Who is Israel Schaya?
Israel Schaya is co-founder of Bumpeez, a Brooklyn company that makes remote-control bumper cars for toddlers and young kids. He and his business partner, Michael Bergida, both have backgrounds in marketing and selling consumer products on Amazon and eBay. They created Bumpeez after seeing that amusement parks had few rides for children too small for standard attractions, and built a home version parents can control remotely. Nine months after launch the company had about $520,000 in sales.
On Shark Tank in Season 16 the partners asked for $100,000 for 10%. During negotiations Schaya tried to bring additional sharks into the deal, which prompted Barbara Corcoran to withdraw; after the founders apologized and countered, she and Robert Herjavec closed at $100,000 for 15% plus a $5 royalty on the first 50,000 units. Since the show Bumpeez has sold steadily on Amazon, added inflatable and dinosaur-themed models, and was named one of the Toy Association's Top 25 Toys for STEAM.
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