Whether you ride for casual e-biking, competitive racing, outdoor exploration, or indoor training, 'Shark Tank's VSEAT makes sure that comfort is always with you
MARINA DEL REY, CALIFORNIA: VSEAT, the designers of the groundbreaking noseless and bumpless bicycle seat, are pleased to announce its presence on ABC's 'Shark Tank'.
Watch inventors Ani Armstrong and Bryan Visintin pitch their creative concept to the Sharks on Friday, April 12 at 8 pm ET on ABC, then stream it on Hulu the next day.
"We are so proud of the impact the VSEAT has had on the cycling community and are thrilled for the Shark Tank audience to see what we've worked so hard on," said Bryan. " As a trainer, I've always found cycling to be a valuable part of maintaining health and fitness, which is why spreading the word about a healthier cycling experience on 'Shark Tank' is such a rewarding opportunity," he added.
"After seven years growing VSEAT, sharing our innovation with the Sharks feels like a monumental opportunity. We hope this opens the eyes for serious and casual cyclists that they deserve to feel better about their next ride," said Ani.
What is VSEAT?
In the world of riding, the pleasure of the open road or path is frequently accompanied by a very familiar pain. This pain inspired Ani and Bryan, the VSEAT's creators, to embark on a mission to transform the riding experience.
Ani's story is one that many riders may identify with. She imagined lovely rides along sun-kissed coastal walks after relocating to California.
However, her fantasy quickly turned into a nightmare of misery and discomfort after just a few rides. Bryan, her trainer and promoter of cycling's health advantages, was presented with a dilemma: how to support riding when the discomfort outweighed the benefits?
Their answer revealed a common issue: traditional bike seats not only induce temporary discomfort but may also lead to serious health issues. Driven by the resolve to find a solution, they embarked on designing a seat that prioritized both comfort and health benefits.
Following significant investigation, patenting, and testing. The VSEAT was born.
This unique saddle features a noseless design, which eliminates the projecting part that frequently causes pain. Instead of putting pressure on sensitive regions, the VSEAT shifts weight to the more supporting sit bones, providing a pain-free and ergonomic riding experience.
Its secret lies in its broad and flat construction, a departure from the traditional narrow and pointed seat design. Built on a composite base with a soft layer on top, the VSEAT offers both support and comfort throughout the ride.
Who are the founders of VSEAT?
As a pioneering business leader and board member, Ani has extensive expertise in designing and leading sales units to generate explosive outcomes for firms ranging from startups to multibillion-dollar global operations.
She is a specialist in creating "worst to first" performance turnarounds, shining a light on processes and systems to identify improvement possibilities and build a roadmap for corporate transformation.
Ani, known for asking tough questions and fostering agreement, drives the evolution with collaborative leadership and operational experience to ensure that the strategy is carried out. As a growth partner, her leadership approach aims to foster a performance-driven culture of excellence while increasing the business's operational pace.
She thrives on building connections and strong relationships with board colleagues, C-suite executives, and senior business leaders.
Ani holds an Executive MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, having previously earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Occidental College. Later, she earned a Doctorate of Law (JD) from Southwestern Law School.
Ani began working for 's Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies as a primary care mirror district manager in the Scranton District, NE Region. She then advanced to the position of senior manager, of sales training and development at Intendis.
Ani began working as a regional business manager in professional sales for Johnson & Johnson-Life Scan in 2005. In 2008, she transitioned into a consulting role, advising the CEO of Individual Food Service.
She then evolved into an educational endeavor for Sabbatical/Personal Study. She now works as VSEAT's founder and CEO. Bryan, a co-founder and UC Santa Barbara graduate, is a fitness coach. Bryan was named Vice President of Marketing at the Architectural Resource Center (ARC).
He later became the owner/operator of Pacific Coast Health (PCH). He joined VSEAT in 2017.
What is the cost and how to buy VSEAT?
The VSEAT, priced at $120, is a viable alternative for cyclists looking for a more comfortable and sustainable riding experience. Furthermore, given Bryan's expertise as a fitness instructor, the VSEAT has the potential to improve spin classes and gym cycling rigs, bringing its advantages to a broader audience.
The VSEAT is available on the company's website. It's more expensive than ordinary bicycle seats at $120, but they're made in the United States.
People appear to like the chairs; the company's website is full of favorable feedback.
Where is VSEAT now?
With endorsem*nts from physicians and riders alike, the VSEAT is at the vanguard of a movement to reinvent bicycle comfort. While they may not be the only pioneers in this field, their commitment to enhancing the riding experience sets a high bar for future developments.
Who will steal the deal?
In Season 3, Barbara Corcoran and Mark Cuban joined forces to invest $500K in 42% of the custom bike company, Villy Custom. Additionally, in Season 8, Mark made a solo investment of $500K for a 15% stake in Guardian Bikes.
This suggests the possibility of Mark, Barbara, or both presenting an offer. There appears to be synergy with their other ventures that could prove mutually beneficial.
The other three Sharks could make offers. Kevin O'Leary could make a royalty offer. Robert Herjavec is an outdoorsman; therefore, we can presume he enjoys biking. Lori Greiner could perceive it as a QVC product.
Perhaps there will be a shark fight in this. The founders are presumably looking for a Shark to help them get into bike shops and athletic goods retailers.
'Shark Tank' Season 15, Episode 17, airs on ABC on Friday, March 15, at 8 pm ET. Catch the latest episode featuring products like Blinger, SORx, VSEAT, and Wedy.
For those who miss the episode, it will be available on demand the following day and on Hulu. Additionally, viewers can explore past seasons and episodes on Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.
