Most Successful Shark Tank Rejects: Million-Dollar Deals the Sharks Let Swim Away

Some of the biggest “rejects” on Shark Tank are the ones fans still talk about - pitches the Sharks passed on that went on to crush it anyway.

Across 14 seasons, hundreds of founders left the Tank without a deal. But a surprising number didn’t just survive - they scaled, raised capital, and built serious value. We tracked every rejected company and broke down the numbers:

• 1,211 total pitches (Seasons 1 - 14; season 15 was left out - too recent to tell which rejections will turn into wins)

• 476 received no deal

• 290 are still in business as of March 2025 (using the most recent available data, some from prior years)

• 32 had enough verified financial data to be valued with confidence

These 32 companies stood out with documented success - through revenue, funding, or acquisition - all hitting million-dollar valuations or more. Most are still private, so we built a consistent valuation model based on the strongest data available (see methodology below).

Some became household names. Others quietly turned into multimillion-dollar brands. All were passed on by the Sharks - and went on to prove them wrong.

Here’s how they stack up today, from billion-dollar exits to overlooked gems.

The Valuations: From Billion-Dollar Wins to Hidden Gems

Here’s the full breakdown of 32 Shark Tank rejections that turned into million-dollar success stories, ranked by valuation with season, episode, product, industry, basis, and sources.

The Top 10 Shark Tank Rejects That Succeeded Without a Deal

From the 32 million-dollar champs above, these 10 turned rejection into rocket fuel. Check out the vertical graph ranking their valuations, then dive into the stories of how they left the Sharks in the dust.

1. DoorBot (Ring): The Billion-Dollar Doorbell

Jamie Siminoff founded DoorBot to solve a simple problem: he wanted to see who was at his door without getting up. By 2013, his smart doorbell - complete with a camera and phone app - was ready to pitch. Armed with a prototype, he stepped into Shark Tank Season 5, Episode 9, seeking $700,000 for 10% equity, valuing the company at $7 million.

The Sharks weren’t ringing any bells. Siminoff demoed DoorBot, but the pitch hit snags - some saw it as an unproven gadget, others balked at the valuation. Kevin O’Leary offered $700,000 as a loan with 7% interest and a 10% royalty, while the rest, including Mark Cuban, passed, citing market doubts. Siminoff rejected the loan deal and left with nothing.

Post-tank: DoorBot became Ring, skyrocketed in the home security space, and landed a $1 billion acquisition by Amazon in 2018 - our valuation based on that deal - proving the Sharks missed a billion-dollar buzz.

Valuation: $1 billion (acquisition price)

2. The Bouqs Company: Petals That Paid Off

John Tabis launched The Bouqs Company to fix a broken flower game - online orders that suck with bait-and-switch pricing and wilted blooms. By 2014, his farm-to-table floral delivery service, cutting out middlemen for fresh, flat-rate bouquets, was ready. He hit Shark Tank Season 5, Episode 27, asking $258,000 for 3% equity, a steep $8.6 million valuation.

The Sharks smelled trouble. Tabis pitched $700K in sales and 40% margins, but they doubted logistics and scalability; Kevin O’Leary and Mark Cuban passed, unimpressed by the numbers.

Post-tank: The Bouqs bloomed, hitting $59.7 million in revenue. We peg it at $597 million - 10x revenue for a tech floral win - leaving the Sharks kicking dirt.

Valuation: $597 million (10x revenue, tech)

3. Kodiak Cakes: Pancakes That Packed a Punch

Kodiak Cakes kicked off in 1995 as a rugged, whole-grain pancake mix, born from a family recipe Joel Clark hustled out of a red wagon. By 2014, it had morphed into a protein-packed contender, ready to take on breakfast giants. Clark pitched it on Shark Tank Season 5, Episode 22, asking $500,000 for 10% equity - a $5 million valuation.

The Sharks didn’t bite. With $300K in sales, Clark touted health appeal, but they saw a crowded shelf and no knockout; Kevin O’Leary’s $500K-for-50% offer got a hard pass.

Post-tank: Kodiak Cakes flipped the script, raking in $160 million in revenue by 2023, proving a niche mix could outmuscle the doubters.

Valuation: $480 million (3x revenue, Food & Beverage)

4. Swimply: The Pool Party Payday

Swimply splashed onto the scene in 2018 when Bunim Laskin saw empty backyards as cash cows - an Airbnb for pools. By 2019, his app was connecting pool owners with renters, ready to dive into Shark Tank Season 11, Episode 15. Laskin pitched $300,000 for 5% equity, pegging it at $6 million.

The Sharks didn’t jump in. With $150K in revenue, they liked the vibe but trashed the valuation and scalability; Mark Cuban and Kevin O’Leary bailed, calling it a niche side hustle.

Post-tank: Swimply swam circles around them, hitting $25 million in revenue and turning private pools into a tech marketplace goldmine.

Valuation: $250 million (10x revenue, tech)

5. Goalsetter: Savings That Schooled the Sharks

Kids suck at saving - enter Goalsetter, a fintech app built to teach them cash smarts through gamified goals. Tanya Van Court brought it to Shark Tank Season 10, Episode 15 in 2019, asking $200,000 for 4% equity - a $5 million valuation. With $40K in early traction, she pitched financial literacy for the next generation.

The Sharks weren’t buying. They grilled the slow growth and balked at the ask; Kevin O’Leary offered $200K for 25%, a valuation gut-punch Van Court dodged. 

Post-tank: Goalsetter stacked $12.5 million in revenue, proving kids’ piggy banks could fuel a tech win while the Sharks missed the lesson.

Valuation: $125 million (10x revenue, tech)

6. Coffee Meets Bagel: Dating That Dumped the Sharks

Coffee Meets Bagel launched in 2012 with a twist: one curated match a day, no endless swiping. Sisters Arum, Dawoon, and Soo Kang took their slow-burn dating app to Shark Tank Season 6, Episode 13 in 2015, asking $500,000 for 5% equity - a $10 million valuation. They boasted 70% user retention and $1M in revenue.

The Sharks swiped left. Mark Cuban called it “too complicated” and led the pass; others doubted the growth against Tinder. No deal, not even a coffee date.

Post-tank: the sisters brewed $23.2 million in funding, turning their niche into a tech dating hit while the Sharks missed the spark.

Valuation: $116 million (5x funding, tech)

7. Spikeball: The Bounce That Beat the Sharks

Spikeball crashed the sports scene in 2008 - a weird mashup of volleyball and trampolines that turned backyards into battlegrounds. By 2015, Chris Ruder had it rolling and pitched on Shark Tank Season 6, Episode 29, asking $500,000 for 10% equity - a $5 million valuation. He spiked $700K in sales, claiming it was the next big game.

The Sharks didn’t play ball. They liked the energy but slammed the valuation and market size; Kevin O’Leary offered $500K for 20%, a low blow Ruder denied.

Post-tank: Spikeball smashed $33.1 million in revenue, proving a goofy net could outjump the Sharks’ skepticism.

Valuation: $99.3 million (3x revenue, Sports & Recreation)

8. PetPlate: Dog Chow That Chewed Out the Sharks

Pet owners hate the mystery mush in dog food cans - PetPlate sniffed out a fix with fresh, human-grade meals delivered to your door. Renaldo Webb pitched it on Shark Tank Season 8, Episode 10 in 2016, asking $100,000 for 5% equity - a $2 million valuation. With $50K in sales, he touted vet-approved recipes.

The Sharks didn’t dig in. They sniffed at the small numbers and balked at scaling costs; Kevin O’Leary offered $100K for 20%, a raw deal Webb spat out.

Post-tank: PetPlate fetched $26.2 million in revenue, turning kibble into cash and leaving the Sharks with a bone to pick.

Valuation: $78.6 million (3x revenue, Pet Products)

9. Hammer & Nails: Manicures That Nailed It

Guys deserve pampering too - Hammer & Nails carved out a niche with masculine nail salons, ditching the frilly spa vibe for leather chairs and whiskey. Michael Elliot pitched it on Shark Tank Season 6, Episode 1 in 2014, asking $200,000 for 20% equity - a $1 million valuation. With one shop and $150K in sales, he sold rugged relaxation.

The Sharks clipped it short. They liked the twist but trashed the scale and valuation; Lori Greiner and Kevin O’Leary passed, doubting big demand.

Post-tank: Hammer & Nails polished off $25.5 million in revenue, proving dude manicures could rake it in while the Sharks missed the trim.

Valuation: $76.5 million (3x revenue, Personal Care)

10. BedJet: The Bed Warmer That Burned the Sharks

BedJet started as a wild fix - a gizmo blasting hot or cold air under your sheets for perfect sleep temps. Mark Aramli pitched this climate-control bed tech on Shark Tank Season 6, Episode 17 in 2015, asking $250,000 for 10% equity - a $2.5 million valuation. With $200K in sales, he promised cozy profits.

The Sharks froze him out. They mocked the niche and roasted the valuation; Kevin O’Leary offered $250K for 40%, a chilly deal Aramli blew off.

Post-tank: BedJet heated up $5.2 million in revenue, turning a sleep hack into a tech home run while the Sharks got left in the cold.

Valuation: $52 million (10x revenue, tech)

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How We Valued These Million-Dollar Shark Tank Rejects

Valuing private companies is part art, part science - especially when they’ve pitched on Shark Tank and don’t have public stock prices to reference. To estimate the worth of these businesses, we developed a straightforward methodology that leverages the most reliable data available: acquisition prices, annual revenue, and funding raised. Here’s how we did it, step by step, along with the sources that fueled our calculations.

Valuation Methodology

Since these companies vary widely - some have been acquired, others report revenue, and some only disclose funding - we prioritized the best available data for each. Here’s the breakdown:

Acquired Companies: The Gold Standard

For companies that were bought out, we used their acquisition price as their valuation. This is the most concrete figure, reflecting what a buyer was willing to pay.

• Example: DoorBot (Ring) was snapped up by Amazon for $1 billion in 2018. That’s its valuation, no guesswork needed.

Revenue-Driven Valuations: Multiples Matter

For companies with annual revenue data, we applied a revenue multiple based on their industry:

• Tech Companies: 10x annual revenue. Tech-driven businesses - like apps, software, or innovative hardware - often fetch higher multiples due to their scalability and growth potential. This reflects tech’s high-growth potential, aligned with private company benchmarks.

  • Example: The Bouqs Company, an e-commerce floral delivery service, boasts $59.7 million in revenue. As a tech-enabled player, we applied a 10x multiple, estimating its value at $597 million.

• Industry-Specific Companies: 3x annual revenue. Traditional sectors - like Food & Beverage (Kodiak Cakes), Apparel (Throx), or Outdoor Gear (Rumpl) - typically see lower multiples, reflecting steadier but less explosive growth. This fits their stable growth, per industry standards.
  When both revenue and funding data were available, we prioritized revenue - it’s a stronger indicator of current performance.

Funding-Based Valuations: Making Assumptions

For companies without revenue or acquisition data, we leaned on their total funding raised and applied a multiple:

• Tech Companies: 5x funding. This assumes investors took 20-30% equity in a round, implying a valuation of 3.33x to 5x the funding - a common benchmark in tech. Common VC benchmarks suggest 5x for tech.

  • Example: Coffee Meets Bagel, a dating app, raised $23.2 million. As a tech company, we used a 5x multiple, pegging its valuation at $116 million.

• Industry-Specific Companies: 2x funding. A more conservative multiple for traditional sectors with less aggressive growth trajectories. Common VC benchmarks suggest 2x for traditional sectors.

Tech vs. Industry-Specific: Why It Matters

• Tech Companies: Businesses with a significant technology component - like software (Simple Habit), marketplaces (Swimply), or innovative hardware (BedJet) - get the 10x revenue or 5x funding treatment.

• Industry-Specific Companies: Traditional ventures - like Food & Beverage (Kodiak Cakes), Apparel (Throx), or Outdoor Gear (Rumpl) - stick to 3x revenue or 2x funding, aligning with industry norms.

Where the Data Came From

The revenue, funding, and acquisition figures are sourced per company in the table above, pulling from trusted platforms like RocketReach, Crunchbase, ZoomInfo, and more - see the full lineup below:

• RocketReach: Revenue estimates for various companies.

• Crunchbase: Funding details across multiple rounds.

• ZoomInfo: Revenue figures for several businesses.

• News Articles & Reports: Acquisition specifics from sources like Westfair Online and Market Screener.

• Other Platforms: Data from Growjo, Pitchbook, TechCrunch, Seller Active, Entrepreneur, Bloomberg, Retail Dive, Tracxn, CB Insights, and LA Business Journal.