Orka Bar Shark Tank Update — Shark Tank Season 17
Orka Bar brought a frozen, protein-packed twist to Shark Tank Season 17 with its innovative egg white snack bars that blend health and indulgence in every bite.
Stephen Longo walked onto the “Shark Tank Season 17 Episode 4” stage with his brand, Orka Bar.
Orka Bar is a refreshing nutritional indulgence wrapped in velvety dark chocolate. He made this nutritional treat for his clients, and it worked like a cheat meal. At first, the product sounded regular to the Sharks; however, let’s see what happened after the pitch.
Now, the question is: Would Stephen Longo be able to secure a deal from the Sharks for his frozen desert?
About Orka Bar
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Business Name | Orka Bar |
| Founder | Stephen Longo |
| Industry | Food & Beverages |
| Product | Frozen protein chocolate bars |
| Investment Asked | $100,000 for 15% equity |
| Deal Status | Deal secured with Lori Greiner |
| Deal Outcome | $100,000 for 25% of equity |
Stephen Longo was born by the beach in West Orange, New Jersey. As a player, after he came from his training and workout sessions, he used to look for something more refreshing in the fridge. He was tired of the regular protein shakes and protein bars.
With no experience in food science, he went out and earned a certification to become a nutrition coach.
He started working for clients who wanted to lead their lives with healthy eating habits, without sacrificing taste. That’s when the idea of making Orka Bar hit him for the first time.
With a soft centre that contains the creamy indulgence of an ice cream, along with the power-packed ingredients of protein, the bars have an outer shell of velvety chocolate.
Moreover, the Orka Bar comes in different flavors, like mint, vanilla bean, raspberry, and cookies & cream. Thus, it is a brand born by the beach, it was named Orka, which resembles the Orca Whale in Iceland.
At first, Stephen moved the production to a shared kitchen space, renting a freezer and locally delivering the orders by himself. Now, let’s dive deeper into the pitch and see how the Sharks reacted to the product.
Orka Bars Shark Tank Pitch
Stephen Longo came into the Tank asking for $100,000 in exchange for 15% equity in the company. The Sharks had a customary reaction towards the Orka Bars.
However, after Stephen asked them to taste it, they all had a startling response with a twinkle in their eyes. He served all four flavors and investors, including the guest Shark Alexis Ohanian, who were keen to know more about it.
Stephen shared with Kendra Scott that they are not dairy-free, but they are low in lactose. Moreover, he delineated that vanilla bean, raspberry and mint contain 5 grams of sugar, while cookies & cream had 8.5 grams, and also 15 grams of protein.
As it’s time for the numbers, the founder apprised the investors that they wholesale one box with 4 Orka Bars for $10 and the production cost is $5.
When Daymond John checked the retail side, he further said that a box sells for $14.99 to $18.99. Additionally, Kevin O’Leary asked about the dry ice box, which is very expensive to supply the frozen dessert.
However, Stephen was able to convince the Sharks that through his product, they had touched both the frozen dessert and protein bar markets.
Alexis was still skeptical, as direct-to-consumer ice cream sales are a tough area. Stephen further explained that 30% of their sales were online, and 70% were through the local retailers.
Talking about the sales part, he said that in the year 2025, he had generated a revenue of $35,000, and as per the projections, by the end of the year, the brand will make around $80,000.
What Makes Orka Bar Unique?
There are several reasons why this product is unique. Let’s look at some of those:
- A frozen bar using egg whites as a primary ingredient for high-quality protein, low-carb, low-sugar and gluten-free profile.
- Moreover, flavors such as Cookies & Cream, Vanilla Bean, Raspberry and Mint — giving an indulgent treat feel while fitting active lifestyles.
- A niche in the “better-for-you dessert snack” space — combining frozen treat enjoyment with macro-friendly nutrition.
Did Orka Bar Get A Deal On Shark Tank?
The Sharks, including Daymond John and Kevin O’Leary, were concerned about the small margins on the wholesale front. Mr. Wonderful was not convinced by the pitch, but had no clarity about the target audience.
As the founder mentioned, they are in talks with the largest vitamin stores, but they also wanted to go to the mainstream grocery market.
Daymond admitted that it was the best product that he had tasted in this category; however, he declined to offer a deal. Also, Kevin bowed out of the negotiations because of the early stage of the business.
Additionally, the guest Shark Alexis does admit that he had seen the reviews on Reddit, and the product is indeed nutritionally refreshing. But because food is not his forte or expertise, he refused to participate.
Along with him, Kendra Scott shared the same opinion as Kevin O’Leary, as she mentions that the business is at a very early stage. She also advised the founder that he had to figure out whom to sell the product, how to sell it, and the profit margins.
While Lori Greiner mentioned that she has a lot of experience in the grocery space, she is the grocery queen. Hence, she offered a deal of $100,000 for 33.3%. It was at a higher end for Stephen, so he negotiated for giving up 20% of the equity.
After a round of negotiations, Lori and Stephen got into a deal of $100,000 in exchange for 25% of the equity.
Orka Bar Shark Tank Update
After the episode aired, Orka Bar continues to sell online with nationwide shipping, expanding flavor options and increasing retail presence. Also, after getting the offer from Lori Greiner, Orka Bar has launched an ambassador program for word-of-mouth marketing.
Thus, they are asking people to join a community of fitness enthusiasts who want to build a healthy lifestyle.
Where Can You Buy It?
You can purchase the Orka bars online on their official website, as they offer nationwide shipping. Moreover, for additional updates, you can check their Instagram page.
Quick Summary
- Stephen Longo walked onto the stage of Shark Tank Season 17 with his delicious chocolate bars containing 15 grams of protein in four different flavors. Also, he came in seeking $100,000 in exchange for 15% equity.
- It has a soft centre that contains the creamy indulgence of an ice cream, along with the power-packed ingredients of protein. The bars had an outer shell of velvety chocolate.
- Moreover, after a round of negotiations, Lori and Stephen got into a deal of $100,000 in exchange for 25% of the equity.
