Clean Bottle stepped into the spotlight when it appeared on the first episode of Shark Tank Season 3 in January 2012. At that point, the business was still very young. Founder David Mayer had introduced the idea only a few years earlier and was still shaping the brand.
The goal? To fix a common annoyance with reusable water bottles, which we all face.
Reusable bottles tend to trap moisture. And they are rarely cleaned thoroughly because of how they are built. Ergo, the bottles often end up with odors and residue build-up over time.
Mayer’s Clean Bottle offered water bottles that could be fully dismantled, making the cleaning process much easier.
How Clean Bottle Won Over Mark Cuban
Clean Bottle was built with active users in mind, who needed something practical and easy to maintain. The product was simple, practical, and easy to explain, which made the pitch clear from the start. Marketing costs were low, and the problem it solved was easy for anyone to relate to.
The sheer simplicity worked in the founder’s favor during negotiations. After some back and forth, David Mayer struck a deal with Mark Cuban. They shook hands on $60,000 in exchange for an 8 percent stake in the company.
After securing the deal, the company expanded its product lineup.
Shark Tank Clean Bottle Update
Following the buzz from Clean Bottle’s time on Shark Tank, another item designed with athletes in mind, called The Runner, was introduced. This new product essentially fits around a water bottle and includes a pocket for a phone, allowing athletes to move freely while keeping their essentials close.
The new bottle kept the same idea of coming apart for easy cleaning. But the design took a different direction. This version was built with stainless steel and featured a square shape. The look was refined with help from former Apple engineers, giving it a more modern feel.
The Kickstarter launch performed very well, raising over $126,000. Not long after the launch, several problems began to surface and draw attention.
Reports mentioned shipping delays, leaks, and quality flaws in certain bottles. The response showed strong demand for the idea, even though execution problems surfaced along the way.
Clean Bottle’s Leadership Transition
Clean Bottle entered a new phase in 2018. The leadership started exploring partnership and acquisition opportunities. In December 2018, the brand was reportedly acquired by Split Peak, LLC, a private investment firm.
After the deal was finalized, founder David Mayer commented on the transition in a statement shared with Bicycle Retailer. He said, “We have worked hard for the previous eight years to prove the market need for this solution, and we are ready to see that taken to the next level with new ownership.”
Brandon Bernardo, the CEO of Split Peak, replied by saying, “We believe the reusable bottle market offers an enormous opportunity, and we are excited about our acquisition of Clean Bottle. The Clean Bottle brand includes outstanding products with strong intellectual property, and we look forward to leveraging the resources of Split Peak to expand the existing operations and provide Clean Bottle’s customers with new and exciting products.”
Clean Bottle’s Rebrand and Ongoing Operations Updates After Shark Tank
Reports from Food Republic suggest the brand remains active under a new identity, now called The Clean Hydration Company. Its products are still available through Amazon, and the business continues to supply bottles and drinkware to retail partners and companies that need branded items.
The product range has also expanded. It now includes stainless steel drinkware such as bottles, mugs, and tumblers, as well as square plastic bottles and sports bottles in different sizes, including versions that support infusers.
You can still find the brand posting on Facebook and Instagram. There has been little indication of new products on the way. Customer feedback has been largely positive. There have been only a few complaints about leaks, design choices, and cost.
