Four Sharks Battle Over a Game-Changing Baseball Grip in a Rare Multi-Shark Deal
Season 17, Episode 16 · Apr 8, 2026
The Verdict
A standout episode anchored by the 9 Strap bidding war, three deals out of four pitches and nearly $1.1M in total investment.
Season 17's sixteenth episode delivered one of the most competitive negotiations of the season when 9 Strap Technology turned a simple baseball training strap into a four-shark bidding war worth $800,000. The episode titled "Shark ATTACK" lived up to its name as Kevin O'Leary, Rashaun Williams, Kendra Scott, and Daniel Lubetzky all fought to get in on a deal that started with a modest $360,000 ask. The night featured four pitches spanning tech, sports, food, and kids' beauty. Bloom, a stainless steel keycard that physically locks distracting phone apps, secured a deal with Daniel Lubetzky. Glimmer Wish, a clean beauty brand for kids founded by 16-year-old Sydney Myers and her parents, landed investment from Lori Greiner and Kendra Scott after revealing over $1 million in annual sales. Hundy, offering 100% fruit frozen pops with no additives, impressed the sharks with their product but couldn't close a deal amid concerns about valuation and market positioning. The clear headliner was 9 Strap Technology. Founders Ryan and Alyson Vaughn demonstrated their batting strap — designed to keep both hands connected to the bat during a swing to prevent injuries — and backed it up with $1.3 million in sales in under a year and a sub-1% return rate. What followed was one of the most complex negotiations of the season, with individual offers from Kevin, Rashaun, and Kendra eventually merging into a rare four-shark partnership deal. Three out of four pitches walked away with deals, making this one of the stronger episodes of the season.
By the Numbers
75%
Deal Rate
$358,333
Avg Deal Size
55%
Total Equity Given
+41%
Avg Negotiation Gap
ask → deal amount
Categories Represented
Shark Scoreboard
Daniel Lubetzky
Kendra Scott
Rashaun Williams
Lori Greiner
Kevin O'Leary
Pitch by Pitch
UCLA co-founders Danny Chmaytelli and Giancarlo Novelli pitched their stainless steel keycard that physically locks distracting apps on your phone. Unlike software screen-time tools that can be easily bypassed, Bloom requires a physical tap to unlock apps — creating real friction between users and their distractions. With over $220,000 in sales in their first six months, the founders demonstrated strong early traction. The negotiation got competitive when Kevin O'Leary, initially skeptical, changed his mind after hearing the sales numbers and made an offer. After several counters, Daniel Lubetzky ultimately closed the deal at $75,000 for 20% equity.
The founders pitched Hundy, frozen fruit pops made from a single ingredient — 100% organic whole fruit with no additives or preservatives. The name means "one hundred percent," reflecting their clean-label mission. Available in Mango, Pineapple, and Berry flavors, the pops have reached roughly 1,000 stores in about two years. While every shark loved the taste, the conversation shifted to business fundamentals. Concerns about the $3 million valuation, narrow product appeal, and competitive landscape led all five sharks to pass.
16-year-old Sydney Myers pitched Glimmer Wish alongside her parents Tiffany and Byron. The brand offers clean, fun beauty products for kids — shampoos, conditioners, body wash, and whipped lip balms — all free of sulfates, parabens, and harsh chemicals. Sydney started the company when she was just 10 years old after struggling to find beauty products that were both exciting and safe. The brand had already crossed $1 million in annual sales and recently launched in Ulta Beauty. Lori Greiner and Kendra Scott teamed up to close the deal, bringing retail and branding expertise to help scale the brand nationwide.