The topic of pet safety when driving is one that is frequently disregarded. Many dog owners drive their pets without taking the necessary precautions. In the case of an accident pets who are unrestrained and sitting in laps or loose in back seats are particularly vulnerable.
The founders of ZuGoPet Carolyn Schufelt and Juls Bindi identified this issue and made the decision to develop a solution that would keep dogs safe when travelling. They created the Rocketeer Pack a special cat safety belt that fastens pets above automobile seats to shield their spines.
Dog owners may travel with confidence knowing that the Rocketeer Pack has been crash-tested. The device is adaptable to various travel requirements because it can also be used as a front pack or backpack. On Shark Tank, Carolyn and Juls presented ZuGoPet and their Rocketeer Pack product. They want $100,000 in exchange for 10% of their company. Will the entrepreneur get a deal on Shark Tank? Check out the ZuGoPet update!
ZuGoPet Net Worth Shark Tank Update 2025
Carolyn Schufelt and Juls Bindi asked for a $100,000 investment in exchange for 10% equity in their company, ZuGoPet. This meant they valued their company at $1 million. However, they did not make a deal with any of the Sharks, as concerns were raised about product complexity and market readiness. After the show aired, ZuGoPet 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 ZuGoPet is about $1.46 million.
Following Shark Tank, ZuGoPet kept expanding. Carolyn and Juls worked to improve their marketing and promotion strategy for the Rocketeer Pack after carefully considering the Sharks’ input. Despite the fact that they received no funding for the show, ZuGoPet benefited from the attention they received from their involvement by concentrating on enhancing their marketing strategies. They extended their reach to new nations and kept selling the Rocketeer Pack on their website.
ZuGoPet is still operating and doing well as of 2024. Their primary goal is still to promote pet safety and they have increased the range of products they offer. ZuGoPet has established a devoted following of pet owners who place a high value on their animals’ safety and has established a solid reputation as a business committed to this goal.
Since their Shark Tank episode aired they have made millions of dollars in sales and their products are now accessible in over 40 countries. ZuGoPet has built a strong brand despite not having a Sharks agreement thanks to their perseverance and diligence.
Shark Tank did not offer ZuGoPet a contract. Carolyn and Juls, who valued ZuGoPet at $1 million, approached them looking for $100,000 for a 10% share in their business. However, the Sharks were hesitant to invest because of their worries. The first person to decline was Robert Herjavec, who said he could not imagine utilizing the Rocketeer Pack with his own dogs.
Kevin O’Leary and Lori Greiner both left, claiming issues with the product’s complexity and unpreparedness for the market. Daymond John and Mark Cuban joined the rest in rejecting this opportunity. To succeed the Sharks believed ZuGoPet’s product required further refinement and easier promotion. Carolyn and Juls left the tank with a commitment and helpful criticism even though they did not receive any money.
| Shark(s) name | Offer & Demand | Counteroffer | Accepted? |
| Daymond John | Out | N/A | N/A |
| Lori Greiner | out | N/A | N/A |
| Kevin O’Leary | out | N/A | N/A |
| Robert Herjavec | out | N/A | N/A |
| Mark Cuban | Out | N/A | N/A |
ZuGoPet Shark Tank pitch
A personal struggle that Carolyn Schufelt endured served as the impetus for the creation of ZuGoPet and its founders, Juls Bindi and Carolyn Schufelt. She was determined to find a safe way to travel with her dog, who had hip and knee issues. Carolyn looked for pet travel goods that provided the degree of security she required, but nothing she found on the market satisfied her requirements.
The Rocketeer Pack concept originated from her desire to develop her own solution as a result of this event.
In the event of an accident, Carolyn wanted to design a solution that would protect her pet’s spine in addition to keeping them safe. She eventually obtained a utility patent for her creative idea after putting in an endless effort to create a harness system that would protect pets when they traveled. Carolyn’s commitment to pet safety inspired Juls to join the effort. They collaborated to create ZuGoPet and strived to realize Carolyn’s idea.
Carolyn and Juls had a number of difficulties when they first started their company. Finding money for crash testing and product development was one of their toughest challenges. They put their own money into the company, using all of their savings to test and prepare the Rocketeer Pack for sale. Carolyn and Juls were committed to meeting the highest standards and testing was crucial to demonstrating the product’s safety.
Additionally, they had to establish an online store to contact customers and manage the manufacturing process. Despite the challenges, Carolyn and Juls persisted in their efforts to promote their product and stayed dedicated to their pet safety objective.
Carolyn and Juls had great expectations going into the Shark Tank hoping to raise $100,000 for a 10% ownership position in ZuGoPet. They emphasized the risks of traveling with unattended pets at the beginning of their presentation. Carolyn clarified that there are no crash-tested pet travel items that provide effective protection and that uncontrolled pets are vulnerable in auto accidents.
Carolyn and Juls came up with a novel harness system called the Rocketeer Pack to solve this problem and keep pets secure when traveling by car.
They used their dog Bentley to illustrate the Rocketeer Pack. Demonstrating how the harness safely hangs the dog above the seat and shields the spine from potential harm. Additionally, Carolyn and Juls clarified that the Rocketeer Pack is a multipurpose item for pet owners who enjoy taking their animals on trips because it can be worn as a front or back carrier. The Sharks were given important financial information by the founders.
They disclosed that the Rocketeer Pack has a substantial profit margin because it costs $36 to build and retails for $160. Since the beginning, Carolyn and Juls reported that they have made $180,000 in sales, mostly from their website. They explained that their primary clients were pet owners who valued safety and credited word-of-mouth and organic promotion for their sales success.
Carolyn and Juls highlighted how committed they are to ensuring the safety of pets and making the Rocketeer Pack the standard item for pet owners. They believed the Sharks would invest in their quest after seeing ZuGoPet’s potential.
Carolyn and Juls were asked a lot of questions by the Sharks on the Rocketeer Pack and ZuGoPet’s business plan. Robert Herjavec started by enquiring about the annual number of pets killed in auto accidents in order to gather information that would highlight the significance of their product. Carolyn clarified that although they had searched for such statistics, they had not been able to locate specific figures.
She further emphasized the necessity for pet travel safety items by stating that in the UK, driving with an uninsured pet could nullify the owner’s auto insurance in the event of an accident. The Shark,s however, didn’t appear convinced in the absence of concrete statistics on pet travel mishaps. Lori Greiner enquired about its complexity, concerned that pet owners would find the device too complicated to use.
She believed that the Rocketeer Pack’s design needed to be streamlined in order to make it more marketable because it was too intricate.
Along with Lori, Kevin O’Leary expressed his opinion that the product was not yet ready for the general public to purchase in its current state. He enquired if the Rocketeer Pack’s current design would allow ZuGoPet to develop significantly and if the company’s creators had thought about altering the product. Carolyn and Juls defended the design, stating that the safety aspects of the harness depended on its structure.
Mark Cuban questioned ZuGoPet’s ability to scale and enquired about their plans for reaching a wider audience. Carolyn and Juls explained that they had been relying on organic marketing and word of mouth to drive traffic to their website. However, the Sharks felt that this approach might not be enough to achieve the growth needed to make ZuGoPet a successful business.
ZuGoPet’s pitch generated different responses from each Shark, and ultimately none of them made an offer. The first person to leave was Robert Herjavec. Who claimed he didn’t think he would use the Rocketeer Pack for his own pets. Kevin O’Leary and Lori Greiner both voiced worries regarding the product’s market preparedness and complexity. Lori recommended that the Rocketeer Pack be made simpler since she thought the design was very intricate.
Kevin concurred and expressed doubt that ZuGoPet could succeed in the mass market because he didn’t see a clear way to expand with the existing design.
Daymond John and Mark Cuban also chose not to participate after claiming issues with market demand and scalability. Before attempting to grow the company, Mark suggested that Carolyn and Juls concentrate on improving their product and marketing plan. Although ZuGoPet’s idea was creative,e the Sharks as a whole believed it needed more work to be genuinely marketable.
They urged Carolyn and Juls to redesign their layout and concentrate on informing clients about the safety of pet travel. ZuGoPet ultimately exited Shark Tank without a deal but with insightful criticism and counsel from the Sharks.
What Went Wrong With ZuGoPet on Shark Tank?
On Shark Tank, ZuGoPet had a number of difficulties, and the Sharks finally chose not to invest for a number of reasons. The complexity of the product was one of the primary problems. Both Kevin O’Leary and Lori Greiner thought the Rocketeer Pack was too complex for daily use. They thought that the product’s popularity would be limited since pet owners might find it challenging to set up and utilize.
Additionally, the Sharks believed that a redesign of the product was necessary to make it more commercial and user-friendly. The issue of scalability was another. The Sharks didn’t think ZuGoPet had a clear route to success.
The Rocketeer Pack had been promoted by Carolyn and Juls using word-of-mouth and organic marketing. Which the Sharks believed was insufficiently effective in accomplishing substantial growth. Carolyn and Juls were urged by the Sharks to reconsider their marketing strategy and concentrate on informing consumers about the significance of pet travel safety.
The Sharks also believed that the creators did not have sufficient evidence to back up the necessity of their product. Although it was intriguing, Carolyn’s reference to the pet insurance regulations in the UK was insufficient to persuade the Sharks of the Rocketeer Pack’s market viability.
Product Availability
ZuGoPet persisted in growing its brand and product line in spite of the difficulties it encountered on Shark Tank. ZuGoPet’s website offers the Rocketeer Pack for sale, and other online retailers like Amazon also carry the product. The Rocketeer Pac,k which costs $160 and is crash-tested for safety,y is made for small dogs. Thanks to the pack’s versatility pet owners can use it as a carrier when walking and in the car.
ZuGoPet now operates in over 40 countries and has a devoted following of customers who respect pet safety when traveling.
Conclusion
Carolyn and Juls weren’t discouraged by the Sharks’ decision despite ZuGoPet’s difficult Shark Tank journey. After considering the input they got, they kept improving their marketing strategy, concentrating on raising awareness of pet travel safety. ZuGoPet is a prosperous company today with millions of dollars in sales and a loyal following of customers who appreciate the Rocketeer Pack’s security and adaptability.
Carolyn and Juls demonstrated that determination and a clear goal can lead to success even though they were unable to close a deal on Shark Tank. Their story serves as an encouraging illustration of how entrepreneurs can overcome challenges and create a successful company by acting with passion, perseverance, and dedication to a goal.
Hi, I’m Laiba Khurram, a BBA student specializing in Marketing at FAST NUCES ISB. My background includes experience in finance, marketing, and event coordination. My skills include teamwork, time management, and Microsoft tools. Watching Shark Tank has always inspired me, as I admire the innovative pitches and entrepreneurial spirit showcased on the show. This passion drives my approach to finding creative solutions and understanding market dynamics. Read more About me.
