Combat Flip Flops Shark Tank Update – Shark Tank Season 7
From rapid sales growth and product expansion to overcoming challenges in Afghanistan, here’s how Combat Flip Flops evolved after its Shark Tank appearance.
Donald Lee and Matthew Griffin were two former Army Rangers who pitched their business, Combat Flip Flops, on Shark Tank Season 7, Episode 16. They turned war on its head with a business where they made “cool stuff in dangerous places.”
They were deeply affected by their military tours after seeing the devastation caused by war. They used their business and the manufacturing of their products as a “weapon for change.”
Would the Sharks invest in Combat Flip Flops and support their vision of creating peace through opportunity?
About Combat Flip Flops
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Business Name | Combat Flip Flops |
| Founders | Donald Lee, Matthew Griffin |
| Industry | Footwear, Social Entrepreneurship |
| Product | Flip flops, sarongs, bangles with a social cause |
| Funding (Pre-Shark Tank) | Â Self-funded (Bootstrapped) |
| Investment Asked | $150,000 for 10% equity |
| Deal Status | Deal secured with Mark Cuban, Daymond John, and Lori Greiner |
| Deal Outcome | $300,000 for 30% equity |
| Valuation | $1.5 million (at the time of Shark Tank pitch) |
The flagship product of Combat Flip Flops was flip flops made in Bogota, Colombia, out of combat boot soles. The company provided jobs in an impoverished area, and each pair sold sent an Afghan girl to two days of secondary school.
They also sold handmade sarongs made in Afghanistan by local women, with each sarong sold sending a girl to school for a week. Their Peacemaker Bangles were made by artisans in Laos from bombs, and every bangle sold helped clear three square meters of unexploded ordnance. They also made a tote bag in the USA.
The founders started the business in 2011 believing that creating jobs and educational opportunities could reduce recruitment into extremist organizations such as the Taliban and other militant groups, rather than relying on violence.
Former cocaine farmers made their flip flops, women in Afghanistan produced their sarongs, and artisans in war-torn Laos crafted their jewelry.
Griffin, who gave TED Talks on the subject, believed that employment, socially conscious business, and education were the most effective weapons against their enemies.
The business employed people around the world, including veterans in the USA. Even though the founders were unsuccessful in a 2014 IndieGoGo campaign to create a mobile factory, they continued growing the business.
They also contributed a portion of their profits to Aid Afghanistan for Education, the Mines Advisory Group, the Team 5 Medical Foundation, and THE STATION Foundation.
Combat Flip Flops Shark Tank Pitch
Donald and Matthew entered the Tank seeking $150,000 for 10% equity. They wanted to enlist the Sharks into their “unarmed forces” to help with their mission of creating “bad ass products in dangerous places.”
They explained where their products came from and said they believed businesses were more powerful than bullets. As they handed out flip flops, they shared that they had served two tours in Afghanistan, while Donald had also served a tour in Iraq.
Robert liked his pair. Kevin O’Leary speculated that flip flops were the company’s biggest seller, which Griffin confirmed.
The flip flops cost about $20 to manufacture and another $5 to ship, and they sold for $70. During the pitch, the founders revealed that total sales for the previous year were $134,000 and that they had already surpassed that figure in the current year. However, the business was only expected to finish the year with approximately a 5% profit margin.
Daymond recognized the complexity of the business model and asked whether it could scale. The founders said it could. Mark stated he was a fan of business over bullets.
Robert Herjavec felt the company had too many products and believed they couldn’t go narrow and deep at the same time. Daymond said they couldn’t abandon the other products. Griffin shared that they had received orders from military exchanges and Canadian stores for their flip flops.
What Makes Combat Flip Flops Unique?
Combat Flip Flops stands out through a combination of social impact and purpose-driven products:
- Makes products in conflict-affected regions to create jobs and opportunity.
- Supports education for Afghan girls and land mine clearance through every purchase.
- Combines premium consumer products with a strong humanitarian mission.
Did Combat Flip Flops Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
Kevin O’Leary believed the founders should focus on footwear because the company was too diversified, so he went out.
Robert Herjavec felt there were too many products and decided not to invest.
Lori Greiner thought they should focus on their core strength before expanding further. She asked whether any other Sharks wanted to partner with her while Mark and Daymond discussed the opportunity.
Mark Cuban said he and Daymond were big believers in the mission. Although he wanted the company to focus, he saw the bigger picture and wanted to help them hire more people.
Mark and Daymond John offered $200,000 for 25% equity. Lori initially declined that deal.
Griffin said the company needed a feminine touch, and Lori responded that she would join only for 30% equity. Griffin countered with $300,000 for 30% equity if all three Sharks joined, and they agreed.
Combat Flip Flops Shark Tank Update
After appearing on Shark Tank, the three-Shark partnership worked out well for Combat Flip Flops. The influence of each Shark became visible in the company’s growth. The website became more organized, customer service improved, and delivery times got better.
The Shark Tank Effect
The founders later shared that thorough preparation for their Shark Tank pitch played a key role in securing the rare three-Shark investment. They believed clearly communicating their mission and remaining confident helped them connect with the Sharks and ultimately close the deal.
Sales increased by roughly 600% immediately after the episode aired, allowing the company to expand its support for Aid Afghanistan for Education and the Mines Advisory Group.
Matthew Griffin also revealed that the company achieved approximately 450% year-over-year growth during its first year after Shark Tank, enrolled more than 200 Afghan girls in school, and created employment opportunities for hundreds of people through its manufacturing partnerships.
Social Impact
Since the Shark Tank appearance, Combat Flip Flops funded education for dozens more Afghan girls while also helping clear 3,800 square meters of land previously occupied by land mines.
By June 2021, the company had sold enough products to help provide education for approximately 1,000 Afghan girls while continuing to support humanitarian organizations through its business model.
Business Expansion
With the support of Mark Cuban, Daymond John, and Lori Greiner, Combat Flip Flops expanded its product lineup beyond its signature flip flops. The company added slip-ons, low-top shoes, high-top sneakers, apparel, accessories, and mission-driven products while staying true to its social enterprise model.
The company’s products became available through both its official website and Amazon, making them more accessible to customers. Combat Flip Flops also built a strong online community across social media.
Challenges After Afghanistan
When U.S. troops withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021, the company was forced to shut down its factories there. It helped its Afghan employees leave the country.
Combat Flip Flops later announced that it had officially ended its operations in Afghanistan after political changes forced 13 schools supported by its programs to close.
Although it could no longer continue its original mission there, the company stated it would focus its efforts on creating a positive impact in other parts of the world.
Griffin wrote a critical blog post during the withdrawal, criticizing the American presence in Afghanistan. He said he wanted Americans to understand what was happening there and claimed that Big Tech and the mainstream media were censoring him.
Where Is Combat Flip Flops Now?
As of June 2022, the company was still operating and continued carrying out its social mission. Annual revenue reached $4.6 million.
As of 2025, Combat Flip Flops remained in business and was continuing to sell its footwear, apparel, and accessories while maintaining its mission-driven approach. Although recent revenue figures have not been publicly disclosed, the company continues operating through its e-commerce business and retail partnerships.
Following its exit from Afghanistan, Combat Flip Flops shifted much of its charitable support toward One More Wave, a nonprofit supporting disabled veterans. The company continues to promote its long-standing philosophy of creating peace through opportunity while supporting communities affected by conflict around the world.
Where Can You Buy It?
Combat Flip Flops products are available through the company’s official website.
Products are also available through Amazon and select retail partners. The company continues to sell its products while supporting its mission of creating jobs and educational opportunities in conflict-affected regions.
Follow Combat Flip Flops on X and Facebook for the latest updates.
Posts About Combat Flip Flops on Shark Tank Blog
Want to learn more about Combat Flip Flops’ inspiring journey and mission beyond the Tank? Check out our feature on Peace Through Opportunity to learn more about the founders’ mission.
Quick Summary
- Donald Lee and Matthew Griffin pitched Combat Flip Flops, a footwear and lifestyle brand that created jobs in conflict-affected regions while funding education and humanitarian initiatives.
- Mark Cuban, Daymond John, and Lori Greiner invested $300,000 for 30% equity, giving the company a rare three-Shark deal.
- After Shark Tank, the company experienced significant growth, expanded its product line, increased its social impact, and continued to support communities through education and land mine clearance, and later through its One More Wave initiative for disabled veterans after ending operations in Afghanistan.
Check out other Shark Tank Season 7 Episodes.
Curious about the other businesses featured in Shark Tank Season 7, Episode 16? Explore more updates and see which ideas made a splash in the Tank.
