Polk State alum to showcase product on ABC’s Shark Tank

SHARK TANK - “Dating in the Wild: Will the Sharks Say Yes to a Unique Dating App? Alexis Ohanian Returns” - Ambitious entrepreneurs wow the Sharks with game-changing ideas, including an e-compass for finding friends, a no-swipe dating app, customizable screen protectors, and an app for hosting soccer pick-up games. on ABC. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21 (10:02-11:00 p.m. EST) on ABC. (Disney/John Fleenor) ALEXIS OHANIAN, LORI GREINER, DAYMOND JOHN, CLAY CANNING

As a business owner, Polk State College graduate Clay Canning has had incredible success in reaching new audiences. His next audience will be national television.

On Jan. 21, Canning along with co-founder RaShaun Brown and advisor Wayne Pfeffer, will pitch their product, Screen Skinz, to a panel of successful businesspeople and entrepreneurs such as Barabara Corcoran, Lori Greiner, Daymond John and Kevin O’Leary on ABC’s acclaimed show Shark Tank. Screen Skinz is a cellphone screen protector design company created in 2017.

“Screen Skinz’s proprietary, patented process etches logos, designs, names and images directly onto premium tempered glass screen protectors, transforming every locked screen into a personal statement,” as described in a release. “Designs remain visible when the display is off and disappear when the screen is in use, providing a smooth, uninterrupted viewing experience. Whether showcasing a favorite team, character, loved one, or personal artwork, Screen Skinz is making the mundane magical by transforming mobile device screens into canvases of self-expression.”

A 2021 graduate of Polk State’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management Program, Canning landed his first licensing agreement with the University of South Florida in 2018. Since then, he has entered into agreements with the NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAA, NHL, WWE, State University System and with properties of The Walt Disney World Company such as Marvel and LucasFilm.

SHARK TANK – “Dating in the Wild: Will the Sharks Say Yes to a Unique Dating App? Alexis Ohanian Returns” – Ambitious entrepreneurs wow the Sharks with game-changing ideas, including an e-compass for finding friends, a no-swipe dating app, customizable screen protectors, and an app for hosting soccer pick-up games. on ABC. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21 (10:02-11:00 p.m. EST) on ABC. (Disney/John Fleenor)
WAYNE PFEFFER, CLAY CANNING, RASHAUN BROWN

“First and foremost, we’re super honored to have had this opportunity,” Canning said. “To start in my parents’ laundry room to being in front of a national audience several years later is surreal. Going on Shark Tank was a huge deal for us.”

First airing in 2009, Shark Tank allows entrepreneurs to showcase their product to the panel of “sharks” in hopes of landing partnerships. Entrepreneurs seek money in exchange for stakes in their businesses to produce and sell the products on a larger scale.

Those hoping to see Canning and his partners can watch at 10 p.m. on ABC. The show can also be streamed on Hulu. The full press release from Screen Skinz can be found here.