Here's What Happened To Captain Ice Cream After Shark Tank
Tim Gavern, aka Captain Ice Cream, scored a cheerful response from the judges of ABC's "Shark Tank" when he first rolled up on his ice cream-stocked moped in early 2010.
Gavern had dreams of bringing the nostalgia of classic ice cream trucks to neighborhoods all over the country with a fun and unique flair. He believed that with a $48,000 investment, he could take Captain Ice Cream to the next level as a successful franchise. With an open mind, the intimidating line-up of investors listened to the Captain Ice Cream pitch offering a 25% partnership but essentially tuned out as soon as Gavern disclosed his profits — or lack thereof. Gavern revealed he makes about $25 an hour peddling ice cream around the neighborhood, which definitely didn't wow the sharks.
After openly recognizing that he was still navigating the business side of things, investor Barbara Corcoran pointed out the fact that Captain Ice Cream was more of a concept rather than a developed business plan, and his enterprise needed something other than cool mopeds to set him apart in the industry. As Kevin O'Leary so candidly put it, "Anyone can make a moped with a freezer on it."
The sharks' lack of interest didn't stop Captain Ice Cream from scooting along toward his goals
As motivated as Tim Gavern was, he was ultimately unprepared for his "Shark Tank" pitch and left empty-handed. But despite not landing the big investment, Captain Ice Cream didn't give up on his sweet dreams.
Gavern's "Shark Tank" debut may not have given him the PR push he'd hoped for, but he still leveraged the ABC screen time. The Gazette Review reported in 2015 that Gavern went on to sell franchise packages of his moped-powered ice cream vending business. For $12,495, franchise holders would receive a signature Captain Ice Cream moped, an umbrella, a pristine white uniform, and 500 business cards. The original press release (via Business Opportunities) apparently boasted the bold tagline, "Ice cream on 3-wheels to go anywhere the business is," but Gavern offered a second franchise option that ditched the iconic moped for a customized Captain Ice Cream van for a whopping $44,495.
It's unclear how much attention his franchise kits received, but considering the website hasn't been live since the summer of 2014, it's safe to say they didn't do too well. Now, Gavern seems to be slinging vehicles sans ice cream, as per the Sierra Truck Center staff page. But even without his signature look, that cheerful grin is recognizable a mile away. It appears Captain Ice Cream has hung up his paper hat — but, hopefully, the iconic moped is still getting some attention.