RetrievAir Shark Tank Update — Shark Tank Season 17
RetrievAir took the Sharks by surprise with its mission to let pets fly safely beside their owners, turning an emotional idea into a high-flying $500,000 deal with Alexis Ohanian.
Mark Williams and co-founder Benton Miller entered the “Shark Tank Season 17 Episode 4” stage with an extraordinary idea, flying with your pet sitting next to you.
They pitched their brand, RetrievAir, a public charter air service designed specifically for pet care. This one-of-a-kind idea impressed the Sharks in the beginning. Now, let’s dive deeper into the story and pitch of two pilots.
However, would the Sharks board the flight for a more pet-friendly future, or would this deal collapse before takeoff?
About RetrievAir
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Business Name | RetrievAir |
| Founders | Benton Miller and Mark Williams |
| Industry | Travel |
| Product | Public charter service for pet care |
| Investment Asked | $500,000 for 5% equity |
| Deal Status | Deal secured with Alexis Ohanian |
| Deal Outcome | $776,000 for 15% equity |
| Valuation | $10 million |
The company was co-founded by Benton Miller and Mark Williams. Benton had a background in sales as a sales representative. However, Mark had been in the aviation industry for the last 30 years. In 2004, he started his own airline, Sunwing, earning a billion dollars in revenue.
After 2022, he met Benton, and they decided to launch a public charter service, wherein people can travel with their pets. Instead of leaving their pets in the cargo holds.
The company launched with its first flight in 2024 as a preview, then moved into several U.S. cities by mid-2025.
Their business model is radical relative to traditional pet travel. Rather than flying big commercial aircraft, they partner with regional charter operators to use smaller planes. These planes have 30 seats modified to allow more space per person, plus pets. Moreover, the plus point is fewer seats, private terminals, quieter boarding, and pet-friendly protocols.
Their current footprint includes private terminals in nine U.S. cities, including Arlington (TX), Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Fort Lauderdale.
RetrievAir Shark Tank Pitch
Benton Miller and Mark Williams walked into the Tank seeking investment for their pet-friendly aviation startup. They asked $500,000 in exchange for 5% equity in the business.
Mark took this opportunity to explain their average ticket price, which was $775 per seat. While they also shared with Kevin that customers can either purchase the seat for their dog or the pets can fly free of cost without the seat.
Initially, during the pitch, when Mr. Wonderful asked about the investment they had already made, the answer stunned the Sharks. As the pilots responded that they had already made an investment of $700,000. Additionally, they shared with Kendra Scott that they fly twice a week as they are testing the market.
When it came to the numbers, they explained that the ticket sales had already hit $550,000, with a month-on-month (MoM) growth rate of approximately 133%. Moreover, they projected that by mid-2025, the revenue will hit $775,000.
Also, Benton explained to the guest Shark Alexis Ohanian that their average margin per ticket is 44%. Furthermore, they are operating below the 50% load factor as per their agreement.
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What Makes RetrievAir Unique?
There are various reasons why RetrievAir is a fresh, one-of-a-kind idea. Let’s look at some of those;
- Pet-first Focus: Rather than conforming to airline norms (pets in cargo), RetrievAir flips the paradigm—pets ride in the cabin next to their owners, with dedicated space, seats, and boarding logistics designed for animals.
- Premium Experience & Convenience: By using smaller aircraft and private terminals, the boarding process is faster, less chaotic, and stress-reduced.
- Clear Market Demand: RetrievAir leverages the trend that owners consider pets as their family. Thus, it offers a new option rather than a minor variation on existing air travel.
- Friendliness & Warmth: The founders are known for their approachable and kind-hearted nature. Moreover, they infuse that warmth into their services. Starting from the moment customers book their flight to the in-flight care they provide to the pets.
Did RetrievAir Get A Deal On Shark Tank?
During Q&A, the Sharks pressed them on valuation, scalability, operating costs (aircraft leases, maintenance, staff trained for pet protocols), route economics and ticket pricing.
When Kendra Scott asked about their competitors, Mark responded that their main competitor was Bark Air. However, their ticket cost is roughly $8000, which is very expensive compared to the RetrievAir.
Kevin O’Leary decided to offer a deal of $500,000 for 20% equity. He also mentioned that it is a brilliant idea and he is genuinely interested in the same.
Lori Greiner was interested in knowing how much they are putting in their bank accounts. The answer made some Sharks, including Daymond John, think again before making an offer.
Their burn rate was around $80,000 per week because they are currently in the testing phase, and their load factor is around 30%. While Daymond John offered $500K for 25%, after knowing the burn rate, he withdrew.
Moreover, Kendra Scott bowed out of the negotiations for the same reason as Daymond. Also, Lori Greiner refused to participate in the negotiations. But the two pilots received a wonderful offer from the guest Shark Alexis, offering $500,000 for 15%. After a round of negotiations, Alexis countered with $776,000 for 15%.
In the end, Benton and Mark accepted Alexis’s offer and shook hands—securing the investment and the strategic partnership.
RetrievAir Shark Tank Update
With the deal sealed with Alexis Ohanian’s firm, RetrievAir is set to leverage the injection of capital and strategic backing to accelerate expansion.
According to their website, the company announced new destinations effective February 6, 2026: Atlanta (FTY), Oakland (OAK), Manassas (VA) (MNZ), Scottsdale (AZ) (SDL).
Where Can You Buy It?
You can book the flight and manage the tickets from their official website. Moreover, you can check their Instagram page for upcoming updates.
Quick Summary
- Mark Williams and co-founder Benton Miller came on the Tank with an idea of flying with your pet sitting next to you. Thus, they pitched their brand, RetrievAir, which is a public charter air service specifically designed for pet care.
- Moreover, as they pitched their brand, Sharks were very impressed with the concept and the numbers. However, the burn rate affected the deal negotiations.
- The guest Shark Alexis Ohanian offered $500,000 for 15% equity in the company. After a round of negotiations, he countered with an offer of $776,000 for 15%. Thus, RetrievAir secured the deal.
