Screen Skinz Lands $300K ‘Shark Tank’ Deal, Expanding A Laundry Room Startup Into A Global Tech Brand – AfroTech
When Screen Skinz Co-founders RaShaun Brown and Clay Canning stepped into the “Shark Tank,” they were pitching more than a screen protector.
They were introducing a new way to think about personalization, privacy, and the device people interact with hundreds of times a day. That pitch paid off, according to an interview with AFROTECH™.
The Houston-based company secured a deal on the ABC show’s Season 17 Episode 10, which aired Jan. 21, and landed a combined $300,000 investment from Kevin O’Leary and guest shark Alexis Ohanian, per ABC. The agreement includes 15% equity and a $1 royalty on each unit sold until $900,000 is recouped, positioning Screen Skinz for accelerated growth following its primetime debut, the founders shared with AFROTECH™.
From A Laundry Room To A Scalable Business
Screen Skinz began in 2022 as a side project Canning started in his parents’ laundry room in Florida, where he experimented with etching designs into glass as a high school student. What was first a curiosity quickly turned into a viable product when people responded to the idea of personalizing a screen protector.
“I tell everyone if I wasn’t in business, I’d be an engineer,” Canning said in an interview with AFROTECH™. “I’m a big nerd. I just started messing around on glass for fun.”
Brown joined the company soon after this discovery, bringing a business and licensing background shaped by his experience in sports administration and collegiate athletics, including at his alma mater Ohio University and Texas A&M University.
“When the idea came to me initially, I didn’t really know what it could be,” Brown told AFROTECH™. “But once I looked at it, I realized this is a $50 billion-plus market.”
While Canning focused on engineering and product development, Brown says he recognized the scale of the opportunity and the licensing pathways that could turn the invention into a business. He identified screen protection as a massive, repeat-purchase market and saw personalization as the missing layer.
Together, the two formed a complementary partnership, pairing technical innovation with strategic execution.
The Screen Skinz Patent Changes The Game
At its core, Screen Skinz is built on patented technology that allows logos, text, or images to be etched at a microscopic level directly onto tempered glass, the founders share. Designs remain visible when the screen is off and disappear when the display is in use, preserving clarity and functionality of the screen protector.
The patent extends beyond phones, covering tablets, computers, car displays, and any backlit mobile screen. Screen Skinz also incorporates a privacy tilt feature that limits side-angle visibility of the screen without interfering with the user’s experience, addressing a common shortcoming of traditional privacy screen protectors, the founders point out.
A major turning point for the company came when the company shifted from bulk manufacturing to a print-on-demand model. Brown says that move allowed Screen Skinz to scale personalization across sports teams, entertainment, and fully custom designs without carrying heavy inventory or minimum order constraints.
“That pivot is what really blew the market open for us,” Brown said. “Now the phone becomes a canvas of self-expression.”
Inside The ‘Shark Tank’ Experience
Appearing on “Shark Tank” marked a defining moment for the company. For the founders, they say it represented validation after years of building, iterating, and learning every part of the business. Preparation for the pitch was intense, with daily rehearsals layered on top of running operations, managing partnerships, and scaling production.
“He [Brown] used to call me every day and just start with the pitch,” Canning said. “We wouldn’t even say hi.”
Although the “Shark Tank” episode was recorded months before it aired, the team continued operating as if the moment might never come. That waiting period focused less on anticipation and more on readiness, ensuring the company could handle increased visibility and demand once the episode aired, the founders say.
Momentum Beyond The Tank
Ahead of its “Shark Tank” debut, Screen Skinz had already built strong industry momentum, according to the founders. The company unveiled a personalization partnership with Belkin, the official glass partner for Apple, and licensed its technology for global expansion, while also producing custom screen protectors for major carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile, signaling growing validation across the consumer tech ecosystem, the founders note. They also expanded licensing opportunities across sports and entertainment.
Looking ahead, Screen Skinz plans to expand globally and enter retail environments later this year, aligning in-store customization with new iPhone releases, according to Canning and Brown.
“Imagine going in to buy a new phone and personalizing your screen right there,” Brown stated. “That’s the big opportunity in our industry.”
The goal is to allow customers to personalize and install their screen protectors at the point of purchase, transforming a traditionally utilitarian accessory into a personal statement.
Screen Skinz’s Plans For The Future
For emerging founders, the Screen Skinz journey underscores the importance of patience and process. Canning and Brown emphasize learning the business from the ground up, resisting shortcuts, and building strong partnerships along the way. Their path to “Shark Tank” was shaped not by overnight success but by years of iteration, trust, and preparation.
“Don’t try to shortcut it,” Brown said. “Go through the process. You’ll learn so much about yourself and your business.”
Canning echoes that sentiment, noting that what began when he was 17 has defined his entire adult life.
“I never thought we’d be here,” he said. “But every day we wake up, we keep going.”
As Screen Skinz moves forward with new partners, new markets, and national visibility, its “Shark Tank” appearance marks not an arrival but a transition into its next phase of growth.
