Shark Tank Season 17 Episode 13

By Liya Shanawas  |  Last updated: March 16, 2026

Shark Tank Season 17 Episode 13 aired on March 11, 2026, and featured four entrepreneurs pitching businesses ranging from prebiotic soda to sustainable grocery stores. Guest Shark Allison Ellsworth joined the panel after her soda brand Poppi was acquired in a deal valued at nearly $2 billion.

The episode began with Kevin O’Leary wearing bright red party glasses, which quickly set a playful tone in the Tank before the pitches started.

There were four unique businesses in this episode. One founder pitched a prebiotic soda inspired by self-confidence. Another team created a grocery store to cut out plastic packaging. Two brothers built a business reselling lost golf balls. The last pitch was from a surfer who came up with a hair tie to prevent tangles. Some left without deals, while others made agreements after tough negotiations.

Shark Tank Season 17 Episode 13 – The Shark Investors and Entrepreneurs

The episode featured entrepreneurs at different stages, from early startups to companies with multi-million-dollar revenue. The Sharks reacted strongly to both the products and the founders’ stories.

The presence of guest Shark Allison Ellsworth added another layer to the episode. Her experience building a beverage company gave her unique insight, especially when one of the pitches entered the crowded soda market.

Here’s a closer look at each pitch from the episode.

1. Hot Girl Soda

Hot Girl Soda is a prebiotic drink that mixes aloe vera with fruit flavors. Their goal was to create a soda that feels indulgent but still supports gut health.

Shark Tank Pitch

Arica Griner and Nick Murray from Orange County, California, entered the Tank to pitch their brand. They were looking for $100,000 for 10% equity in their business, Hot Girl Soda.

Nick explained that the drink helps digestion. Each can contains four grams of prebiotic fiber, low sugar, natural ingredients, and mild carbonation.

When the Sharks tried the soda, their reactions were conflicted. Robert Herjavec disliked the taste, but Lori Greiner liked it. Daymond John joked that the flavor of passion fruit and vanilla tasted awful, saying it was “doody.”

The founders revealed that the company had launched only two and a half months earlier. By the time of the pitch, they had generated $8,500 in sales on Amazon. They invested about $120,000 of their own money, and Arica’s mother even took a second mortgage on her home to support the business.

Kevin O’Leary appreciated their enthusiasm but felt the company was far too early for investment. He used one of his dramatic analogies and compared the startup to a “single-cell amoeba” still crawling toward the surface of the ocean.

Each Shark eventually declined the opportunity. Allison Ellsworth still encouraged the founders and offered to share advice after the show.

2. Nude Foods Market

Nude Foods Market looks to cut single-use plastic packaging. Customers bring reusable jars instead of buying food in disposable containers. They return the jars on their next visit to the grocery store.

Shark Tank Pitch

Rachel and Verity from Boulder, Colorado, are looking for $250,000 for 5% of their company, Nude Foods Market. They said that all of the plastic that has ever been produced still exists while carrying a bag of plastic waste.

Customers purchase household goods, snacks, and fresh foods in reusable containers. The jars are returned to the store after use. They are cleaned and refilled.

The founders shared strong financial results, revealing that the company generated $1.8 million last year and expects to reach $2.7 million this year (at the time of the Shark Tank pitch).

The company was valued at $7.2 million after raising $1 million from investors.

Kevin O’Leary noted that grocery stores typically operate on very low margins, but Nude Foods Market’s bulk-purchasing model allows the company to maintain a much higher 40% gross margin.

Robert Herjavec surprised everyone by offering $250,000 for 20% equity. Kevin quickly decided to join him in the deal.

After a short negotiation, the founders accepted the offer. They walked away with $250,000 for 20% equity from Kevin O’Leary and Robert Herjavec.

3. Clean Green Golf Balls

Clean Green Golf Balls collects lost golf balls from courses, then cleans, sorts, and resells them at a lower price. The business turns a common problem into a way to make money.

Shark Tank Pitch

Brothers Rami and Sami Mubasher, from Bastrop, Texas, are seeking $350,000 for Clean Green Golf Balls. They are willing to give up 5% of Clean Green Golf Balls to get this money.

Rami and Sami Mubasher said that when people play golf, they lose many golf balls and spend more than $25 on new ones.

Clean Green Golf Balls collects golf balls from lakes and from the people who maintain golf courses. They clean these golf balls and resell them.

The company generated $1 million in its first year, followed by $3 million in 2022, $4.3 million in 2023, and $6 million in 2024. The founders projected $7.1 million in revenue for the current year (at the time of the Shark Tank pitch).

The company earns about $700,000 in annual profit by selling golf balls for around $1.25 each, after sourcing them for roughly $0.32 each.

Kevin O’Leary said that the business didn’t have a strong market, but he still offered $350,000 for 10% and a royalty.

Robert Herjavec proposed an equity-only agreement. The Sharks got together and negotiated a joint investment after some deliberation.

In addition to a $1 royalty per unit until $1.05 million is repaid, they agreed to pay $350,000 for 15% equity.

4. Rip Tie Hair

Rip Tie Hair was made to help athletes with a problem they face. Athletes often get tangled hair while surfing, swimming, or running. The Rip Tie Hair keeps the hair straight and prevents knots.

Shark Tank Pitch

Sarah Fox from San Diego, California, went into the Tank and asked for $250,000 in exchange for 10% equity in Rip Tie Hair.

She told them she got the idea for Rip Tie Hair while living in Guam and working at a shop. Sarah Fox said that being in the ocean for hours would leave her hair all tangled and damaged. So she tried many types of elastic to see what would work best, and that is how she came up with the Rip Tie Hair.

Rip Tie Hair generated $40,000 in sales in 2022 and later $470,000. In 2024, sales reached $1.5 million, bringing total lifetime revenue to $2.7 million.

Each hair tie sells for $12.95, and the company keeps about 92% of revenue after production costs.

However, the Sharks raised concerns about her marketing costs, which totaled about $400,000.

Kevin O’Leary made an offer. He said, “I’ll give you $250,000, but I want 25% of your business.”

Lori Greiner and Allison Ellsworth then partnered on an offer.

They offered $250,000 for 20% equity, and Sarah accepted the deal.

Update Segment

The episode also included an update from previous Shark Tank businesses.

The company Neuro originally appeared on Shark Tank Season 10. Founders Kent Yoshimura and Ryan Chen pitched their products, NeuroGum and NeuroMints, which provide energy similar to half a cup of coffee.

They left the Tank without a deal. After the episode aired, sales increased by more than 700 percent.

Soon after, they faced a trademark lawsuit over their brand name.

The founders contacted Daniel Lubetzky, who had appeared on the show. He helped them settle the lawsuit and later became a partner in the company.

As of 2026, the business has generated $135 million in total sales and sells products in more than 20,000 stores, including CVS and Whole Foods Market.

Ambition Meets Reality in Shark Tank Season 17 Episode 13

This episode had several memorable moments. The Sharks joked with Allison Ellsworth about the taste of her first drink before she reminded them it eventually sold for billions.

Another standout moment came when Kevin called himself and the other Sharks “social media whores” while discussing how they help businesses grow online. The whole room laughed at his comment.

Some founders were just starting out with low sales, while others came in with strong revenue and proven demand. All the pitches shared one thing: ambition.

Even if a deal didn’t happen, being on the show changed the business’s future.

Check out other Shark Tank Season 17 Episodes.

If you want to keep up with the rest of the season, refer to the recap for the previous episode, Shark Tank Season 17, Episode 12.

By Liya Shanawas

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Liya Shanawas is a writer, editor, and brand strategist whose work has appeared in major publications, including The New York Times, HuffPost, Vogue, InStyle, Khaleej Times, and HelloGiggles. She previously served as a features editor at Dua Lipa’s editorial platform Service95 and has written widely on culture, fashion, business, and lifestyle. With a background in journalism, storytelling, and brand strategy, Liya writes about business, culture, and innovation, bringing clarity and perspective to modern ideas and emerging trends.