A Shark Tank Success Story

By Maura Keller

Recently the International Fiber Journal interviewed Amrita Saigal, founder and CEO of Kudos, a company that creates the only disposable diaper that is lined with 100% clean cotton. Saigal’s vision for “all things sustainable” has proven to be one that today’s consumers are gravitating toward and, as a result, it earned Saigal a much-sought-after opportunity with Shark Tank, an American business real television show in which budding inventors and entreprenuers present their ideas to potential investors (“sharks”) for consideration.

Originally, Saigal’s idea for a safer disposable diaper was based on a wealth of market and consumer research that indicated a greater interest on the part of consumers for diapers that are both safer for a baby’s sensitive skin and also safer for the environment. Kudos is the only disposable diaper where a baby’s sensitive skin touches 100% soft, sustainable, safe cotton all day.

So why Shark Tank?

“I’ve loved Shark Tank for…ever,” Saigal says. “I don’t think I’ve ever missed an episode! As an entrepreneur, I’ve always dreamed that someday I would get the chance to walk out to the dramatic music and pitch my company to the ‘sharks.’”

After spending nearly three years on research and development for Kudos, Saigal finally launched her product in summer 2021 and it was soon after that that she decided to take a look at the Shark Tank application.

“It was intense. It was extremely long. It would have taken days, or even weeks to complete. And the odds you air? Terrible!” Saigal says. “The stats online said roughly 40,000 companies apply every year and only about 90 pitches make it on-air.”

While Saigal initially decided not to apply, a few months later, during the third trimester of her pregnancy, she received an email from the casting directors of Shark Tank

“My first thought: This is a scam. Shark Tank is reaching out to me? No way,” Saigal says. But the casting director felt Kudos could be a great fit for the show and recommended Saigal apply.

“Well, on top of being six months pregnant, my husband and I were about to move into a new house in Los Angeles. Despite this being my dream, I just didn’t think I had the time I needed to dedicate to the intense, 100+ question application and video I needed to create. So, in my mind, I closed this door, telling myself there was just too much on my plate and I would reevaluate next year.”

But a month later, Saigal couldn’t shake the feeling that she wasn’t staying true to her dreams. She learned that Shark Tank was still interested in receiving her application, so she spent

12+ hours putting her application together along with the video audition tape.

Fast forward to June 2022 and Saigal received an email from Shark Tank indicating they wanted her to film.

“Here I am thinking that I was going to spend the next month on maternity leave to bond with my daughter and instead I was about to have my professional dream of being on Shark Tank come true,” Saigal says. “My rockstar husband took over ALL nighttime duties for the next six weeks and my mom and dad did almost all childcare during the day all so I could focus every moment on preparing for Shark Tank.”

Since most consumers don’t realize that even the softest diapers are made of plastic, Saigal and her team decided she should wear a plastic garbage bag on the show to illustrate how babies wearing traditional diapers are basically wrapped in plastic 24/7.

“Diaper engineering … made visually memorable, perfect!” she says. After going through a wealth of preparation and practice, Saigal pitched her product to the panel of potential investors, including guest “shark” Gwyneth Paltrow – all of whom were impressed with Kudos technology and engineering.

“The Earth may have actually stopped spinning because both Gwyneth Paltrow and Mark Cuban were interested,” Saigal says. “At the end of the day, Kudos ended up making a deal with both Mark and Gwyneth for $250,000. Our goal is to make Kudos even more accessible by putting it into more outlets so that every baby can have a dry, happy, cotton-cushioned bottom, not wrapped in plastic.

You can read the entire exclusive Q&A with Amrita Saigal in Nov./Dec. 2022 International Fiber Journal here: https://www.fiberjournal.com/diapers-that-do-more/

To view the clip of Shark Tank with Saigal’s presentation, visit https://www.youtube.com./watch?v=ZwMohhHyWTU

Mann+Hummel Expands

The Mann+Hummel Group announced a strategic investment in M-Filter Group, one of the largest filter manufacturing companies in Northern and Eastern Europe with several production facilities in Finland and Lithuania.

Founded in 1962 in Finland, M-Filter initially produced automotive filters although today, the focus is mainly on HVAC and air filtration including HEPA filters and oil/hydraulic filters for engines. It also has a strong footprint in both OEM as well as in the commercial HVAC sector across Scandinavia and in the Baltic countries.

While the Filterpak brand will complement Mann+Hummel’s existing portfolios in commercial and residential HVAC, MFilter will also provide a strong input in the OEM products for industrial and engine filtration, allowing Mann+Hummel to expand across the region while offering customers a broader product portfolio. www.autoneum.com

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Customer Day at ANDRITZ

NDRITZ held a customer day fully dedicated to the absorbent hygiene products value chain at the end of 2022. This event took place at the ANDRITZ Diatec premises in Pescara, Italy, with a variety of key players from the nonwovens industry coming from all over Europe and beyond.

Attendees benefited from live demonstrations of converting lines, unique market and nonwoven production insights, a panel discussion on sustainability, and networking opportunities.

The ANDRITZ team and external partners spoke about the market situation, trends, technology insights for nonwoven roll-goods production, and panel discussion on sustainability. The company also gave a tour with live demonstration of converting lines. www.andritz.com

Fibertex Corp.’s North American Fiber Operations Acquired by Stein Fibers

tein Fibers, LLC, a leading distributor of textile products, announced that it has acquired Fibertex Corporation’s North American fiber operations.

The combination of Fibertex and Stein Fibers will expand the leading fiber product portfolio in North America and allow each company to better serve its customers.

Ernest Elias, president of Fibertex, said, “I am excited to partner with the Stein Fibers organization, which shares the same core values and believe the combination will provide an opportunity to grow our relationships with both customers and suppliers.”

Jaren Edwards, president of Stein Fibers, said, “It is a privilege to partner with such a well-respected industry expert in Ernest, who takes so much pride in customer service and business integrity.”

Robert Taylor, chief operating officer of Stein Fibers, added, “We are truly excited to work with Ernest as Fibertex and Stein Fibers have similar histories rooted in a deep family commitment to the textile industry that has stretched generations. We look forward to continuing to be the premier textile partner for our customers and suppliers.” www.steinfibers.com