The idea of Shark Tank already demands bravery. Founders must condense vision, metrics, and conviction into a pitch that persuades seasoned investors to place trust in them. At the Clover x Shark Tank Summit in Las Vegas on September 30, the pressure was even higher. Three entrepreneurs were given just 90 seconds to deliver their initial pitch, followed by eight and a half minutes of rapid questioning. They competed in front of an audience of hundreds.

What seemed like a cutthroat finale turned out differently. The event, which was framed as a competition, concluded as a celebration of entrepreneurship. Instead of eliminating two contenders and selecting one winner, Clover, the POS platform under Fiserv, awarded all three participants $35,000 each. They also received direct feedback from two Sharks, Daymond John and Kevin O’Leary, along with Clover’s Chief Empowerment Officer, Tabitha Brown.

Sweet Encounter Bakery: Dessert with Impact

Nikki Thompson Frazier opened the session with her brand, Sweet Encounter Bakery. Her story was rooted in personal experience. Her daughters’ food allergies inspired her to create desserts that kept the joy intact. Her cupcakes, sold in jars, are free of dairy, gluten, soy, peanuts, and preservatives. Sweet Encounter also gives five percent of its revenue back to the community and provides employment to individuals of all abilities, including her sister who has Down syndrome.

Kevin O’Leary admitted he approached the tasting with doubt, yet he was quick to change his opinion. The panel questioned her pricing, at about $48.99 for a four-pack in a jar, but showed respect when she revealed that the company had already generated $350,000 in revenue the previous year.

O’Leary pressed her on customer acquisition costs. Thompson Frazier acknowledged she did not know. O’Leary reminded the audience that this was a figure every founder must understand thoroughly.

Mended Textiles: Fabric, Story, Purpose

The second pitch came from Mallory Martin, founder of Mended Textiles. Her brand offers block-printed tea towels, table runners, and other linens crafted by survivors of bonded labor in South Asia. The design work is completed in Texas. The patterns are then carved into wooden blocks and hand-printed by artisans in India, all of whom are survivors who have been trained in the craft.

Daymond John was visibly moved by the work and admired the craftsmanship. Tabitha Brown also remarked that she believed the designs were mechanically produced until Martin explained they were all handmade by a group of 23 artisans.

Mended reported $580,000 in sales last year, a figure that drew applause from the audience. O’Leary, however, pointed out a weakness. The brand had only 7,000 Instagram followers. He challenged her, asking why there were not more when her community was so clear. Martin responded with wit, saying they had gained thousands of followers in that very room.

Plant Zaddy: Rooted in Growth

The final pitch came from Joshua Hite, founder of Plant Zaddy, a plant-based wellness brand. He shared how he left a draining corporate job and found renewed purpose in plants, which he believes do more than decorate. According to him, plants clean air, reduce stress, and detoxify spaces.

Plant Zaddy operates through multiple channels, offering houseplants for sale, rentals for events, corporate installations, and educational classes. The company earned $90,000 in revenue last year, and Hite expects 2025 to be the first six-figure year. He also acknowledged that he runs the entire operation on his own. O’Leary remarked on the risks of being a one-person business, pointing out its fragility.

Hite ended his pitch by gifting O’Leary a cactus, which brought the session to a memorable close.

Lessons from the Experience

Although the setup was competitive, the outcome highlighted community over rivalry. Each founder left the stage with capital, exposure, and support.

Thompson Frazier showed the strength of mission and authenticity. Martin demonstrated how design can carry purpose. Hite’s journey proved that pursuing what brings life, in his case plants, can be turned into business.

The Sharks also acted as teachers. O’Leary emphasized the importance of understanding customer acquisition costs and challenged founders to build stronger social media communities. John’s curiosity encouraged participants to demonstrate rather than only describe their ideas.

In the end, the Clover x Shark Tank Summit was not about crowning one winner. It was about elevating entrepreneurs and validating that in just 90 seconds, a founder’s mission, vision, and clarity can leave a lasting impression.