Raquel Graham, the developer of Headlightz, who landed a big deal on Shark Tank in 2020, is now reporting millions of dollars in sales. She ended up negotiating a deal with Kevin O’Leary and Peter Jones for $200K in exchange for 20% of her company plus a one-dollar per unit royalty till they recoup $600K when she appeared on the show.
That contract has paid off well for all parties concerned, as she generated $1.7 million in revenue in 2021. In 2022, she is expected to earn another $1.8 million.
Her company, Roq Innovation, makes Headlightz, a series of hats and headbands with removable and rechargeable LED lights that are ideal for outdoor running, walking the dog, and a variety of other practical and safety applications for hands-free lighting. Her goods have been featured on Oprah’s O List twice, Oprah’s Favorite Things, Forbes, Good Morning America, and The Drew Barrymore Show, in addition to Shark Tank. She has even sold out on HSN several times.
Raquel is no stranger to business. She has a proven track record of success in marketing strategy, branding, partnerships and sponsorships, and event management.
She was born and reared in Brooklyn, New York City, and then relocated to Chicago, where she spent seven years as Vice President and National Marketing Director for Johnson Publishing Company (Ebony and Jet). She received a B.A. in History and an Associates degree in Economics from Wesleyan University, as well as an MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management.