Hele Outdoors Shark Tank Update – Season 17 Episode 15
From turning a car into a cozy cabin to chasing outdoor dreams, Hele Outdoors pitch brought adventure straight into the Shark Tank Season 17, Episode 15.
Car camping looks great in the media, but when you actually do it, it is often uncomfortable and a hassle. This is the problem that Murray White wanted to fix on Shark Tank Season 17 Episode 15, Murray with Hele Outdoors.
It is a simple way to turn a car into a comfortable place to sleep. Hele Outdoors immediately grabbed the attention of the Sharks. Murray White got people thinking about car camping in a new way.
But would they invest in this outdoor lifestyle upgrade?
About Hele Outdoors
| Category | Details |
| Business Name | Hele Outdoors |
| Founder | Murray White |
| Industry | Outdoor / Camping Gear |
| Product | Car Camping Platform System |
| Funding (Pre-Shark Tank) | Bootstrapped ($43,000 personal investment) |
| Investment Asked | $75,000 for 5% |
| Deal Outcome | $75,000 for 12.5% |
| Valuation (Asking) | $1.5 Million |
| Sharks Who Invested | Barbara Corcoran |
Murray White built Hele Outdoors to make outdoor adventures easier without needing expensive gear or full camper vans. Hele Box is designed for everyday people who want flexibility without commitment.
Murray grew up on the North Shore of Oʻahu. He loves surfing, fishing, and camping. Then life got really busy. It became very hard for Murray to keep doing those things he loved.
After Murray moved to Colorado, he wanted to get to nature and the outdoors. Murray looked everywhere for a car camping setup that was not too heavy, but he could not find one. He decided to build his car-camping setup.
Just a week after finishing his first working prototype, he got laid off. Instead of stepping back, he used his severance and went all in on Hele Outdoors.
The Hele Box is a compact, portable platform that fits inside most SUVs, trucks, and vans. It creates a flat, adjustable sleeping surface, solving one of the biggest problems in car camping with uneven space.
It comes with an inflatable hybrid mattress that can be adjusted for firmness. The platform can even be removed and used as a table, making it versatile for outdoor use.
The solo version costs $105 to make and sells for $399, while the duo version costs $117 and sells for $499. With nearly 65% of sales coming organically through social media, the business had already reached $465,000 in sales and was aiming for $1 million.
Hele Outdoors Shark Tank Pitch
Murray’s pitch felt smooth and confident, with a clear focus on lifestyle. He showed how easily the Hele Box could transform a regular car into a sleeping setup, which impressed the Sharks right away.
Kevin O’Leary joked that if he ever had to sleep in his car, “something bad has happened,” which got laughs across the room. But Murray handled it well, pointing out how popular car camping and van life have become.
Daymond John related to the idea, especially for fishing trips where staying close to nature matters.
Barbara Corcoran also saw potential, mentioning her experience investing in a camper van company.
Still, concerns came up. Some sharks felt the business was too early, while others weren’t personally interested in the camping space.
What Makes Hele Outdoors Unique?
Hele Outdoors is a way to have fun outside, without spending a lot of money on camping gear or a big camper van.
- Turns any SUV or truck into a comfortable sleeping space in minutes
- Adjustable platform and hybrid mattress for better comfort
- Lightweight, portable, and doubles as a table for outdoor use
Did Hele Outdoors Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
Yes, but it didn’t come easy, and the conversation revealed exactly where each Shark stood.
Rashaun Williams was the first to step away. He liked Murray but felt the business was still too early. He thought bringing in an investor now might do more harm than good. Without hesitation, he left.
Lori Greiner followed with a softer tone. She called it a compelling pitch but admitted it simply wasn’t a product she could see herself investing in. For her, it came down to fit.
Kevin O’Leary leaned into humor, but his message was clear. He joked that if he ever ended up sleeping in his car, something had gone terribly wrong. Behind the laugh, he didn’t believe in the category enough to invest, and he was out.
That left Barbara Corcoran and Daymond John, both of whom saw real potential, but from very different angles.
Barbara Corcoran said she had already invested in a camper van company that had grown into a $15 million business. She didn’t even understand the appeal of camping at first, but learned that the market was real and growing
She made the first offer of $75,000 for 20%.
Daymond John jumped in right after, but reframed the deal entirely. He told Murray that what he really needed was a partner who could help scale. If Daymond John helped him get into big-box retail, that alone would be worth the equity.
His offer came in stronger with $75,000 for 25%.
Murray paused. You could see the weight of the decision on his face. This was his “Super Bowl,” as he called it. He tried to push back, asking if anyone would consider $150,000 for 10%. Neither Shark budged. The valuation, they made clear, didn’t match the stage of the business.
Barbara Corcoran adjusted her offer to include a $75,000 line of credit that Murray clearly needed for his growing supply chain challenges. She kept her ask at 20%.
Murray leaned in. He made one final counter of $75,000 for 12.5%. Barbara Corcoran smiled and accepted.
Just like that, Murray walked out with a deal that gave him both breathing room and a powerful partner to help scale Hele Outdoors
Hele Outdoors Shark Tank Update
While Hele Outdoors was aired, they were doing great in the media. They had a lot of followers, over 30,000 people, and some videos went viral.
Hele Outdoors was making around half a million dollars in sales. It looked like they were on their way to making one million dollars.
The biggest issue, according to Murray, was their supply chain. Barbara Concoron had experience in marketing and growing businesses. With her help, Hele Outdoors might be able to fix this problem.
After the show, more people started going car camping. This means Hele Outdoors is in a market that continues to grow. Hele Outdoors is well-positioned to take advantage of this trend.
Where Can You Buy It?
Hele Outdoors products are available on their official website. The company sells directly to customers, which helps them make money and keep control over how customers feel.
The business is growing, so they might start selling in stores or working with companies next. To know more, follow them on Instagram and Facebook.
Quick Summary
- Murray White got a $75,000 deal with Barbara Corcoran for 12.5% of Hele Outdoors.
- Hele Outdoors turns vehicles into comfortable places to camp.
- The company is doing well with sales, and people are talking about it on social media.
Hele Outdoors is one of those ideas that makes a lot of sense when you see it. It is simple and practical, and many people are getting into this lifestyle.
If you want to know about the companies that were on Shark Tank, Season 17, Episode 15, there are plenty of other cool ideas to look at.
- R1SE Shark Tank
- Hang Hero Shark Tank
- Everything Blocks Shark Tank
