Swimming in the Shark Tank

May 2026

In ABC’s popular reality show Shark Tank, entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to a panel of wealthy investors. If you have tuned in to any of the show’s 18 seasons, there is a good chance you’ve seen a BYU student or alum in the tank. There have been at least 20 BYU alums or students on Shark Tank, and the connection has not gone unnoticed. Shark Tank celebrity Mark Cuban once quipped, “What’s going on in Provo?”

The BYU Technology Transfer Office compiled the following list of BYU-connected entrepreneurs who have presented their product ideas and companies on the show:

• Beloved Shirts | Jeremiah Robison didn’t make a deal on the show, but the brand grew with the publicity and was endorsed by independent contractors and influencers.
• Cerebral Success | Trevor Hiltbrand struck a deal with Barbara Corcoran for $75,000 in exchange for 40 percent equity. After the show, the product was rebranded as SmartX.
• Chirp | Tate Stock accepted an offer from Lori Greiner but ultimately didn’t close the deal because the company Chirp had already accomplished many of its reasons for seeking investors. The company is still doing well.
• ChompSaw | Max Leichty made a deal with sharks Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner for $250,000 in exchange for 15 percent stake in the company. The company’s product was named 2026 Creative Toy of the Year.
• DrainWig | Gifford Briggs and his wife Jennifer Briggs landed a deal with Kevin O’Leary, and the company is still going strong nine years later. The Briggs’s five daughters, who also appeared on the show, now help run the company.
• FiberFix | Spencer Quinn and Reed Quinn struck a deal with Lori Greiner for $120,000 in exchange for 12 percent equity, and the company did $50 million in retail sales in the six years after it appeared on the show.
• FireAvert | Michael Sanders struck a loan, royalty, and equity deal with Lori Greiner. In the three years after it appeared on the show, the company had $3.6 million in sales and a partnership with Marriott Vacations Worldwide.
• IllumiBowl | Matt Alexander struck a deal with Kevin O’Leary for $100,000 in exchange for 25 percent equity. More than 1 million units have been sold.
• Mission Belt | Jeff Jensen made a deal with Daymond John. Since then, the company has given out more than $250,000 microloans in 81 countries. It was named one of Shark Tank’s most successful products in 2026.
• MyoStorm | Jared Ward, Jono DiPeri, and Shaquille Walker struck a deal with Lori Greiner for $150,000 in exchange for 5 percent equity. The product is used globally by professional and Olympic athletes.
• PaddleSmash | Scott Brown accepted a deal with sharks Mark Cuban and Robert Herjavec, but the deal didn’t close. The game is sold in retailers including Dick’s Sporting Goods and Scheels.
• Paper Box Pilots |Brian Cahoon and Noah Cahoon landed a deal with Kevin O’Leary for $35,000 in exchange for 50 percent equity. The company thrived but eventually closed so Noah could focus on school.
• PhoneSoap | Dan Barnes and Wesley LaPorte made a deal with Lori Greiner for $300,000 in exchange for 10 percent equity. Their product line has expanded and is one of Shark Tank’s most successful consumer products.
• Scan | Garrett Gee appeared on the show as a BYU student. The product was rejected by the sharks but was accepted by the public. The company eventually sold to Snapchat for $54 million.
• Sub Zero Ice Cream | Jerry Hancock didn’t get a deal, but the “Shark Tank effect” fueled nationwide growth for the brand.
• ZipString | Austin Hillam made a deal with sharks Kevin O’Leary and Robert Herjavec for $100,000 in exchange for a split 20 percent equity.

Source: Todd Hollingshead and Ellie Larsen, “BYU Ranks Among Top Schools with the Most Alumni on Shark Tank . . . Who Will Be Next?” BYU News, March 9, 2026.