What It's Really Like to Pitch on Shark Tank: The Rip Tie Hair Story

I walked down that hallway terrified. Here's what happened next, including a bidding war I still can't fully believe was real.

If you watched Shark Tank Season 17, Episode 13, you saw the pitch. What you didn't see was everything that led up to those few minutes on the tank floor — the hours of practice, the obsessive number drills, the quiet terror of walking down that hallway toward five of the sharpest business minds on television.

This is that story.

The hallway is the scariest part

People always ask what it feels like to stand in front of the Sharks. But honestly? The hardest moment was before I even got there. Walking down that hallway, and stopping in the right spot to hit your mark, that was the part that was the most terrifying. 

Once I started the actual pitch, something clicked. All those months of practice took over. I'd rehearsed so many times I could do it in my sleep. It didn't matter that I'd been up since 3 a.m. It didn't matter that the lights were blinding. I just did it and I gave it my all.

The moment that broke the room open

Rip Tie Hair was designed to solve a real problem: when you wear a ponytail or braid during physical activity, your hair tangles. Our patent-pending hair tie is built to prevent exactly that, no matter what you're doing — working out, swimming, hiking, riding, competing.

I built Rip Tie for the ocean, and even though our customers use them for all kinds of sport and activities, I have the most images and videos

So when I dropped the line, "After all, we've already proved this hair tie can swim with the sharks" and showed the clip of @faithwithfins swimming surrounded by actual sharks while wearing a Rip Tie, the room exploded. The Sharks were ooh-ing and ahh-ing. Lori immediately said "I love it." That was the exact reaction I'd been hoping for.

Then things got even better. The Sharks got into the wigs, and I mean really got into them. Watching Lori put a Rip Tie on Mr. Wonderful in a purple wig? Genuinely one of the most memorable things I've ever witnessed. It was exactly the energy I wanted in that room.

The numbers tripped me up — and then the magic happened anyway

I'd practiced my numbers obsessively. And then, under the lights, I went blank. I managed to get some of it out, but not enough for Daymond or Robert, who were out. That stung.

What happened next, I genuinely didn't see coming. Mr. Wonderful — the same Shark who had just called the product "poo-poo on a stick" — made an offer. Before I could even respond, I saw Lori get up and walk over to Allison Ellsworth. I remember thinking: could they want in together? Could they really be going in on this together? Even after I'd fumbled my numbers?

They made their counteroffer. And then, before I could speak again, Kevin came back with his. A bidding war. For Rip Tie Hair. I genuinely could not believe it.

Why I chose Lori and Allison

I tried to get Lori and Allison to match Mr. Wonderful's offer. They held firm. And in the end, it wasn't a hard call, not really. I respect Kevin O'Leary. He's sharp, and I'll never forget the image of him in that purple wig. But Rip Tie Hair is built for active women, and I wanted partners who deeply understand that market. Lori Greiner has built her career on consumer products that solve real problems for real people. Allison Ellsworth built and scaled Poppi into one of the notable exits in Shark Tank history. Two sharks who get it. That's the deal I wanted.

"Let's do it" I said.

Two sharks. One patent-pending hair tie. And a pitch I'll be telling stories about for the rest of my life.

Ready to feel the difference?

The hair tie built for active women — as seen on Shark Tank.

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