Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Erik Diedrichsen is used to dealing with chickens, but in an effort to grow his company, he wound up swimming with sharks.
The West Bridgewater business owner runs Riverbend Resources, which supplies farmers and chicken owners with his innovative Poultry Pro Feeder.
The invention converts any plastic container into a "no mess" chicken feeder to avoid wasted feed and keep away rodents or other animals.
Read More: Three Billionaires with Mass. Ties Land On Forbes List
Diedrichsen appeared on the March 14 episode of the ABC series “Shark Tank” to pitch his passion project to the "Sharks," a group of angel investors who decide on whether to invest in a company.
"My heart was in my stomach," Diedrichsen told WBZ NewsRadio on the moments before he walked onstage. "It was pretty crazy. I mean when those doors open, you only get one take."
Most of the sharks said no, but fashion mogul Daymond John, who owns chickens, bought in. John agreed to $300,000 for a 20 percent stake in Riverbend Resources.
"I went in there with Daymond in mind," Diedrichsen said. "I had done my research, part of the show, and I knew that he was the only one who had chickens, and I knew he would get it."
Since the episode aired, Diedrichsen said he has seen a boom in sales, changing the trajectory of his entire business.
"My initial envision was essentially just this product, a chicken feeder, a better chicken feeder, and now it’s kind of like evolving into this poultry company," Diedrichsen said.
In addition to the Poultry Pro Feeder, Riverbend Resources also sells the Poultry Pro Waterer, which attaches to a five-gallon bucket.
WBZ’s Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.