BocceRoll Shark Tank Update — Shark Tank Season 17
BocceRoll stands out by transforming the classic bocce experience into a portable, ramp-based yard game built for modern, social play.
Nikki Hageman, Claude Drehfal, and Ben Fisher stepped onto the stage of “Shark Tank Season 17 Episode 11,” pitching their unique yard game, BocceRoll.
BocceRoll offers a twist on classic outdoor games with its easy-to-learn rules. Now, let’s see if the founding team is able to attract the Sharks, or they have to leave empty-handed.
About BocceRoll
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Business Name | BocceRoll |
| Founders | Nikki Hageman, Claude Drehfal, and Ben Fisher |
| Industry | Games |
| Product | Yard game |
| Investment Asked | $100,000 for 10% equity |
| Deal Status | Secured with Lori Greiner, Joanna and Chip Gaines |
| Deal Outcome | $100,000 for 25% equity |
| Valuation | $1 million |
Nikki Hageman, with experience in industrial design, and Claude Drehfal, with a background in engineering, crossed paths through Wisconsin’s product development community. They met during the Make48 event, a competition for entrepreneurs to invent, build a prototype, and pitch in just 48 hours.
Nikki and Claude’s BocceRoll idea won the competition, and they decided to launch the brand. The official launch was on Kickstarter, where they secured the IP rights.
In this yard game, players have to roll the balls down a ramp towards the target, pallina. Players earn points if the ball touches the pallina or drops in the marked position. So, whoever scores 21 points wins the game.
The game is fun, easy to carry, and simple. But let’s look at the pitch and how the Sharks reacted.
BocceRoll Shark Tank Pitch
Nikki, Claude, and Ben entered the Tank seeking $100,000 in exchange for a 10% stake in the brand, further valuing the company at $1 million. They presented the game to the Sharks and asked the guest Sharks, Joanna and Chip Gaines, to try to play it. Undoubtedly, it was a fun presentation on the Tank.
Kevin O’Leary wanted to know the numbers, so Claude took over and shared that they launched a Kickstarter campaign in 2023. Their goal was to raise $10,000, and they earned it within minutes, crossing $155,000.
In 2024, the brand earned $560,000. They are projected to earn $1.1 million in 2025, out of which the net profit would be $200,000.
Ben told the Sharks that the current retail price is $149, while their landing cost was $57. Lori Greiner was the first to mention that the game was made of high-quality wood. But Barbara Corcoran was skeptical of the game, as she did not find it fun.
The founders explained to Kevin O’Leary that they are currently only selling through their website. Mr. Wonderful acknowledged that it would be very hard to demonstrate the game if they went into retail.
Let’s see what is unique about the product, and whether they secure a deal on the Tank.
View this post on Instagram
What Makes BocceRoll Unique?
There are various reasons why BocceRoll is unique. Let’s look at some of those:
- BocceRoll brings a modern twist to classic bocce. They transformed it into a ramp-based game that is easy for beginners to learn and more dynamic.
- Unlike the traditional bocce game, this does not require a large space. It is perfect for backyards, beaches, and even solo play.
- The product encourages competitive gameplay. Though it is easy to learn, it requires strategy, making it appealing to both casual players and competitive groups.
Did BocceRoll Get A Deal On Shark Tank?
After listening to the pitch, Kevin O’Leary was concerned about the concept’s real-world demonstration in retail. He was also skeptical about its large size, which might make it too large to fit on the shelves. Kevin decided to bow out of the deal for the same reason.
Daniel Lubetzky, too, had the same concern as he thought it was hard to scale this into retail. So, he backed out of the deal negotiations. As mentioned earlier, Barbara Corcoran did not find it interesting, so she too refused to invest.
Nikki shared with Joanna and Chip Gaines that retailers like Target reached out to them. That is when Lori Greiner and the guest Sharks, Joanna and Chip, decided to team up and make an offer. They offered $100,000 in exchange for a 25% stake.
But Nikki presented a counteroffer, asking whether they could offer a line of credit. All three Sharks refused to do that and stuck to their original deal. Thus, they secured a $100K investment with a 25% equity.
BocceRoll Shark Tank Update
After appearing on the Tank, BocceRoll earned more visibility. As the game was difficult to demonstrate, coming on Shark Tank and demonstrating it to the potential customers might give them an entry into retail. Also, they secured a deal with three Sharks, who can bring much more expertise.
Where Can You Buy It?
You can purchase the product on their official website. To get more updates, you can check and follow their Instagram page.
Quick Summary
- Nikki Hageman, Claude Drehfal, and Ben Fisher stormed the Tank asking for $100K in exchange for 10% equity, pitching their brand, BocceRoll.
- BocceRoll is a modernized version of classic bocce. The yard game requires very less space and it is perfect to play for fun.
- They secured a deal with Joanna and Chip Gaines, and Lori Greiner.
