Shark Tank Season 18 Episode 3
From a healthier take on childhood chocolate milk to a convenient way to consume electrolytes, Shark Tank Season 18 Episode 3 introduced a fresh lineup of business ideas.
Shark Tank Season 18 Episode 3, Diary of a Shark, combined unexpected ideas with the Sharks’ enthusiasm to surprise the viewers with new perspectives as Steven Bartlett joined the Sharks.
Episode 3 showcased a portable dog anchor, a healthier chocolate milk alternative, electrolyte-infused oral pouches, and a disposable heated vest.
The episode featured multiple founders who had created the business part-time with another job but had achieved impressive numbers.
All the entrepreneurs confidently stood their ground amid intense questioning and concerns raised by the Sharks.
Below are detailed insights into the four pitches, the entrepreneurs featured, and the day’s update.
Shark Tank Season 18 Episode 3 – The Shark Investors and Entrepreneurs
Season 18 Episode 3 of Shark Tank featured a lineup of founders, many of whom started their entrepreneurial journey as a part-time side hustle.
Some pitches sparked an intense bidding war, while others didn’t convince the Sharks enough to make an offer.
The Sharks featured in Episode 3 were Lori Greiner, Kevin O’Leary, Daniel Lubetzky, Kendra Scott, and Steven Bartlett.
1. Pup Stack
Ever wished you could keep your dog safely anchored nearby while camping or enjoying outdoor activities?
Shark Tank Season 18 Episode 3 featured Pup Stack, a portable dog anchor with a retractable leash, adjustable weighted base and built-in storage.
The founders, Brian and Kayla Zibricky, came in seeking $150,000 for 10% equity.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Entrepreneurs | Brian and Kayla Zibricky |
| Featured Product | Portable dog anchor with a retractable leash, weighted base and built-in storage |
| Deal Status | Deal Secured |
| Sharks Who Invested | Kendra Scott and Steven Bartlett |
After struggling to bring their dog for outdoor activities, the founders decided to create a product that could solve all their needs.
Pup Stack provides a retractable leash so the dog doesn’t feel constrained or get tangled while moving 360 degrees.
Additionally, the cylindrical product also has storage space for the dog’s treats, bowls and toys.
The product is also adjustable with weighted plates as the dog grows in size.
While the product enjoys gross profit margins of 56%, the high shipping cost of $21 was flagged by Steven Bartlett.
Kendra Scott, a dog lover herself, was impressed by the product and could envision a huge pet-focused brand through her experience and guidance.
She offered the entrepreneurs $150,000 for 25% equity. Steven Bartlett chimed in with a better offer of $200,000 for 20% equity.
Instantly, Kendra floated the idea of partnering with Steven, but Lori interrupted her with the same opportunity to share a combined offer with him.
Daniel Lubetzky facetiously said that Steven’s “British accent has both of these American women fighting over him.”
Kevin O’Leary decided to make things interesting by giving the founders exactly what they asked for: $150,000 for 10% equity.
However, the entrepreneurs were more interested in negotiating a combined deal with Kendra Scott and Steven Bartlett, who offered $200,000 for 20% equity.
Despite repeated requests to reduce the equity, the founders agreed to Steven and Kendra’s offer of $200,000 for 20% equity.
2. Nutcase
Do you miss the chocolate milk you enjoyed as a child but want a healthier alternative?
Nutcase might have a healthy solution for you! Jo was another chocolate milk lover who wished to recreate the taste but make it healthier.
She created a cashew-based milk drink with ingredients such as protein, potassium, and other nutrients. She asked the Sharks for $250,000 at 5% equity.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Entrepreneurs | Joelle (Jo) Weinand and Tyler “Ninja” Blevins |
| Featured Product | Flavored cashew milk with electrolytes and protein |
| Deal Status | No Deal |
The surprise came when Jo invited her co-founder and a globally famous gamer, Tyler “Ninja” Blevins, to further share the product’s benefits.
Kendra Scott remarked that her children would flip out after hearing that Ninja came to Shark Tank.
Ninja explained that Nutcase provided a guilt-free option to satisfy his sweet tooth late at night.
Steven Bartlett highlighted that the product is fighting for two different customers at the same time: those who miss the nostalgic chocolate milk taste and professional athletes looking for a healthy drink.
Lori Greiner also added that the brand seems confusing, and it would take a lot of effort to turn it around.
The customer acquisition expense is $58 per customer, and a 2026 year-to-date loss of $300,000 didn’t convince the Sharks either.
Slowly, every Shark explained that a lack of precise targeting and high cash burn turned them away from the product.
Both Kevin O’Leary and Daniel Lubetzky said that they would have to control at least half of the company to turn this product around in a highly competitive industry.
Ultimately, Nutcase didn’t receive any offers from the Sharks.
3. Zalt
With the rise of nicotine pouches, Zalt founders Sam Mitchell and Dominic Gozza wanted to provide a healthier alternative that would provide electrolytes and vitamins.
They came to Shark Tank with an ask of $150,000 for 5% equity.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Entrepreneurs | Sam Mitchell and Dominic Gozza |
| Featured Product | Nicotine-free oral pouches containing electrolytes and B vitamins |
| Deal Status | Deal Secured |
| Sharks Who Invested | Kevin O’Leary |
With a goal of changing the way individuals and sports professionals consume electrolytes, the founders created mini pouches that can be inserted into the mouth.
The pouch sits between the lip and gum, providing a portable way to consume electrolytes and B vitamins without mixing powders or carrying supplements.
The Sharks had a mixed reaction to the product, with Kendra Scott hesitant to even try the pouch.
The landed cost to manufacture the product was $1.90, while the selling price was $9.99. This sparked the Sharks’ interest.
Steven Bartlett, who invested in another electrolyte company, Cadence, explained that these Zalt packets felt uncomfortable to him and also contain fewer nutrients than an electrolyte pill.
Kendra felt the product’s similarity to nicotine pouches might encourage young children to experiment with nicotine products.
Still, Kevin O’Leary was impressed with the margins and wanted to ride the trend of oral pouches by making an offer of $150,000 for 15%.
The founders tried to negotiate the equity down to 10%, but after back-and-forth negotiations, accepted Kevin’s revised offer of $150,000 for 12.5% equity.
4. UnderWarmer
Growing up in the Midwest, brothers Paul and Bryan Schaefer experienced harsh winters and wanted a simple way to stay warm.
They came up with UnderWarmer, a heated compression vest that provides quick warmth for 12 hours. The founders came on Shark Tank with an ask of $100,000 for 15% equity.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Entrepreneurs | Paul Schaefer and Bryan Schaefer |
| Featured Product | Air-activated heated compression shirt |
| Deal Status | Deal Secured |
| Sharks Who Invested | Kendra Scott |
In an attempt to provide a solution for endless layers of clothing and the bulky lithium battery jackets that require charging, the founders created UnderWarmer
It is a simple compression vest with eight heat packs that provide protection from cold weather.
While Sharks appreciated the concept and the reasonable cost of $13.99, they had questions about the environmental aspect, as they are disposed of after single use.
But Kevin had totally different concerns: the product is not defensible and will easily be replicated by giant competitors.
Lori asked for the sales, and the founders replied with lifetime sales of $1,100,000 and 2025 revenue of about $268,000.
Steven said he sees more disadvantages than benefits and went out. Daniel also felt the product didn’t make him feel passionate enough to give an offer.
However, Kendra saw the product’s utility and believed that if a more eco-friendly version could be made, people would be open to buying it during outdoor sports and recreational events.
She came up with an initial offer of $100,000 for 25% equity with a royalty of $2 for every single unit sold.
The royalty came across as a bit steep for the founders, and they countered with $100,000 for 20% with a 50-cent royalty per unit.
Kendra decided to reduce the equity to 22%. But after seeing the hesitation on the founders’ faces, she accepted their counteroffer of $100,000 for 20% with a 50-cent royalty per unit.
Shark Tank Season 18 Episode 3 Went Beyond the Numbers
The Sharks were not only on the lookout for strong financial data, but also raised other moral and environmental concerns before deciding to invest in the products.
Kendra flagged the possibility of kids being influenced towards nicotine, as the Zalt pouch works the same way despite having healthy nutrients.
Whereas Steven flagged environmental concerns about the UnderWarmer disposable vests.
It showcased how a product needs to tick ethical boxes before being considered by Sharks. Still, not all founders were lucky enough to get a deal.
The innovation showed that people remain resilient in bringing their quirky ideas and following up on them even if it is part-time.
In case you missed out on the first and second episodes, here is our recap of Shark Tank Season 18 Episode 2.
