Tom BurdenFounder · Inventor · BuilderTake the quiz

Shark Tank alum · Forbes 30 Under 30 · TIME cover

I get youshark ready.

Find out how ready you and your business are for Shark Tank.

Am I shark ready?

10 quick questions. Your readiness level in 3 minutes.

Tom Burden speaking in a Grypmat shirt, with long hair and visible tattoos

Same founder. New chapter.

Pitching

Q&A

Negotiation

Sales

Mindset

Grassroots

3 Sharks

$360K Negotiated

Forbes 30u30

TIME Cover

My story

No shortcut. No overnight success. Just a problem worth solving and years of finding the next right move.

From the flight line to the big stage.

An Air Force mechanic walking in front of a fighter jet

01 · The problem

Tools kept sliding off the jet.

Working as an Air Force F-16 weapons mechanic, I saw the same frustration every day. So I went home and started building a better answer in my basement.

Read the Air Force story
An early Grypmat prototype holding tools on a curved aircraft surface

02 · The prototype

Built, tested, rebuilt.

After three years of material tests and prototypes, I turned that rough idea into Grypmat.

Tom demonstrating an orange Grypmat at an early trade show

03 · The first yes

My First Sale was at EAA Oshkosh

Before the cameras, I learned to pitch by putting the product in front of real customers.

04 · The growth

Kickstarter hit. Orders grew.

Customer demand came first. The national spotlight came after I had already earned believers in the product.

Shelves filled with boxed Grypmat orders

Find if you are Shark Ready in 3 minutes

How ready are you for Shark Tank?

Answer 10 quick questions about your sales, margins, ownership, funding goals, and founder experience. In about three minutes, you'll get one of five Shark readiness levels and a next step that fits your stage.

Take the Shark Ready Quiz

In the Tank

I entered prepared and walked out with Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, & Richard Branson.

$360K

Deal

3

Sharks

30%

Equity

Watch the pitchTest your readiness

After Shark Tank

Continued Success

Tom with Mark Cuban and the TIME Best Inventions issueTIME · Best Invention Tom Burden's Forbes 30 Under 30 portraitForbes · 30 Under 30
Tom holding Grypmat's Gold Edison AwardGold Edison Award
Grypmat products in an aerospace hangarUsed by NASA, SpaceX & Virgin Orbit
Tom pitching an orange Grypmat to the SharksFrom My Basement to Branson

What I do now:I help founders get Shark Ready

01

Pitching

Make the problem clear, the story memorable, and the ask impossible to miss.

02

Q&A

Handle the question behind the question without losing your footing.

03

Negotiation

Know what matters, what moves, and when to hold your ground.

04

Sales

Connect traction and customer truth to a business people can believe in.

05

Mindset

Build the self-awareness and resilience to lead under real pressure.

06

Grassroots

Turn resourcefulness, relationships, and real customers into momentum.

Start with your readiness level

How ready are you for Shark Tank today?

Take the 3-minute quiz

Your big moment starts before the stage

Are youshark ready?

Answer 10 quick questions. Get your Shark readiness level and the next step that fits your business.

Take the Shark Ready Quiz
Take the Shark Ready Quiz