ActionGlow Shark Tank Update – Shark Tank Season 14
From a homemade snowboarding invention to a multimillion-dollar business, ActionGlow’s Shark Tank journey showed how innovation and persistence could pay off.
On Shark Tank Season 14 Episode 7, Garret and Dakota Porter introduced their patented lighting products designed for snow, water, and land sports, hoping to take their growing business to the next level.
Garret and Dakota asked the Sharks for $200,000 in exchange for 15% equity in ActionGlow. Would the Sharks be impressed by their innovation and help illuminate the future of their business?
About ActionGlow
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Business Name | ActionGlow |
| Founders | Garret and Dakota Porter |
| Industry | Sporting Goods |
| Product | LED lighting accessories for sports |
| Investment Asked | $200,000 for 15% equity |
| Deal Status | Deal secured with Robert Herjavec |
| Deal Outcome | $200,000 for 30% equity |
| Valuation | $1.33 million (at the time of Shark Tank pitch) |
Garret and Dakota Porter believed outdoor sports should be just as exciting after dark as they were during the day. Inspired by their own snowboarding experiences, they created ActionGlow, a line of LED lighting accessories that added both style and safety to sporting equipment.
When they returned to the slopes with their boards lit up, everyone wanted them. The brothers thought they could make a business out of their idea, and that was exactly what they did.
In November 2013, they launched their first products at a Traverse City business expo and sold out within 48 hours. Since then, they added eight other products for bikes, surfboards, and more.
Although they had an unsuccessful Kickstarter campaign in 2016, they continued growing the business. They also received a utility patent for decorative lighting systems for sporting equipment, protecting their products from competitors. Their products were even featured in Red Bull and Jeep commercials and on the ABC TV show The Ultimate Surfer.
Both founders earned associate degrees in business, and as of November 2022, they were the only two employees of the company.
They had been approached by a Shark Tank producer when they were first starting out but declined because they had won a pitch contest in Detroit where the sponsor withheld the $40,000 prize due to their age. Since then, they had applied to be on the show three times before finally making it into the Tank.
ActionGlow Shark Tank Pitch
Garret and Dakota entered the Shark Tank riding skateboards fitted with their LED lights. The skateboards were Hamboards, a company Robert Herjavec had invested in during Season 5.
The brothers asked the Sharks for $200,000 in exchange for 15% equity in ActionGlow.
They explained that they were action sports enthusiasts who began snowboarding before they could walk. Growing up in Michigan, much of their snowboarding happened at night. Although the slopes had lights, they felt the atmosphere was boring, which inspired them to create ActionGlow.
The LED lights added both style and safety to sporting equipment and could be applied in just five minutes.
The founders shared that they had been trying to get on Shark Tank for ten years, and the Sharks watched clips of their previous audition videos before applauding their persistence.
They explained that they filed their LLC in 2012 and were celebrating ten years in business. Their patented lighting system currently featured static colors, but they were seeking investment to develop ActionGlow 2, which would include multiple colors.
The multi-color version would only increase production costs slightly.
Current prices ranged from $49 for skateboard lights to $124 for SUP boards and kayaks. The skateboard model cost only $15 to manufacture.
By the time of filming, ActionGlow had generated $130,000 in lifetime sales, rather than $130,000 in annual revenue. Half of those lifetime sales had come during the previous two years. The company generated $32,000 in sales in 2021 and had generated another $22,000 in sales by July 2022.
The brothers sold directly to consumers without spending anything on marketing, relying entirely on word of mouth. Since every unit was still hand-assembled, they intentionally limited orders because they feared they would not be able to keep up with demand if the business went viral.
What Makes ActionGlow Unique?
ActionGlow stood out in the sporting goods market through a combination of innovation and practical use:
- LED lighting accessories designed for snow, water, and land sports.
- Added both style and safety to sporting equipment.
- Protected by a utility patent for decorative lighting systems.
- Easy five-minute installation, and products available for multiple types of sports equipment.
Did ActionGlow Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
Kevin O’Leary shared his experience with Illumibowl, explaining that knockoff products became a constant challenge despite having patent protection. He believed the products were good but thought protecting the patent would be difficult, so he decided not to invest.
Lori Greiner praised the brothers but felt the business was still too small and opted out.
Mark Cuban believed they would accomplish great things but said the investment was not the right fit for him.
Barbara Corcoran was concerned about the low sales numbers and the company’s lack of social media marketing, so she also declined.
Robert Herjavec was impressed with both the product and the founders. When the brothers projected $430,000 in future sales after launching ActionGlow 2, Robert questioned how they arrived at those numbers and said they needed more discipline.
Robert asked how much of the company he could own to make the investment worthwhile. He offered $200,000 for 30% equity.
The brothers countered with 20%, then 25%, but Robert refused both offers. Lori reminded them that they had spent ten years trying to get into the Tank and now had an offer they should not lose.
The brothers slid a skateboard over to Robert and accepted his offer of $200,000 for 30% equity.
ActionGlow Shark Tank Update
After appearing on Shark Tank, the brothers reached out to Hamboards to borrow skateboards for their presentation because they were working with a tight budget. The Hamboards team helped them prepare for their appearance on the Tank.
On the night their episode aired, ActionGlow generated over $60,000 in sales. The founders later said the deal with Robert Herjavec was renegotiated, but the final terms were not publicly disclosed.
The company has continued to grow rapidly after Shark Tank, surpassing seven figures in revenue and expanding at approximately 250% year over year. Garret Porter later said that ActionGlow expected to finish 2024 with more than $3 million in revenue.
ActionGlow also expanded its product lineup, offering ten different LED lighting products for snow, land, and water sports.
Retail Expansion
At the time of filming, the founders were focused primarily on their direct-to-consumer business and were looking to expand into retail. The company later pursued additional retail opportunities as it continued developing its distribution strategy.
The Robert Herjavec Deal
Garret also confirmed that ActionGlow maintains a close working relationship with Robert Herjavec, regularly speaking with him as the company continues to grow.
The company’s appearance on Shark Tank provided funding, strategic guidance, and industry expertise that helped support its expansion into new markets and product categories.
Where Is ActionGlow Now?
The brothers launched the “LEDTheWay National Tour,” traveling in a renovated school bus to sell products directly to retailers while creating marketing content throughout the journey.
As of 2026, ActionGlow remained in business, with Dakota Porter serving as CEO and Garret Porter serving as COO. The estimated net worth of ActionGlow is $2 million.
Where Can You Buy It?
ActionGlow products are available for purchase on their official website and on Amazon. Follow their social media page for more recent updates: Facebook and Instagram.
Posts about ActionGlow on Shark Tank Blog
Interested in learning more about the company behind the glowing sports accessories? Read the complete guide on ActionGlow for its full story, product lineup, and latest business updates after Shark Tank.
Quick Summary
- Garret and Dakota Porter pitched ActionGlow, LED lighting accessories for snow, water, and land sports. Robert Herjavec invested $200,000 for 30% equity. The company’s patented lighting system, focus on safety and style, and expansion plans helped it stand out in the sporting goods market.
- ActionGlow had generated $130,000 in lifetime sales by the time of filming, including $32,000 in 2021 and $22,000 through July 2022.
- After the episode aired, the company reported more than $60,000 in sales that night and continued pursuing retail and product expansion.
Check out other Shark Tank Season 14 episodes.
Curious about the other businesses featured in Shark Tank Season 14 Episode 7? Explore more updates and see which ideas made a splash in the Tank.
