Florida entrepreneur who appeared in 'Call Christina' story wins big on 'Shark Tank'

Chris Gilpin gets 2 sharks to take bait

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Remember Chris Gilpin from this January edition of "Call Christina" that explored the threat of so-called digital pickpocketing?

Gilpin, a senior consultant with the National Crime Stop Program, warned that high-tech thieves armed with radio-frequency identification scanners can steal credit card and debit card information from chip-enabled cards from up to 20-feet away.

"For a hacker you essentially have your name, card number and expiration date on your shirt," he said at the time.

The central Florida resident had invented a product called SignalVault, which shields a wallet full of cards from a hacker's scanner, making them "invisible to a hacker."

Gilpin was preparing to pitch his product to ABC's "Shark Tank" during the show's open casting call at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

"I'd be happy to strike a deal with any shark," Gilpin told Local 10 News consumer advocate Christina Vazquez.

Gilpin got that chance last Friday, appearing in the show's season premiere, which featured Ashton Kutcher as the newest guest shark. Sharks Lori Greiner and Rob Herjavec took the bait.

Six million viewers watched Gilpin's big moment -- when he secured a $200,000 investment from Greiner and Herjavec.

"Just by being on the show, there's huge exposure, and I am setting up to handle more sales," Gilpin was quoted as saying in the Orlando Sentinel.

His website now features a banner that reads, "As seen on 'Shark Tank.'" The company launched in 2013, right before the Target data breach.

Another Florida entrepreneur will make an appearance this Friday.

Jesse Wolfe of Odang Hummus is a recent college graduate from Orlando who plans to take the sharks' taste buds on a "joy ride to flavor town" with his twist on the traditional hummus.

"Shark Tank" airs on Local 10 Fridays at 9 p.m.

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