Left Field Shark Tank Update — Shark Tank Season 17
Left Field Dating App offers a refreshing, swipe-free way to meet people by encouraging real-world connections based on shared interests and locations.
Samantha Martin and Kate Sieler stormed the stage of “Shark Tank Season 17 Episode 10,” with their exclusive dating app, Left Field. Left Field is unlike any other dating app; it uses artificial intelligence to find potential matches.
Now the big question is: whether Sharks would invest in it or will they decide to pass?
About Left Field
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Business Name | Left Field |
| Founders | Samantha Martin and Kate Sieler |
| Industry | Technology |
| Product | Dating app |
| Investment Asked | $200,000 for 5% equity |
| Deal Status | Deal secured with Alexis Ohanian and Kendra Scott |
| Deal Outcome | $200,000 for 8% equity, along with 4% advisory shares split equally between Kendra and Alexis |
| Valuation | $4 million |
Samantha Martin and Kate Sieler were tired of the New York dating scene when they decided to launch Left Field in Feb 2025. The former completed her Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Solutions and co-founded EcoForm in 2022. At the same time, Kate completed her honors in 2018.
Both of them realized that the current dating scene is limited to the traditional swiping trend. Left Field is unlike any other dating app, as it introduces you to your match by sending notifications rather than swiping. The app uses artificial intelligence and proximity data to match users based on shared interests.
Also, Left Field sends notifications about potential matches based on location, so people can meet face-to-face. Their vision is to transform the dating scene. Rather than using digital marketing, they partnered with local bars and comedy events to promote their app.
Let’s have a look at their pitch and how the Sharks reacted.
Left Field Shark Tank Pitch
Samantha and Kate entered the Tank seeking $200,000 in exchange for a 5% stake, further valuing the company at $4 million. They presented the app’s user interface to the Sharks and showed how people can view someone’s profile in their neighborhood.
The founders shared their privacy-first approach by disclosing location only at a vague neighborhood level.
Lori Greiner asked the founders how many matches they have made so far. Kate took over and shared with the Sharks that since their launch in Feb, their user base has grown to 5000, and people are using it almost 8 times a day.
Additionally, when Kevin O’Leary asked them how they make money, Samantha said they would use a male-only subscription model rather than a traditional freemium model.
The reasons for choosing this business model were impressive. As Samantha shared, 70% of paying customers on a dating app are men, which solves the inverse incentive issue.
She also took the plunge and told the Sharks that most dating apps are losing customers due to frustration and distrust, and also because people today are prioritizing in-person meetings.
Kate shared with the guest Shark Alexis Ohanian that they are prioritizing compatibility over quantity. This way, users will get a select few matches.
Now, let’s see what makes this app unique and whether it will get investment.
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What Makes Left Field Unique?
There are various reasons that make Left Field unique. Let’s list some of the reasons:
- Left Field completely removes the swipe-based dating app model. It reduces the tendency toward superficial judgments common in today’s dating apps.
- Furthermore, it is designed for real-world connection building. Left Field encourages people to meet in-person via location-based push notifications.
- Also, this dating app finds matches using shared interests, restaurants, and overlapping routines. Thus, it connects users who cross paths every day in local neighborhoods.
Did Left Field Get A Deal On The Tank?
Undoubtedly, Kate and Samantha’s pitch was extremely interesting, and their dating app has some distinctive features from the existing ones. However, Lori Greiner decided to bow out of the deal because they had no sales at present. Daymond John also decided to stay out of the deal.
The founders and the brand perked up Kevin O’Leary, so he offered two choices. The first offer was $200,000 for a 20% stake, while the second was $200K for a 10% non-dilutable stake. Consequently, Mr. Wonderful gave the founders two wonderful choices.
Meanwhile, Kendra Scott and the guest Shark Alexis Ohanian teamed up to make an offer because Kendra has expertise in community building, and Alexis knew about apps. Thus, they offered $200,000 in exchange for 15%, divided equally between both Sharks.
But Kate and Samantha presented a counteroffer of $200K in exchange for 8% equity, including 4% advisory shares. Hence, Alexis and Kendra accepted the counteroffer, and the deal was closed.
Left Field Shark Tank Update
After the episode aired and the deal closed with Alexis Ohanian and Kendra Scott, the visibility and user base of Left Field have improved drastically.
How To Download It?
You can download thisapp from the App Store and build your dating profile to get potential matches. Also, to get more updates, you can check their Instagram page.
Quick Summary
- Samantha Martin and Kate Sieler appeared on the Tank seeking $200K for 5% equity.
- They pitched their brand, Left Field, which is a dating app that provides matches by sending push notifications, instead of swiping.
- The deal was closed with Alexis Ohanian and Kendra Scott at $200K in exchange for a 8% equity, including 4% advisory shares.
