Ollyball Shark Tank Update – Shark Tank Season 18
Joe Burke pitched an indoor inflatable ball on Shark Tank Season 18, Episode 2, that can be decorated and used for educational purposes.
Tired of seeing young children play indoors and break stuff around the house? Joe faced a similar problem with his children and decided to solve the problem himself.
After liquidating his personal savings and persisting through 100 prototypes, he developed the re-inflatable Ollyball.
The product targets both parents and children, offering the household safety parents crave and creative features that let children personalize the ball with custom drawings and colors.
About Ollyball
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Business Name | Ollyball (VICTURY Sports LLC) |
| Founder | Joe Burke |
| Product | Lightweight, inflatable indoor play ball |
| Industry | Consumer Products / Toys and Games |
| Funding (Pre-Shark Tank) | Bootstrapped, with founder Joe Burke investing more than $100,000 of his personal savings |
| Sales (Pre-Shark Tank) | $2,700,000 in 2025 sales |
| Investment Asked | $250,000 for 2.5% equity |
| Deal Status | Deal secured with Lori Greiner |
| Deal Outcome | $250,000 for 8.5% equity |
| Initial Valuation | $10,000,000 |
| Post-Deal Valuation | Approximately $2,941,176 |
Founders’ Backstory
Joe Burke founded Ollyball. Originally from Illinois, he currently lives in California with his family. He has a background in real estate, but always wanted to start his own business.
That wish came true when he grew tired of household items breaking as his daughter played volleyball and football inside the house. He questioned the absence of an indoor ball, and after experimenting with nearly 100 prototypes in his garage, he created Ollyball.
Product Overview
Ollyball is a lightweight indoor ball that gives parents much-needed relief without taking away children’s enthusiasm for indoor games.
The classic product is a 12-inch inflatable ball that features drawings of characters inspired by a book Joe wrote and published in 2019.
The company has offered several product variations, including Keepy Uppy, oversized, glow-in-the-dark and other models.
Ollyball Shark Tank Pitch
Joe Burke came to Shark Tank seeking $250,000 for 2.5% equity in his company. He began by sharing every parent’s nightmare: broken furniture, electronics and anything else young children can smash with soccer and volleyball.
The founder asked, “Why is there no perfect lightweight indoor ball?” After 100 different prototypes, the idea became Ollyball, a 12-inch inflatable ball that can be used indoors.
Joe invested family savings in developing the product and securing two U.S. utility patents to ensure the idea is not replicated easily.
Sara Foster noted that the Ollyball had the lightness and structure of a beach ball or balloon, but its weight made it fun to play all kinds of indoor sports.
Rashaun Williams said the ball feels heavy enough to knock down glass utensils, and the entrepreneur cleverly replied, “The ball is yet to defy the laws of physics!”
Joe also shared multiple product variations, including glow-in-the-dark, LED light and even a mega-size 22-inch planet Earth-shaped ball.
As soon as he finished the pitch, Kevin O’Leary asked, “Why is it worth $10,000,000?”
Joe replied with sales of $2,700,000 last year, with profit after deducting tax of $250,000. He added that the company is on track to reach $3,200,000, a milestone that intrigued the Sharks.
He also added lifetime sales of $7,500,000 with over 3 million units sold, which momentarily brought a twinkle in Mr. Wonderful’s eye.
What Makes Ollyball Unique?
Ollyball is a simple, lightweight indoor ball with which children can play their favorite games without worrying about breaking items in the house.
- Indoor play: Ollyball offers a patented shock-absorbing technology designed for indoor use, so kids can play without worrying about breaking household items.
- Educational: The product has created a series of STEAM-focused educational versions that use the ball to introduce children to subjects such as math, physics and art.
Did Ollyball Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
Ollyball’s strong margins reeled in the Sharks. With a making cost of just $1.75 and an average order value of $21, the company targets $3,200,000 in revenue in 2026.
Barbara Corcoran chimed in and said that she didn’t think he needed a Shark and went out with a hilarious remark: ‘but would still like to marry him.’
Joe shared a missed business opportunity to share the importance of having a Shark. FIFA reached out to him to develop FIFA-themed Ollyballs, but because he lacked the funds, he didn’t have the appetite to invest $2,000,000 to implement the collaboration successfully.
Additionally, the entrepreneur shared that he didn’t know how to make this a $200,000,000 company, but with a Shark, that goal is still possible.
The Foster sisters also backed out because they couldn’t add value in this industry, but they expressed enthusiasm and respect for the entrepreneur’s grit and achievement.
Rashaun also mentioned that he didn’t know enough about the industry to help the entrepreneur scale this product globally, and he went out.
Kevin O’Leary was interested in the product sales and huge margins, but was hell-bent on the ask for a $10,000,000 valuation. He facetiously remarked, “40x multiple… you’re not SpaceX, buddy,” and went out.
However, Lori Greiner came in to save the day with an offer of $250,000 for 10% equity in the company. She believed the product could blow up globally and give the entrepreneur a great exit.
Joe utilized his real estate negotiation skills to reduce the equity even though he was gung-ho about working with Lori. He countered with $250,000 for 7.5% equity.
Lori countered with 9%; Joe replied 8%, but Lori chose to find the middle ground and stick with $250,000 for 8.5% equity. Noting Joe’s slight hesitation, Sara Foster advised him to just take the deal and not fuss over this close.
Within seconds, Joe accepted the deal and decided to take this product forward with Lori.
Ollyball Shark Tank Update
After airing on Shark Tank Season 18, Ollyball gained a meaningful publicity boost. However, there is no absolute number shared by the founder yet.
If the deal is finalized at $250,000 for 8.5% equity, the implied post-deal valuation would be approximately $2,941,176.
Where Can You Buy It?
You can buy Ollyball products directly from their official website.
For updates and the company’s expansion plans, follow them on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.
Quick Summary
- Ollyball entered Shark Tank with a patented inflatable ball that allows children to play games indoors and helps prevent household items from breaking.
- The founder sold about $2,700,000 worth of Ollyballs in 2025.
- Joe walked out with an offer from Lori of $250,000 for 8.5% of the company.
If you love reading about Shark Tank businesses, you may also check out other companies featured in Shark Tank Season 18, Episode 2. Check out their business updates:
- Ellavate Shark Tank
- Cold Current Kelp Shark Tank
- Skimpies Shark Tank
