The Most Successful Shark Tank Products of All Time (And What Startups Can Learn)
“Shark Tank” is now much more than a TV show. It’s a launchpad for would-be entrepreneurs hoping to bring their products into the limelight and into American homes. Starting with its debut in 2009, the show has turned small businesses into sensations and created the names of some internationally recognized brands, with many generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. The premise is straightforward. Entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to a group of wealthy investors, known as Sharks, who then choose whether to invest in the businesses. But the effects are anything but small. Even companies that leave without a handshake typically enjoy a huge surge in sales, and this is all thanks to exposure. Through the years, some pitches have exceeded all expectations and have become major Shark Tank success stories. This piece examines ten of the top Shark Tank products ever built and what they can help us understand about how to build a startup that really functions.
Top 10 Most Successful Shark Tank Products
1. Bombas
Bombas is a sock company based on a one-for-one giving model. For every pair purchased, a pair is given to someone who needs it. When its founders, David Heath and Randy Goldberg, took the stage on “Shark Tank” in 2014, they sought $200,000 for a 5 percent share. Daymond John would make the deal, and the business took off. Bombas has since moved into T-shirts and underwear, generating more than $300 million in revenue. They won with smart messaging and a compelling appeal to customers. Their winning formula was simple. Everybody needs socks, and lots of people feel good about changing the world for others. Startups can take a lot from their clear and simple mission and targeted product approach.
2. Scrub Daddy
Scrub Daddy was pitched in 2012 by the inventor Aaron Krause. This smiling cleaning sponge is one of the weirdest things many people have ever seen, yet they can’t resist pressing their fingers into it and watching it magically change its texture based on water temperature. This sponge becomes firm when the water is cold, and then it softens when the water temperature is hot. Krause made a deal with Lori Greiner, who leveraged her reach on QVC and her retail relationships to get the product off the ground. Scrub Daddy is frequently mentioned as the largest “Shark Tank” product by units sold, with more than $250 million in lifetime sales. What worked was that these entrepreneurs came up with a fun design with obvious practical value, and Lori’s unequalled marketing expertise gave the product the boost it needed. For startups, the lesson is that small tweaks to a basic product — when combined with strong distribution — can yield massive success.
3. The Comfy
Many people are always trying to come up with interesting ways to remain warm and comfortable while relaxing at home, and now, they can when they procure this extra-large blanket with sleeves. This is referred to as The Comfy. Brian and Michael Speciale brought their product to the tank in 2017 and landed a partnership with Barbara Corcoran. In a few months’ time, The Comfy was all over the place, as it was widely distributed all over the internet and at a large variety of big-box retailers. It was great timing, as people were in a comfort-wear-at-home mode. Sales are now over $250 million. What’s remarkable is how well they nailed an emotion, which is the desire to seek love and comfort by being cuddled, and packaged that in a consumable product that was giftable and exceedingly shareable.
4. Simply Fit Board
Many people, especially those who are older or contend with chronic health conditions that may restrict movement, are in search of creative but easy ways to stay fit and toned. And now, there is a solution that has taken the market by storm. That's because in 2015, Gloria Hoffman and Linda Clark released the Simply Fit Board on the over-the-counter market, which is a curved plastic board that is designed to give people the ability to twist and tone their own core. Lori Greiner made an investment, and the product exploded, largely driven by infomercials and key retail placements. Sales topped $160 million. It fulfilled a growing need for home fitness equipment and gained a whole lot of popularity with older adults. Its success is a reminder that a product doesn’t have to be high-tech if it addresses a ubiquitous desire. In this case, this provided individuals with a convenient way to stay active at home.
5. Tipsy Elves
Tipsy Elves founders, Evan Mendelsohn and Nick Morton, started Tipsy Elves to sell witty and bold holiday sweaters. Robert Herjavec saw the money in their hilarious take on seasonal fashion, and he made an investment. What began as a joke grew into a giant business, with more than $125 million in revenue. The two branched out into creating and selling costumes and other seasonal clothing. What was important was that they didn’t take themselves too seriously; however, they took their business very seriously. Their success wasn’t just a fluke. With strong branding and good timing, it came out right before the ugly sweater season really and truly exploded.
6. Squatty Potty
Squatty Potty gets people to assume a better bathroom posture with a simple plastic stool. Their success began when Bobby Edwards and his mother Judy presented their product, and they went in on a deal with Lori Greiner. Sales took off after a viral video was released featuring a unicorn and some poop that millions of people couldn’t help but laugh at like little school kids and share far and wide. The film caused the product to gross more than $175 million in sales. What made Squatty Potty unique was that it took a taboo subject and made it something that was approachable and even humorous. It shows that comedy can be used as a powerful weapon, even in industries that appear challenging to market.
7. Ring (Doorbot)
Jamie Siminoff pitched his smart doorbell system, Doorbot, and got turned down. But even though he didn’t shake hands and left without a deal, the attention that he received from being on the show helped him grow his brand. The product was later called Ring, and it was acquired by Amazon for more than $1 billion. And Siminoff didn’t allow the rejection of the Sharks to stop him. He worked to refine the product, raised money elsewhere, and built a business far beyond what any of the Sharks had dreamt of. This is the best proof that in some cases, the best-known success stories don’t really even begin in a deal. It’s also a reminder to founders not to lose sight of the goal in the face of naysayers.
8. Kodiak Cakes
Joel Clark didn’t strike a deal when he appeared on the show, but Kodiak Cakes continued to grow. The brand offers high-protein pancake mixes and other healthy breakfast products. They were bootstrapped for years, and their Shark Tank appearance helped them get national attention. Today, the company makes well over $200 million. Their emphasis on nutrition and taste found success in the crowded food industry. This success also serves as a reminder that not every strong product with devoted customers needs external investment to grow.
9. Everlywell
Julia Cheek started Everlywell to offer at-home lab testing kits for things such as food sensitivities, cholesterol, and lately, COVID-19. In 2017, she made a deal with Lori Greiner. The pandemic made their business even more essential, and demand has soared. Everlywell has added other tests to its platform and, in fact, has raised over $200 million. Their pitch succeeded because it was plain, well-timed, and centered on a solid consumer need, which is convenient health testing. The takeaway is that solving a pain point, especially one around health, can lead to fast (and continued) growth.
10. Blueland
Blueland makes refillable cleaning products to help reduce plastic waste. The numbers and mission impressed the founders of Kevin O’Leary. Kevin hopped on board, invested, and the company has quickly scaled up, with more than $50 million in revenue to date. Their tablets dissolve in water, meaning that customers can reuse the same bottles. It drew eco-minded shoppers looking for ways to eliminate single-use plastics. The power of Blueland’s mission made people feel that purchasing their product was a small but significant act. In this somewhat rare case, the mission paid off, in terms of both revenue and brand loyalty.
What Startups Can Learn From These Success Stories
Product-Market Fit Comes First
Every one of the most successful Shark Tank businesses solved a problem or provided a better version of something people use. From cakes to socks, it had to be a product that made sense before any pitch could sell it. Without that, even the best marketing in the world won’t save a startup.
Shark Backing Helps—But Isn’t Everything
Some of the creators of the Shark Tank most successful products, including Jamie Siminoff and Joel Clark, didn’t get a deal. That didn’t prevent them from creating something massive. Money and connections are great, and they certainly don’t hurt when a Shark can give you a push, but grit and smart choices take you a long way.
For example, Jamie Siminoff’s Ring, then known as Doorbot, was rejected by the Sharks, yet that didn’t faze him one bit. He perfected the product, pressed on, and eventually sold the company to Amazon for more than $1 billion. The same was also true for Joel Clark of Kodiak Cakes. He didn’t get a deal but went on to build his health-friendly, whole-grain breakfast foods in responsible retail partnerships. Today, Kodiak Cakes makes more than $200 million a year. These tales are testament to the fact that not getting a deal with wealthy backers isn’t the end game. Sometimes, it’s the start of a whole lot more., And after all that hird work and persistence, these creators ended up with the biggest Shark Tank successes.
Virality and Branding Win Big
Products, like Squatty Potty and Tipsy Elves, did well because people can’t shut up about them. Viral videos, brash branding, and content so shareable were what caused so many people to rally behind them. If your product makes people laugh or pause, the odds are higher they’ll remember and make the purchase.
Timing Is Key
Everlywell’s launch during the pandemic and The Comfy’s cozy clothing amid stay-at-home seasons are evidence that tapping into the right moment can propel a business quickly. Entrepreneurs can’t control everything, but being ready when the moment comes is essential.
FAQs
What is the most successful Shark Tank product of all time?
Scrub Daddy is typically thought of as the biggest Shark Tank successes by units sold, while Bombas has the edge in revenue. Ring, which did not close a deal, instead had the largest financial exit through its sale to Amazon.
What Shark has made the most money from Shark Tank?
It is widely rumored that Lori Greiner has made the most money from the show from some of the most successful Shark Tank businesses, such as Scrub Daddy, Simply Fit Board, and Squatty Potty.
Have any Shark Tank products failed after success?
Yes. Some products get an early pop in sales, but then contend with issues like problems in the supply chain, increased competition, or bad financial management. Not every product is successful after the first wave.
What’s the highest-valued Shark Tank startup today?
Most of the industry has started to notice that Ring, which earned itself a billion-dollar valuation when it was bought by Amazon, has had the most success. It was one of the rare ideas to grow much bigger than the show ever hoped, even without The Sharks’ money.
Success does not wait for permission. It doesn’t matter how many answers you have or how many resources you have aligned. It sprouts in the hands of those who won’t quit, such as those who come to the table with something tangible, listen to feedback, pivot fast, and keep building, even when the doors shut. The best businesses frequently begin in kitchens, garages, or via late-night ideas scrawled on a napkin. If you believe in what you’re doing, keep at it. The world doesn’t need perfect people with perfect pitches. It takes bold thinkers, the kind that can continue to have the courage it takes to keep pushing until it succeeds. Some of the greatest Shark Tank success stories are proof of this.
