Wintertime means snow, and for many people living in snowy places, that also means a lot of shoveling! Clearing snow from driveways and walkways can take a lot of time and is hard work, especially for homeowners. Two college students named Jake Piekarski and Philip Loveland saw this problem and thought of a smart solution.
They started a business called Snow Scholars. Here’s what it does: they hire college students to help homeowners by shoveling snow from their driveways and sidewalks. This way, homeowners don’t have to spend hours shoveling, and college students can earn some good money in the winter when they might need a part-time job.
Jake and Philip even appeared on a TV show called Shark Tank, where they presented their business to the sharks. They were looking for $75,000 in exchange for 10% of their company.
Snow Scholars Net Worth Shark Tank Update 2025
Jake and Philip were looking for an investment of $75,000 in exchange for 10% equity in the company. At the time of the episode, they valued their company at $750,000. Jake and Philip successfully secured a deal with Mark Cuban for an investment of $150,000 for 20% equity in the company. The investment adjusted the company’s net worth to around $750,000. After the show was aired, the company experienced a good boost in exposure. As per my rough estimate, the current net worth of Snow Scholars in 2025 is around $3 million.
Shark(s) name | Offer & Demand | Counteroffer | Accepted? |
Robert Herjavec | Out | N/A | N/A |
Lori Greiner | Out | N/A | N/A |
Kevin O’Leary | $75,000 for 20% equity | N/A | No |
Daymond John | $75,000 for 20% equity | N/A | No |
Mark Cuban | $150,000 for 20% equity | N/A | Yes |
Jake Piekarski and Philip Loveland Backstory + Their Initial Pitch
Jake Piekarski and Philip Loveland were students at the University of Wisconsin when they came up with a cool idea called Snow Scholars. They saw two big problems: first, when it snows, many people have a tough time shoveling the snow off their driveways. Second, they noticed that college students often have extra time on their hands during the winter months because classes can go on break.
To help solve these problems, Jake and Philip created a snow removal service called Snow Scholars. This service makes it easier for homeowners to get their driveways cleared of snow while giving students a chance to earn some money. They even made special computer software that helps organize which students go to which houses to clear the snow, making the routes more efficient.
Homeowners can sign up for this service online, either for the whole winter season or just for specific times when they will be away. To find students who wanted to work for them, Jake and Philip put up job listings on campus and shared flyers.
When they pitched their idea on the TV show Shark Tank, they spoke clearly and confidently about how Snow Scholars works and their plan to grow the business to more college campuses. They asked the investors for $75,000 in exchange for 10% of their company, meaning the investors would own a small part of Snow Scholars in return for the money they provided.
Queries + Shark’s Responses, and Final Deal
Kevin O’Leary: Kevin really liked the business and admired how hard the founders were working. He thought it had a good chance to succeed. So, he offered them $75,000, which is money they could use to grow their business, in exchange for owning 20% of it. That means if the business made money, Kevin would get a share of that money because he owns part of it.
Daymond John: Daymond could relate to what the founders were doing because he had done something similar when he was younger. He liked their idea so much that he matched Kevin’s offer of $75,000 for 20% equity too. So now the founders had two similar offers on the table.
Lori Greiner: Lori, another investor, didn’t really understand what the founders needed her for. She believed they might be doing well on their own without needing extra help, so she decided not to invest her money in the business.
Robert Herjavec: Robert had a worry about the business. He thought that it depended too much on how much it snowed, which could be unpredictable. He felt the business might struggle in the future if there wasn’t enough snow, so he chose not to invest.
Mark Cuban: Mark saw a lot of potential in the business and wanted to invest even more than the others. He surprised everyone by offering $150,000 for 20% equity. That means he was willing to give them more money than Kevin and Daymond but still wanted a piece of the business. Jake and Philip, the founders, liked Mark’s offer a lot and accepted it right away.
Ultimately, the founders accepted Mark’s bigger offer.
Product Availability
Snow Scholars is a special service that helps homeowners by removing all that snow for them. Homeowners can easily sign up online for a seasonal plan or a vacation plan. This way, they don’t have to worry about dealing with heavy snow all by themselves.
Snow Scholars also help college students. Many students need part-time jobs, especially during school. This service hires students from nearby universities, like the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, to do the snow removal work. So, while homeowners get their snow cleared, students can earn some extra money.
Right now, they’re starting in those two areas, but they hope to grow and help more places soon! Snow Scholars is a win-win because it helps both the people who need their snow removed and the students who want to work.
What Happened To The Snow Scholars After Shark Tank?
After appearing on the TV show “Shark Tank,” which helps people get support for their business ideas, Snow Scholars became even more successful. They did over 3,000 jobs removing snow for about 1,000 customers, which means lots of people trusted them to clear snow from their driveways and walkways. As they grew, they started working in bigger places too, like businesses and schools, not just homes. This is what they mean by expanding their services to “commercial properties.”
Jake and Philip, the founders, made some helpful plans for their customers. One is called the “Whole Season Plan,” where customers can pay for snow removal for the entire winter season, and the other is the “Vacation Plan,” which is especially good for people who go away during the winter and want someone to take care of the snow while they’re gone.
They also made sure to pay over $100,000 to students who helped with the snow removal jobs. This is part of their goal to help students gain work experience and earn money. As of today, Snow Scholars is still operating, meaning they’re continuing to serve customers and maybe even growing even more!
Conclusion
Jake Piekarski and Philip Loveland went on a TV show called Shark Tank to talk about their cool snow removal service. A service like this helps people clear snow from their driveways and sidewalks during winter. They did a fantastic job explaining their idea and caught the attention of a famous businessman named Mark Cuban, who decided to invest in their company!
After being on the show, their business, called Snow Scholars, grew really fast. They started offering even more services, hired lots of students to help them out (which meant paying them thousands of dollars), and kept coming up with new ideas to make their service even better.
Their story shows how a simple idea can turn into a really successful business. They took a problem that many people face in winter. Lots of snow and turned it into a great opportunity for themselves and others. With Mark Cuban helping them, Jake and Philip are on track to make Snow Scholars a well-known name that many people trust when the snow starts to fall!

Hey, I’m Amna Habib, an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. Shark Tank has always been one of my favorite TV shows because it offers a unique glimpse into the world of entrepreneurship. The way entrepreneurs present innovative solutions to everyday problems aligns with my academic interests and fuels my curiosity about business strategies. Each pitch showcases creativity and strategic decision-making, which I find both insightful and inspiring. Watching the show has deepened my passion for business and motivated me to explore the world of entrepreneurship even further. Beyond business and writing, I love food, shopping, and spending time with my friends and family.