Will Cleveland

@WillCleveland13

Two RIT graduates struck a deal Friday on ABC's Shark Tank show Friday, pushing the venture capitalist reality show past $100 million in total deals in its time on the air.

Nathan Coleman and James Brooks, each 29, gave up 17.5 percent of their Elephant Pants business to Daymond John for $500,000.

Coleman and Brooks launched the Brooklyn-based e-commerce company after a trip to Thailand in 2013. During the trip, they were exposed to issues facing elephants, including poaching and being killed for their ivory tusks.

They've gotten behind the issue by becoming advocates and donating 10 percent of net profits — about $127,000 — to the International Elephant Foundation. According to the Elephant Pants website, "Our products are proudly made in Chiang Mai, Thailand by a talented team that's paid 2x the minimum wage, provided with health care, and given a green environment to work in."

The harem pants are targeted to women ages 18 to 34 and helped the company generate $4.5 million in revenues last year.

Coleman and Brooks are the third Rochester-area entrepreneurs to strike a deal on the show.

Tim Talley of Rochester turned an appearance and an investment from Mark Cuban into a deal that put his U-Lace shoelaces into Target and 7-Eleven.

Irondequoit High School graduate Heather Saffer expanded her product lines and promoted her Dollop frosting lines after appearing on the show.

WCLEVELAND@Gannett.com

Staff writer Todd Clausen contributed to this story.

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