a deal with investor Kevin O’Leary. After building and selling several successful software companies including a major software user experience consultancy. Founder Anthony Franco wanted to step away from the screen and create a company in the physical consumer product space.

During his previous tech ventures, he ran countless group processing workshops and noticed a frustrating pattern. The people with the best ideas were often the least likely to share them. He noticed the environmental impact and inefficiency of traditional office stationery like paper sticky notes and wasteful paper planners. He set out to design re usable, dry erase tablets and adhesive free stickies. That allowed individuals to layer their thoughts, process dynamically and organize their schedules without creating landfill waste. 

M. C. Squares Shark Tank Pitch

Anthony Franco pitched M.C. Squares on Shark Tank Season 11, Episode 23 in May 2020, seeking $300,000 for a 10% equity stake. He accepted a deal from Kevin O’Leary, who offered $300,000 for 25% equity later this modified to $50,000 for 11% equity. M.C. Squares produces reusable, eco friendly dry erase office and organization supplies. Designed to replace disposable paper sticky notes and traditional whiteboards.

Reusable stickies use a patented “micro-suction” technology to stick to shiny surfaces like glass or fridges without adhesives or magnets. Each sticky can be reused thousands of times. Whiteboard tiles and tablets are magnetic, modular tiles and 4-in-1 tablets designed for collaboration, task management, and evaluation. Franco highlighted that traditional paper sticky notes generate over 60 billion discarded notes roughly 250,000 trees globally each year. During the pitch, the company had high gross margins around 92% on stickies and was rapidly expanding its US based manufacturing capabilities to scale up.

Shark Questions, Negotiations, Discussion & Reactions

Despite high sales, his lack of organizational skills and concerns about scaling led to an intense negotiation with Kevin O’Leary. The Sharks had questions about margins, manufacturing and scalability. Many were concerned that 3M’s dominant position in the sticky note industry made this a tough market.

Mark Cuban questioned Anthony about the day to day operations. Anthony admitted, “I am not organized”, though he noted he hired capable people to manage that side of the business. Mark Cuban dropped out because he already owned a competing whiteboard-based company (Wrighty Board).

Several Sharks dropped out because they weren’t passionate about the product or felt that $10 million in sales was too small to scale. Kevin “Mr. Wonderful” O’Leary stepped in with an offer of $300,000 for 25% equity. Anthony attempted to negotiate the equity down to 20% but Kevin stood his ground demanding the 25% stake or nothing. Anthony accepted Kevin’s deal. 

Why Some Sharks Said No

Several Sharks said “no” to mcSquares because they did not understand the product line, questioned the seriousness of the problem it solved and disliked the manufacturing overhead. While founder Anthony Franco showed impressive sales but most Sharks dropped out for specific reasons.

Franco presented too many variations at once including reusable stickies, tablets, and tiles. Instead of focusing on the simplest product. This left several Sharks confused about what they were investing in. Some Sharks doubted whether traditional paper sticky notes being thrown away was a major enough issue for corporate consumers to change their habits and buy an expensive alternative.

Multiple investors simply stated they lacked interest in the office supply and stationery space. The company had suffered from lost molds with external contract manufacturers prompting Franco to build his own factory. Certain Sharks disliked the operational complexity and heavy costs tied to running a private manufacturing facility.

Where To Buy M. C. Squares Products and Products Features 

M.C. Squares manufactures sustainable, reusable dry-erase organization and planning tools that are as follows:

1. Stickies (Reusable Sticky Notes): 

Backed with patented “bubble bond” technology that adheres to glass, metal and fridges without glue or adhesives. Washable, reusable up to 2,000 times, and designed to replace thousands of single use paper notes.

2. Dry Erase Cling Calendars & Planners: 

Flexible, erasable sheets featuring weekly menus, monthly calendars, and to do lists that cling to surfaces like stainless steel, cabinets or mirrors.

3. Tackie Markers: 

Smudge-free, low-odor wet-erase markers designed to write smoothly on boards, acrylic, and glass. They only wipe away when using a damp cloth.

4. Magnetic Desktop Tiles: 

Rigid, handheld whiteboards featuring alignment magnets for quick assembly and customizable layouts in offices or classrooms.

Purchase M.C. Squares products online through the M.C. Squares Official Website or major retailers like Amazon M.C. Squares Store, Wayfair, and Office Depot.

What Happened To M. C. Squares After Shark Tank?

M.C. Squares experienced massive growth immediately following its 2020 Shark Tank appearance. Sales exploded by 600% in 2020 as remote workers and school districts such as Novi School District in Michigan scooped up their whiteboards and collaborative office supplies.Despite their television success, revenue slowed in 2023.

The company suffered an operational loss of $5.7 million and accumulated over $3.3 million in liabilities owed to 43 creditors. To avoid liquidation, M.C. Squares filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Thornton, Colorado on December 22, 2023.

This move allowed the business to continue operating while attempting to reorganize its finances and restructure debt. The bankruptcy filings showed that the company’s assets were valued at around $900,000. While creditors included high profile investors like the Denver Angels and Kevin O’Leary’s production company. 

Conclusion

Appearing on Shark Tank in 2020, founder Anthony Franco secured an 11% stake investment from Kevin O’Leary for M.C. Squares Shark Tank Blog. The Thornton, Colorado based company produces reusable, adhesive-free dry-erase stickies, tiles, and whiteboards. Following their television debut, the company experienced immediate explosive growth, accelerating sales by over 600%.

They expanded their manufacturing facility and launched dozens of new products. Pandemic related distributor losses and changing market demands led to significant financial hurdles. In December 2023, the business filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Thornton to reorganize amidst $3.3 million in debt. The exposure was beneficial in the short term. Driving millions in revenue and cementing M.C. Squares as a recognizable name in the eco friendly office supply space.

While the spike in visibility did not guarantee long term immunity against supply chain challenges and pandemic era shifts. It provided invaluable brand equity and a loyal customer base. Because M.C. Squares filed for Chapter 11 restructuring rather than a total liquidation, the business is positioned to reshape its operations.

Going forward, the company could license its 13+ patents and proprietary “Bubble Bond” adhesive material to larger office supply corporations. Company could pivot entirely to a direct to consumer (DTC) or B2B corporate supply model. It could emerge under new ownership following a reorganization plan.