College friends Jake Piekarski and Philip Loveland pitched their snow removal service business, Snow Scholars, on Shark Tank Season 16. Jake noticed that many college students were looking for high-paying part-time jobs, while homeowners were being charged high fees for snow shoveling. To solve both problems, he started Snow Scholars, allowing students to earn money by shoveling snow for homeowners.
To expand their business, they sought the Sharks’ expertise and asked for $75,000 in exchange for 10% equity. Ultimately, they secured a deal with Mark Cuban for $150,000 in exchange for 20% equity.
As of March 2025, Snow Scholars operates in nine different states across the U.S. and has partnerships with 26 university student campuses.
| Company Name | Snow Scholars | |
| Founder | Jake Piekarski and Philip Loveland | |
| Founded | 2022 | |
| Product | Snow removal service | |
| Asked For | $75k for 10% equity | |
| Final Deal | $150k for 20% equity | |
| Sharks | Mark Cuban | |
| Episode (Shark Tank USA) | S16 E7 | |
| Air Date | Dec 13th, 2024 | |
| Business Status | In Business | |
| Headquarters | Madison, Wisconsin, USA | |
| Lifetime Worth (Sales) | $1.5M *estimated | |
| Valuation | $750,000 | |
| Website | Snowscholars.com | |
Who Is The Founder Of Snow Scholars?
The snow removal service company, Snow Scholars, was founded in 2022 by entrepreneurs Jake Piekarski and Philip Loveland.
Jake began his entrepreneurial journey in 2020 when he founded ChoreHub, a home maintenance company. In addition to that, he has also founded two other businesses under Bascom 2. He completed his MBA from the Wisconsin School of Business.
Philip earned his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Snow Scholars.
How Was The Shark Tank Pitch Of Snow Scholars?
After appearing on Shark Tank, Jake and Philip gave a detailed explanation of their business to the Sharks. They shared that Snow Scholars offers full-season and vacation plans at affordable prices, including some free services like salting and sanding.
Jake mentioned that they currently operate on two college campuses: the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Their plan for 2024 is to expand to four more campuses, with a long-term goal of partnering with 140 college campuses across the U.S. and Canada.
For marketing, they pay college students to distribute flyers door-to-door during the season. They charge homeowners $74.56 per snow removal service and pay students $25 per hour, maintaining a 75% profit margin.
To connect shoveling students with homeowners and ensure service quality, they use their own custom-built software, which helps manage operations efficiently.
Between December 1st and April 1st, 2024, they generated $116,800 in revenue, with a profit of $85,500. Kevin O’Leary offered $75,000 for 20% equity, and Daymond John matched the same offer. However, Mark Cuban made a better offer of $150,000 for 20% equity, which Jake accepted without hesitation.
Breakdown Sharks Offer
Note: Here’s a quick summary of the offers and counteroffers between the Sharks and Jenna Hess:
| Sharks | Offers |
| Kevin O’Leary | $75k for 20% equity |
| Daymon John | $75k for 20% equity |
| Mark Cuban | $150k for 20% equity |
| Lori Greiner | No Offer |
| Robert Herjavec | No Offer |
| Founder’s (Countered) | No Counter |
| Final Deals | $150k for 20% equity |
Snow Scholars Shark Tank Update
After closing the deal with Mark Cuban, Snow Scholars expanded to nine states in the U.S. and partnered with 26 college campuses. Students from these campuses are now working part-time as snow shovelers, earning $25 per hour while continuing their studies. The company is currently accepting clients for the 2025-2026 season.
Initially, Jake Piekarski owned 100% of the company, while Philip Loveland had no equity. However, Philip mentioned that if he invested $270,000, he would receive 30% equity in the company.
Upon checking Philip Loveland’s official LinkedIn profile, it was found that he joined Snow Scholars as Chief Operating Officer in April 2023 but left the company in November 2024. Currently, he is working as a real estate agent at Lou Elson Real Estate.
What Is Snow Scholars Net Worth?
Snow Scholars is gradually expanding nationwide, but it remains a seasonal business that operates from December to April. Currently, the company’s estimated net worth is around $1 million.
