Detrapel Net Worth and Shark Tank Update – After Shark Tank

DetraPel is a tech-advanced materials company that manufactures eco friendly, non toxic liquid and stain repellent sprays. The company was founded by David Zamarin in 2013 when he was just 15 years old. Zamarin wanted to solve the frustration of ruined clothing, carpets and footwear caused by liquid spills and dirt.

He sought to eliminate the environmental and health hazards associated with coatings that relied on toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. The company developed a biodegradable lotus plant extract-based hydrophobic spray using nanotechnology. It forces liquids to bead up and roll off surfaces transparently without changing the look or feel of the fabric.

Appearing on Season 9 of Shark Tank, Zamarin asked the Sharks for $200,000 in exchange for a 20% equity stake in his business. He walked away with a joint deal from Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner for $200,000 at 25% equity. The website generated over $100,000 in sales within the first 24 hours of the episode airing.

The company expanded from sprays into commercial industrial coatings for paper packaging, textiles and healthcare. DetraPel rebranded its growing industrial division under the name Impermea Materials. In late 2023, the brand closed a $7.6 million Series A funding round led by Material Impact.

The company moved its headquarters from Massachusetts into a 40,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Charlotte, North Carolina. Fueled by its industrial commercial partnerships, DetraPel’s annual trading revenue surged to $23 million. Putting the overall company valuation in the region of $50 million.

Detrapel Net Worth

David Zamarin asked for a $200,000 investment in exchange for 20% equity in his company. This meant he valued his company at $1 million. He made a deal with Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner for $200,000 in exchange for 25% equity in the company. This new deal valued his company at $800,000. After the show aired, DetraPel saw a big increase in website traffic, sales, and social media exposure. With an estimated 10% yearly growth rate (typical business growth), the current net worth of DetraPel is approximately $23 million.

Did The Detrapel Get a Deal on Shark Tank?

Yes, DetraPel secured an investment deal on Shark Tank. Founder David Zamarin accepted a joint offer from Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner for $200,000 in exchange for 25% equity in the company. David entered the tank seeking $200,000 for a 20% stake in his business. After the product demonstration, the celebrity investors became eager to jump in. Mark Cuban initiated the bidding process by offering the requested $200,000 but wanted 25% equity.

Mark promised to connect David with nanotechnology experts to help advance the product. Lori Greiner jumped into the negotiation matching Mark’s offer of $200,000 for 25% equity. Guest Shark Rohan Oza also threw his hat in the ring, putting up a third standalone offer of $200,000 for 25%. Robert Herjavec teamed up with Rohan, creating a secondary powerhouse partnership to compete against Mark and Lori.

Facing four total offers, David explained that he needed strategic help with the operational side of the business. He asked Mark and Lori if they would be willing to combine forces and partner on the deal. Mark and Lori agreed to team up and David accepted their joint proposal walking away with two Sharks.

David poured coffee on his shirt and red wine on the carpet. Showing how the liquids rolled off without leaving stains. At just 19 years old, David was a seasoned entrepreneur who had built and sold a shoe cleaning business for $150,000 to fund DetraPel. The product was profitable, costing a mere $1.14 to manufacture while retailing for $12.99 per unit.

Unlike traditional liquid repellents that rely on toxic chemicals DetraPel uses a biodegradable, non-toxic, and PFAS-free nanotechnology formula. While pitched as a retail spray, the Sharks recognized industrial potential in licensing the coating to carpet, automotive and packaging companies.

Shark(s) name	Offer & Demand	Counteroffer	Accepted?
Rohan Oza (Guest Shark)	$200,000 for 23% equity	N/A	N/A
Lori Greiner	$200,000 for 25% equity	N/A	Yes
Robert Herjavec	$200,000 for 23% equity	N/A	N/A
Barbara Corcoran	Out	N/A	N/A
Mark Cuban	$200,000 for 25% equity	N/A	Yes

Founders’ Backstory

David Zamarin is the sole founder and current CEO of DetraPel. He is an ambitious entrepreneur. Zamarin’s journey began at the age of 15 when he founded a shoe and sneaker detailing service called LickYourSole, which catered to college athletes. He sold his first business for $25,000, using the proceeds and initial findings from his youth entrepreneurship program (Startup Corps) to fund and launch DetraPel. Zamarin’s innovative work in chemical manufacturing led to him being named to the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2021.

Zamarin bought an expensive pair of white sneakers that were stained and ruined by dirt and liquids. He wanted to find a solution to protect the shoes but discovered that existing effective liquid repellents on the market were toxic and relied on harsh chemicals. Through difficult trial, error and collaboration with chemists during high school.

He discovered the hydrophobic (water repelling) properties found in the leaves of decomposed lotus plants. This realization drove him to synthesize a safe alternative that mimics lotus leaves by causing water and stains to bead up and roll off surfaces. DetraPel operates with the core mission to #protect what you love without compromising the environment or human health. 

Detrapel Shark Tank Pitch

David Zamarin began his pitch by introducing himself as a 19 year old student at Babson College.He entered the Tank asking for $200,000 for a 20% equity stake in his company. To hook the Sharks, he asked them if their parents had ever scolded them for ruining a favorite jacket or brand new pair of shoes with a spill.

He then directed their attention to a live demonstration showing how his spray could protect expensive garments from food and liquid stains. Zamarin highlighted that everyday fabric, leather and paper belongings are vulnerable to permanent damage from water, dirt and food spills. He emphasized that previous generations of liquid repellent sprays were hazardous to human health and the environment.

Consumers were forced to choose between keeping their belongings stain free or using cancer-causing fluorochemicals.The challenge was a lack of non-toxic, safe alternatives that worked and provided a lasting invisible barrier for fabrics and paper products. DetraPel utilizes nanotechnology to synthesize 100% water-based chemistries. The spray creates an invisible, odorless barrier around individual fibers or surfaces.

Its hydrophobic formula increases the contact angle between water droplets and the surface causing liquids to bead up and roll off. When applied to shoes, car seats or clothing it forces substances like ketchup, mustard, wine or mud to flow off the fabric. The protective coating is biodegradable, contains zero harmful propellants and leaves no white residue behind.

DetraPel operates under a business model, generating revenue through both Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) sales and B2B industrial partnerships. In the consumer market, they sell a variety of non toxic fabric, shoe, carpet and upholstery protectors directly via their DetraPel Store and online marketplaces. On the B2B front, they manufacture and supply safe, PFAS-free specialty coatings to other industries.

Through their industrial division rebranded as Impermea Materials, they license their coating technology to large players in food packaging, textiles and paper manufacturing. This dual approach allows the company to reach everyday shoppers while supplying chemical alternatives to corporate brands.

Shark Questions, Negotiations, Discussion & Reactions

The sharks questioned his youth, high manufacturing costs and customer education hurdles. Zamarin struck a deal with Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner. The sharks questioned the safety and efficacy of the formula. Raising concerns about the learning curve for consumer products. Zamarin explained that he built the business to serve the industrial and B2B markets, but pivoted to consumer retail to sustain his company through its early years.

The sharks were hesitant about his margins and customer acquisition costs. The negotiation process was intense due to the founder’s age and the market’s nature. Daymond John offered $200,000 for 33.3%. Kevin O’Leary made a royalty-based offer: $200,000 for 10% equity plus a $1.50 royalty per unit until the money was paid back. Lori Greiner and Mark Cuban teamed up, negotiating a deal with David for $200,000 in exchange for 25% equity. 

Why Some Sharks Said No

Sharks were concerned about whether a student-run company could scale manufacturing and meet the operational demands of a growing business. DetraPel was pitched at a retail price of $12.99 with a production cost of only $1.14. Some Sharks felt the low production cost compared to the high retail price highlighted a need for heavy marketing to justify the premium. The heavy stain guard market was dominated by well-established legacy brands. Sharks feared that an indie startup would struggle against multi-billion-dollar corporate competitors who had more resources.

DetraPel promoted itself as free of harmful fluorochemicals (like PFAS) at a time when consumers weren’t educated on their dangers. Several Sharks viewed the cost and effort of consumer education as an inefficient use of time and capital. Some investors worried that without retail distribution or a marketing budget the company would struggle to build brand awareness compared to chemical-loaded competitors.

Three Sharks Robert Herjavec, Kevin O’Leary, and Rohan Oza passed on making an offer. They doubted whether a young founder could scale in a competitive, legally regulated chemical industry without taking on financial and logistical risks.

Where To Buy Detrapel Products and Product Features

DetraPel is an innovative, eco-friendly and PFAS-free liquid repellent spray that creates a protective barrier on everyday surfaces without utilizing toxic, legacy fluorochemicals. DetraPel operates through nanotechnology to make various materials superhydrophobic (water-repelling). Unlike legacy protective sprays, DetraPel’s consumer formulas avoid harmful chemicals and PFAS (often known as “forever chemicals”).

The consumer spray can be used on a wide array of porous materials, including athletic shoes, fashion boots, suede, carpets, home upholstery and baby strollers. The spray dries clear and odorless, leaving no sticky or white residue. The spray bottles use designed piston based, bag on valve technology. Instead of chemical propellants, they are powered by compressed air, ensuring 100% of the liquid can be evacuated from the bottle without any waste.

Zamarin demonstrated how water beads up and rolls right off treated fabric, functioning just like a lotus leaf in nature. The pitch showed how messy, pigmented liquids like ketchup, mustard and relish could be poured onto a treated white t-shirt only to be wiped away without absorbing into the fabric. He showed muddy water being poured over treated shoes allowing them to remain dry after the liquid simply rolled off.

Since its Shark Tank appearance, DetraPel has grown into different commercial divisions like Impermea Materials and their consumer goods line, ProofPlus. Today, you can easily purchase consumer products often branded under ProofPlus or DetraPel through the DetraPel Online Store.

The product line is stocked on Amazon and through various international specialty retailers like Ubuy and Gosupps. The standard consumer-sized bottle usually 6.8 oz / 200 ml retails between $13.99m and $48.00, depending on the specific application clothing, outdoor gear, and shoe protection and the specific third-party seller.

What Happened To Detrapel After Shark Tank?

DetraPel is active, having evolved from a consumer stain guard pitch into an advanced deep tech manufacturing company. Following its 2018 Shark Tank appearance, where it secured a deal with Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner. The company experienced sales spikes, generating over $100,000 online within 24 hours. DetraPel’s post show trajectory expanded far beyond its original liquid repellent sprays.

The exposure following the show gave the website its highest traffic ever. Quickly backordered the product for two months and forced the college-aged team to fill and package orders by hand. DetraPel transitioned from a single consumer-facing product into an organization. While the parent company is still called DetraPel. Consumer goods operate under ProofPlus and industrial operations were spun off into a division called Impermea Materials.

Founder David Zamarin has directed the company’s chemistry toward fluorine-free solutions. Impermea Materials has targeted the food service, healthcare and textile industries. Working to supply grease resistant, environmentally safe paper and packaging solutions to major restaurant and food packaging chains. In late 2022, DetraPel announced a $7 million Series A funding round led by Material Impact alongside additional investors like INX International.

By August 2024, the company was generating an estimated $23 million in annual revenue. To sustain this rapid growth DetraPel announced a $3.5 million investment. To relocate its headquarters from Framingham, Massachusetts, to a 40,000-square-foot manufacturing and synthesis facility in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company’s ongoing mission is to eliminate cancer causing chemicals globally. The consumer brand, ProofPlus, has maintained strong self sustaining profitability. While the industrial parent company positions itself for potential private equity buyouts or an eventual IPO once valuation milestones are achieved.

Conclusion

When COVID-19 hit, the company shifted a significant portion of its resources to manufacturing hand sanitizers and disinfectants for local businesses and first responders. DetraPel established an industrial materials division rebranding it to Impermea Materials. In 2025, DetraPel left Boston and relocated its headquarters and manufacturing operations to Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, NC.

To scale production, increase synthesis lab capacity and use regional economic grants. The Shark Tank exposure was monumental for DetraPel. The network and mentorship allowed the brand to establish credibility. The visibility generated initial traction, customer trust and brand awareness that allowed founder David Zamarin to raise millions in capital.

It transformed a bootstrapped startup into a recognizable name. Giving them the platform required to start conversations with major enterprise clients like Chick-fil-A and large Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) brands. With the recent relocation to a new North Carolina facility and successful funding rounds like its Series A. DetraPel is pushing into enterprise sales with multi million dollar projections.

Because the B2B market is moving toward plastic free solutions. You can expect DetraPel Solutions and Impermea to announce more corporate supply-chain partnerships in the fast-food, beauty and textile spaces. In the long term, the company could become an acquisition target for private equity or pursue an Initial Public Offering (IPO) once it hits its financial milestones.