Exclusive: Watch This Entrepreneur's Emotional Shark Tank Pitch Before It Airs on TV Growing up, life was anything but a bed of roses for this ambitious Texas inventor. Find out how his journey led him from mattress-cleaning to the Tank, before the next episode airs this Friday.

By Kim Lachance Shandrow

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

When CleanSleep founder and CEO Michael Ingle was only 14, he ran away from home and never looked back.

At the time, he had just $120 to his name. He spent $80 of it to travel to San Antonio, Texas, where he hoped to make a fresh start. All he had were the clothes on his back and a trash bag's worth of possessions.

That was a long time ago. Now in his mid-30s, Ingle finds himself walking another brave path alone -- this time, down the infamous hallway to face the "Sharks" on ABC's hit show Shark Tank, in which entrepreneurs pitch their startup ideas to the likes of Barbara Corcoran, Mark Cuban and Kevin O'Leary.

Related: Shark Tank's Barbara Corcoran: 'All the Best Things Happened to Me on the Heels of Rejection

It's sink or swim time.

On stage, under the hot lights, Ingle nervously waxes salesman-like. He's quick to boast about his startup's proprietary mattress-cleaning tech, claiming it's 99.9 percent effective at killing bacteria, viruses, dust mites, mold spores and bed bugs.

He may have his pitch down cold, but is it squeaky clean enough to land him in bed with a Shark? Will he tuck in the investment he needs to take his entrepreneurial dreams to the next level? Will the Sharks bite?

Check out this exclusive Shark Tank sneak peek to see Ingle's emotional pitch. To find out of if the Sharks take a chance on him -- and to see the full episode -- tune in to your local ABC station this Friday, Feb. 19 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Related: Daymond John: How to Use the Power of Broke to Build Your Business

Wavy Line
Kim Lachance Shandrow

Former West Coast Editor

Kim Lachance Shandrow is the former West Coast editor at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was a commerce columnist at Los Angeles CityBeat, a news producer at MSNBC and KNBC in Los Angeles and a frequent contributor to the Los Angeles Times. She has also written for Government Technology magazine, LA Yoga magazine, the Lowell Sun newspaper, HealthCentral.com, PsychCentral.com and the former U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. C. Everett Coop. Follow her on Twitter at @Lashandrow. You can also follow her on Facebook here

Editor's Pick

She's Been Coding Since Age 7 and Presented Her Life-Saving App to Tim Cook Last Year. Now 17, She's on Track to Solve Even Bigger Problems.
Lock
I Helped Grow 4 Unicorns Over 10 Years That Generated $18 Billion in Online Revenues. Here's What I've Learned.
Lock
Want to Break Bad Habits and Supercharge Your Business? Use This Technique.
Lock
Don't Have Any Clients But Need Customer Testimonials? Follow These 3 Tricks To Boost Your Rep.
Why Are Some Wines More Expensive Than Others? A Top Winemaker Gives a Full-Bodied Explanation.

Related Topics

Business News

'All Hell Is Going to Break Loose': Barbara Corcoran Issues Warning About Real Estate Market, Interest Rates

The "Shark Tank" star appeared on FOX Business' "The Claman Countdown" this week.

Business News

This Is the Most Loved Company of 2023, According to a New Report

A new Axios and Harris Poll ranked the 100 most visible U.S. companies.

Branding

How I Made Money From My Book Without Selling a Single Copy

Did you know you can make money with a book without selling copies? Here's exactly how I did it.

Money & Finance

3 Ways to Create Multiple (Big) Streams of Income

Here are three ways to create multiple streams of income. These strategies require effort and resources but offer significant financial potential.

Business News

Lululemon Stock Surges After Strong Q1 Earnings Report, With Massive Earnings Overseas

The athleisure brand reported net revenue growth of 24% in the first quarter of 2023.

Branding

Finding Your Brand Voice — How to Write Copy That Sounds Like You

Here's how to nail your brand voice so you can differentiate yourself and build your business in an authentic way.