Mark Cuban was a pretty big deal on ABC’s Shark Tank.
Ever since joining the show as a guest investor in season 2, Cuban, 66, has brought his business skills and honest feedback to hundreds of entrepreneurs hoping to receive an investment from the Dallas Mavericks owner.
“The fact that Mark Cuban saw potential in us and wanted to be part of the brand really helped put us on the map for the long haul,” BucketGolf’s founder and president, Tyler Simmons, shared with Us Weekly after his backyard golf game received a deal with Cuban in season 16. “Having Mark in our corner has added a ton of credibility. People know and trust him, so his involvement showed customers and retailers that BucketGolf is the real deal.”
On Friday, May 16, Cuban will appear in his final episode of Shark Tank after 15 seasons on the hit ABC show.
‘Shark Tank’ Sneak Peek Teases Mark Cuban’s Final Show After 15 Seasons
While the investor has been able to spotlight successful brands like Dude Wipes and BeatBox beverages, the show was so much more than just making deals.
“The deals are always out there, but I’ll miss the people,” Cuban told People in October 2024. “I’ll miss having an impact just from the show itself because we send a message every day that the American dream is alive and well.”
Keep reading to see some of Cuban’s most memorable investments and watch Shark Tank on ABC Fridays at 8 p.m. ET.
PaddleSmash
Cuban fell in love with the outdoor game that combines the best elements of Pickleball and Roundnet. His endorsement proved to be a game-changer for the company.
“The exposure alone put our brand on a completely new trajectory,” PaddleSmash cofounder Tim Swindle shared with Us. “Having Mark Cuban’s stamp of approval brought us a lot of credibility and helped us scale faster. We are eternally grateful to Mark and the show for helping make PaddleSmash a success.”
Manscaped
In season 10, the sharks learned about a company that focuses on self-grooming supplies for men. Manscaped’s products can now be found in more than 6,500 stores, including Target and Walmart.
Although Cuban’s deal with the company fell through after the show, Manscaped has nothing but appreciation for what the Shark did.
“While the deal didn’t materialize, it was a positive experience,” Manscaped Founder & CEO Paul Tran told Us. “The show provided a platform to share our vision.”
BucketGolf
In his final season of Shark Tank, Cuban became impressed with BucketGolf after the creators compared it to the next SpikeBall.
“It’s helped us open doors with major retail partners and really speed up our growth,” Simmons shared with Us. “Mark and his team bring a ton of insight and have some amazing connections in the space that are already making a difference.”
Collars and Co.
Cuban and guest Shark Peter Jones were quickly impressed with entrepreneur Justin Baer, who found traditional dress shirts uncomfortable and impractical for transitioning between formal and casual settings. As a result, Baer created Collars & Co., a company made up of polo shirts with dress collars that pair with suits and adapt easily for after-work wear.
“Mark Cuban isn’t just an investor — he’s a force multiplier,” Baer told Us Weekly. “His support gave us the confidence, credibility and momentum to scale faster than we ever imagined. And when does he sleep?? He responds to texts and emails in minutes!”
When appearing on Shark Tank, Collars & Co. was doing $5 million in revenue. Now, the brand is doing around $40 million in revenue.
Bro Glo
While self-tanner has been around beauty stores for many years, Cuban was impressed with entrepreneurs Jaron Nalewak, Tom Phillips and Joe McDevitt, who created a simple, lightweight tanning product that gives a natural tan for dudes.
A deal was made in hopes that bros everywhere can feel a bit more confident in their skin.
Bala Bangles
Forget about those out-of-style weights. Bala Bangles, which are wearable wrist and ankle weights, quickly grabbed the attention of Cuban and guest Shark Maria Sharapova in season 11.
One year later, Shark Tank shared an update on the company saying the weights can be found in stores like Anthropologie, Dillards, Saks Fifth Avenue and Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Dude Wipes
When college roommates Sean Riley, Ryan Meegan and Jeff Klimkowski started using baby wipes because toilet paper alone wasn’t enough, the entrepreneurs decided to create Dude Wipes.
The flushable, biodegradable wipe, which promises to give men a cleaner and fresher feel, quickly became one of Cuban’s most successful investments, with the company’s products sold in major retail stores.
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BeatBox Beverages
Described as the world’s tastiest party punch, BeatBox Beverages was created as an alternative to boxed wine. The vibrant packaging and delicious taste won over Cuban, who made a deal by offering $1,000,000 for 33 percent equity.
Nuts N’ More
In season 4, Neil Cameron, Peter Ferreira and Dennis Iannoti entered the tank with a line of protein-enhanced nut butters. Cuban and Shark Robert Herjavec were quickly impressed with the line of products that ended up in GNC, The Vitamin Shoppe and Whole Foods.
