Mark Cuban saw a kindred spirit in Cup-a-Bug founder Justin Huang when he pitched on ABC’s Shark Tank – both have a passion for lifelong learning. 

The Shark Tank investor offered the engineer $75,000 for 20% equity in the company that makes a gadget for trapping bugs without killing them.

Huang impressed Cuban with his drive to continually expand his skills and knowledge, studying engineering online after work daily. 

________________________________________________________________________

• Mark Cuban invests $75K in Cup-a-Bug on Shark Tank, drawn to the founder’s passion for lifelong learning.

• The handheld device lets you trap bugs without killing them; invented by an engineer terrified of bugs.

• The ​​partnership will ​boost ​Cup​-​a-Bug’s growth ​with ​Cuba’s investment capital ​and business ​expertise​​​.

________________________________________________________________________

Mark Cuban Invests $75K in Cup-a-Bug on Shark Tank Due to Founder’s Drive to Keep Learning.

Cuban​ ​praised Huang’s ​passion ​for learning​, ​saying, ​”My ​hero​.” 

Huang’s ​handheld Cup​-a-Bug ​device ​allows ​you to ​trap ​bugs ​from ​a ​distance ​by ​placing ​the ​cup ​over ​them ​and pulling ​the ​handle ​back​.

The ​founder ​created ​it ​due ​to ​his ​lifelong ​fear ​of ​bugs ​and ​growing sympathy ​for ​them​​. 

Research shows that 25% of Americans share a similar fear of insects. 

Huang launched Cup-a-Bug on Kickstarter in March 2022, raising $28K. 

By June, he had the first production run and brought in $48K in revenue by Shark Tank filming.

Cuban upped his initial $50K for 20% offer to $75K for 20% equity after Huang accepted John’s matching offer, saying, “I want you to myself. Geek to geek.” 

Huang has an engineering background and previously founded an accessories company. 

He ​is ​a ​University of ​California​, ​Irvine ​​graduate​.

Huang told CNBC the Shark Tank partnership had already boosted orders exponentially, requiring friends to volunteer to help fulfill them. 

He​ ​looks ​​forward to ​learning ​from ​​Cuban’s team ​and ​contributing ​to ​their success​​. 

The Cup-a-Bug founder saw the value of Cuban’s business expertise.

Cuban ​also ​related ​to Huang’s ​bug ​sympathy​, saying ​he feels ​terrible ​squishing ​them ​too because “​that ​could be ​an ancestor ​of ​mine​.” 

The ​partnership shows ​the power ​of ​passion ​for ​lifelong ​learning and ​innovation ​to ​connect ​entrepreneurs​. ​

With Cuban’s investment and guidance, Cup-a-Bug and its founder, Justin Huang, appear poised for growth.