Shark Tank Season 17, Episode 1

Sep 24, 2025 · Pete Davidson's Sock Company Opens a Post-Cuban Era With a $500,000 Kendra Scott Deal

On the panel: Kendra Scott, Robert Herjavec, Rashaun Williams, Lori Greiner, Kevin O'Leary

Who Got a Deal on Shark Tank Season 17, Episode 1

  • Doublesoul$500,000 for 10% from Kendra Scott
  • Z-Coil$250,000 for 50% from Lori Greiner
  • PelagionNo deal
  • Dad Strength$300,000 for 12% from Lori Greiner & Robert Herjavec & Rashaun Williams

Recap

The Verdict

Three deals in four pitches, a first-ever guest-shark premiere panel, and one founder who argued his way out of the Tank.

The Season 17 premiere was the first without Mark Cuban, and the show leaned into the new lineup by seating two guest sharks, Kendra Scott and Rashaun Williams, alongside Kevin O'Leary, Lori Greiner and Robert Herjavec. The hour delivered three deals and one combative no-deal.

The headliner was Doublesoul, a sustainable sock brand from Ben Rosenbaum and Allison Strumeyer with comedian Pete Davidson as an early 10% investor. Sales had climbed from $360,000 in 2022 to $2.3 million in 2024, with $7.5 million forecast for 2025. Kendra Scott offered $500,000 for 10% plus access to her stores, Rashaun and Kevin floated structured alternatives with liquidation preferences and royalties, and Ben countered Kendra at 6%. She held at 10%, and after a call to his co-founder Ben took her deal. Z-CoiL, the spring-heeled pain-relief shoe company founded in 1995, watched every shark pass before Lori reversed herself and offered $250,000 for half the company, which an emotional Andres Gallegos accepted.

Pelagion, an electric hydrofoil watercraft seeking $800,000 for 4%, drew nothing but exits after founder Jamie Schlinkmann pushed back on the sharks' valuation questions, prompting Kevin's rebuke that you cannot argue and bark at an investor. The night closed with Dad Strength, a 2.9% low-ABV craft beer from Washington, D.C. that every shark said tasted like real beer. Kevin's 33% ask was passed over, Rashaun and Robert offered 10% together, and Lori built a three-way deal that the founders negotiated to $300,000 for 12%.

Pitch by Pitch

DoublesoulDoublesoulFashion & Beauty
Deal

Asked $500,000 for 4% · Deal $500,000 for 10% with Kendra Scott

Ben Rosenbaum and Allison Strumeyer, who met at the University of Pennsylvania, pitched Doublesoul, everyday socks made from 85% organic cotton and 15% recycled nylon with a double-cushion bottom and breathable top. Comedian Pete Davidson had invested early for 10% of the company. Sales ran from $360,000 in 2022 to $2.3 million in 2024, on track for $7.5 million in 2025, almost all direct-to-consumer at an 89% gross margin. Kendra Scott offered $500,000 for 10% plus access to her stores and design support. Rashaun Williams countered with $500,000 at an $8 million valuation but with a 3x liquidation preference, and Kevin O'Leary offered $500,000 for 6.25% plus a 25-cent-per-pair royalty until $1.5 million was repaid. Robert Herjavec and Lori Greiner passed. Ben countered Kendra at 6%, she held at 10%, and after phoning Allison he accepted Kendra's original offer.

Best Moment
“Kendra tried on the socks mid-pitch and joked about launching a more successful sock brand than Daymond's, while Kevin bristled at learning Pete Davidson had bought in a year earlier at a valuation roughly ten times lower.”
Interested
Kendra Scott, Rashaun Williams, Kevin O'Leary
Out
Robert Herjavec, Lori Greiner

Where they are now:Thriving$8M revenueFull update →

Fashion & Beauty companies have a 58% deal rate on Shark Tank

Z-CoilZ-CoilFashion & Beauty
Deal

Asked $250,000 for 10% · Deal $250,000 for 50% with Lori Greiner

Andres Gallegos and Lindley Gallegos Bach of New Mexico pitched Z-CoiL, pain-relief footwear with patented steel coils in the heel that cut impact by 50%, aimed at nurses, construction workers and anyone on their feet all day. The concept dates to Andres' father in the late 1980s; the company launched in 1995, once did $11.6 million in annual sales, lost its retail network in the 2008 crash and relaunched direct-to-consumer. Sales had shrunk to roughly $1.4 million and the company was losing money, with a $100 customer acquisition cost. Kevin O'Leary went out over poor ad-spend metrics, Rashaun Williams worried about a 30-year runway without takeoff, and Robert Herjavec and Kendra Scott followed. Lori Greiner, initially hesitant, reversed course and offered $250,000 for 50%. After a tense pause, Andres accepted.

Best Moment
“Robert and Rashaun both tried the spring-heeled shoes on stage and loved walking in them, then went out anyway, leaving Lori to change her mind and offer for half the company.”
Interested
Lori Greiner
Out
Kevin O'Leary, Kendra Scott, Rashaun Williams, Robert Herjavec

Where they are now:Operating$2M revenueFull update →

Fashion & Beauty companies have a 58% deal rate on Shark Tank

PelagionPelagionOutdoor & Adventure
No Deal

Asked $800,000 for 4%

Jamie Schlinkmann and Mike Terry of South Florida pitched Pelagion's HydroBlade, billed as the world's first electric hydrofoil with intuitive steering: a stand-up watercraft that runs silently for up to four hours, hits 40 mph and produces zero local emissions, at $25,000 retail. Jamie, who founded an industrial-automation company in the 1990s, had self-funded roughly $2 million since 2021, and the prototype was built by their own machine-building firm. The sharks treated the company as having only 19 pre-orders and no real sales against a $20 million valuation. Rashaun Williams went out on the capital intensity, Robert Herjavec found the pitch confusing, Lori Greiner suggested cutting the price and passed, and Kendra Scott said $800,000 was more than the company needed. Kevin O'Leary called the pitch convoluted and objected when Jamie became defensive. No shark made an offer.

Best Moment
“After Jamie pushed back on valuation and unit-economics questions, Kevin told him flatly that you cannot argue and bark at an investor, and the pitch ended with a viral clip but no capital.”
Out
Rashaun Williams, Robert Herjavec, Kevin O'Leary, Lori Greiner, Kendra Scott

Where they are now:OperatingFull update →

Outdoor & Adventure companies have a 83% deal rate on Shark Tank

Dad StrengthDad StrengthFood & Beverage
Deal

Asked $250,000 for 5% · Deal $300,000 for 12% with Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, Rashaun Williams

Ryan Kutscher and Craig Carey, friends of more than 20 years and dads in their 40s from Washington, D.C., pitched Dad Strength, a 2.9% ABV, 94-calorie craft beer in West Coast, Juicy and Hazy IPA styles, billed as America's first low-ABV craft beer. Craig had built and sold the restaurant chain Big Buns, Ryan ran an ad agency, and they brewed with World Beer Cup gold medalist Justine V. Corey. In about ten and a half months they had done $230,000 in sales with a 100% chain rebuy rate, growing from self-distribution into Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Giant and Safeway. Kendra Scott made no offer. Kevin O'Leary asked for 33%, which the founders rejected. Rashaun Williams offered $250,000 for 10% and Robert Herjavec joined him to split it. Lori Greiner then proposed a three-shark deal with Robert and Rashaun at $300,000 for 15%; Craig countered at 12%, 4% each, and all three accepted.

Best Moment
“Every shark took a sip and said the same thing: this tastes like real beer. The sharks were stunned by the organic growth into national grocery chains in under a year.”
Interested
Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, Rashaun Williams, Kevin O'Leary
Out
Kendra Scott

Where they are now:Thriving$500,000 revenueFull update →

Food & Beverage companies have a 61% deal rate on Shark Tank

Where to Buy the Products from Shark Tank Season 17, Episode 1

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