Nate Holzapfel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nathaniel Holzapfel
Nate Holzapfel 2017 Milken Conference.jpg
Holzapfel 2017 Milken Conference
Born
Nathanael Reid Holzapfel

February 5, 1979
Provo, Utah
NationalityAmerican
OccupationPublic Speaker, entrepreneur
Notable work
Co-founder of Mission Belt
Websitewww.nateholzapfel.com

Nate Holzapfel (born Nathanael Reid Holzapfel, February 5, 1979) is an American entrepreneur most known for his appearance on ABC’s Shark Tank, where he pitched the Mission Belt Co.[1] He has since gone on to pursue a career in consulting and public speaking,.[2]

In February 2015, Holzapfel revealed that he would be featured on a spin-off of Shark Tank, called Beyond the Tank.[3]

In October 2021, Holzapfel was arrested on allegations that he defrauded a woman he had been dating out of nearly $200,000. He tricked her into signing over her house into a company he controlled. The woman is described as having significant health problems and being responsible for taking care of her disabled adult child.[4]


Early life[]

Nate Holzapfel was born to Richard N. Holzapfel and Jeni Broberg Holzapfel in Provo, Utah. He is the oldest of five children, including his younger brother and business partner, Zachary Holzapfel. When Nate was an infant, his family moved to Irvine, California for his father's schooling, and at age 13 his family moved to the small town of Woodland, Utah.[5]

Career[]

Nate Holzapfel resided in Los Angeles, CA.

Mission Belt[]

Holpzafel founded Mission Belt with the goal of bringing brand recognition to belts. Holzapfel felt that "fashion houses designed and created belts as an afterthought", and sought to change that practice.[6] After moderate initial success, Holzapfel appeared on Shark Tank and was able to negotiate a deal with fashion brand icon Daymond John.[7]

After partnering with John, Mission Belt sales increased by over $1 million within three weeks of the show airing which enabled Holzapfel to expand sales and entrepreneurship past his initial venture.[8] As of early 2017, Mission Belt has brought in $25 million in revenue.[9] Mission Belt has been listed as one of John's top 5 deals on Shark Tank.[10]

Following Holpzafel's arrest in October 2021, Mission Belt issued a statement distancing the company from Nate Holpzafel indicating that Nate had not been associated with the company for more than seven years.[11]

Sales and Management Training[]

Holpzafel offers sales training, coaching, and public speaking services through his website https://www.nateholzapfel.com/.

The Nate State of Mind[]

In 2015 Holpzafel launched The Nate State of Mind,[12] offering coaching, training, videos, and books about personal branding. The domain is no longer registered to Holpzafel.

Controversies[]

Larry King lawsuit[]

In 2019 a lawsuit was filed in federal court in California alleging that Holzapfel "used false pretenses to obtain Larry King's participation in a mock interview, then infringed Plaintiffs' common law trademarks and rights of publicity to make it appear that Larry King endorsed Defendants' commercial activities when, in fact, he has not done so."[13]

According to the complaint, King agreed to do the mock interview, conducted in 2013, "as a favor to a family member." The suit goes on to say that King agreed to provide Holzapfel with a copy of the interview, "for the limited and sole purpose of using excerpts from it in a 'sizzle reel' [demonstration video] that Holzapfel could privately submit to a few television producers and others, in the hopes that those producers would hire Holzapfel for a television program. Holzapfel agreed to use the recorded Mock Interview only for that limited purpose."

The complaint adds that it was made to seem that Holzapfel had appeared on "Larry King Now," when in fact he did not. Alleging trademark infringement, unfair competition and other counts, the suit sought unspecified damages.[14]

In March 2019 the Blast reported that King won a default judgment for $250,000 against Holzapfel. Additionally, Holzapfel was ordered to pay $8,600 towards King's legal fees. The judge also ordered Holzapfel to cease using King’s name and likeness and destroy any materials he made featuring King.[15][16]

Fraud allegations[]

In October 2021, Holpzafel was charged with several counts of communication fraud. The Utah County Attorney's Office charging documents alleged that Holpzafel defrauded a woman he had been dating out of nearly $200,000 "by tricking her into signing over her house into a company he controlled. The woman is described as having significant health problems and being responsible for taking care of her disabled adult child." [17]

KUTV in Salt Lake City also reported that "charging documents alleged, Holzapfel pressured the woman into selling her house and investing in one of his companies, which turned out not to even exist at that time. Holzapfel eventually listed the woman’s house for sale in August 2020 without her knowledge, prosecutors said, and kept most of the profits, giving her only $11,000 from the sale. '[Holzapfel] used these funds to pay for existing personal debts on his motor vehicle, attorney fees, credit cards, and to purchase expensive luxury items like firearms and gun supplies,' prosecutors wrote in the charging documents. Throughout this entire process, prosecutors said, Holzapfel failed to tell the woman he was married and that he was in financial trouble after getting sued and having a judgment entered against him for more than $250,000.".[18][19] Utah County investigators believe there are other victims of the same scheme and asked them to come forward.[20]

Following news of Holzapfel's arrest, Mission Belt told KUTV he was not associated with the company and did not represent its values.[21]

Investigators say Holzapfel, who is married, met a woman on Tinder in August. In September, Holzapfel "began grooming the victim by telling her that he would help her invest her money so that she could live like a gold girl. (He) then told the victim that he would invest $50,000 from the victim's late husband's life insurance policy into his company Bristol and Beard," according to new charging documents. [22]

In January 2022 he was charged with defrauding a third victim.[23]

Philanthropy[]

Mission Belt donates $1 through the Kiva Lender Fund for every belt that's sold, which provides microloans to entrepreneurs mostly in developing countries. In March 2017, Mission Belt reported that the company has lent $1.5 million, or 60,000 micro-loans, to small business owners around the world. Since joining Kiva in 2012, Mission Belt has become one of its largest supporters, lending hope and opportunity through small loans to tens of thousands around the world.[24]

Filmography[]

Beyond the Tank (TV Series) 2016

Shark Tank (TV Series) 2013 - 2014 Himself - Entrepreneur: The Mission Belt

  • Episode #5.29 (2014) ... Himself - Entrepreneur: The Mission Belt (uncredited)
  • Episode #5.4 (2013) ... Himself - Entrepreneur: The Mission Belt
  • Episode #4.22 (2013) ... Himself - Entrepreneur: The Mission Belt

References[]

  1. ^ "Shark Tank - Mission Belt Pitch". Youtube. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Sales Consulting, Training, & Strategy". thenatestateofmind.com. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
  3. ^ "Shark Tank Spinoff". heraldextra.com. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
  4. ^ KUTV Staff (2021-10-05). "Mission Belt co-founder, Shark Tank alum arrested in fraud case". KUTV. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  5. ^ "Nate Holzapfel Bio - Met al". Met al. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  6. ^ ""About Nate" - Nate State of Mind". thenatestateofmind.com. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
  7. ^ "New idea for an old product leads to success". heraldextra.com. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
  8. ^ "'Shark Tank' boost ratchets up sales of Utah belts". sltrib.com. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
  9. ^ "Why This Belt Startup Is Donating $1.5 Million in Loans to Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries". Inc.com. March 28, 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-20.
  10. ^ "5 of Daymond John's Most Profitable 'Shark Tank' Deals". Inc.com. June 7, 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-20.
  11. ^ Reavy, Pat (2021-10-06). "'Shark Tank' contestant from Provo, Utah, charged with defrauding woman". Deseret News. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  12. ^ "Mission Belt Co. creator films for 'Shark Tank' spin-off in Provo, shares success secrets with entrepreneurs". UtahValley360. 2015-02-06. Retrieved 2021-10-06.
  13. ^ "Suit accuses Holzapfel of falsely using 2013 pretend interview as an endorsement". The Wrap. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  14. ^ "'Shark Tank' Alum Nate Holzapfel Sued Over 'Mock' Larry King Interview". MSN.com. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  15. ^ "Larry King Scores $250k Judgment Over 'Mock' Interview". The Blast. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  16. ^ "Larry King Enterprises, Inc. v. Nathaniel Holzapfel (2:18-cv-09454-PA-RAO)". Court Listener. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  17. ^ KUTV Staff (2021-10-05). "Mission Belt co-founder, Shark Tank alum arrested in fraud case". KUTV. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
  18. ^ KUTV Staff (2021-10-05). "Mission Belt co-founder, Shark Tank alum arrested in fraud case". KUTV. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  19. ^ "Utah entrepreneur charged with scamming 'vulnerable' romantic partner out of home equity". KSTU. 2021-10-06. Retrieved 2021-10-06.
  20. ^ "Additional victims asked to come forward in Utah 'Shark Tank' contestant fraud investigation". ABC4 Utah. 2021-10-06. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  21. ^ KUTV Staff (2021-10-05). "Mission Belt co-founder, Shark Tank alum arrested in fraud case". KUTV. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
  22. ^ KSl Staff (2021-11-17). "Utah entrepreneur who appeared on 'Shark Tank' now accused of defrauding 2nd victim".
  23. ^ KSl Staff (2022-01-12). "Prosecutors identify 3rd alleged fraud victim of 'Shark Tank' entrepreneur".
  24. ^ "Why This Belt Startup Is Donating $1.5 Million in Loans to Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries". Inc.com. March 28, 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-20.

External links[]

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