Doc Spartan was founded by Dale King, an Army veteran, and Renee Wallace in Portsmouth, Ohio, a town affected by economic depression and the opioid crisis. They wanted to solve the problem of harsh chemical filled salves.
Their initial flagship product, Combat Ready Ointment (CRO), was designed as an all natural, tough healing salve for gym hand tears and military wounds. On Shark Tank, the founders asked for $75,000 for 15% equity in their company. They struck a deal with Robert Herjavec for $75,000 for 25% equity. Following their television appearance, sales skyrocketed from an initial $56,000 to over $1.7 million in just a few years.
They expanded their product line well beyond the original ointment to include natural deodorants, tooth powders and soaps. The founders committed to their community by operating their factory in Portsmouth and employing locals recovering from drug addiction.
Today, the company continues to thrive as an American made brand, with consistent annual revenues around the $4 million mark. Today, the company’s net valuation sits in the millions of dollars. You can explore their full product lineup on the Doc Spartan Official Store.
Doc Spartan Net Worth
Dale King and Renee Wallace asked for a $75k investment in exchange for 15% equity in their company. This meant they valued their company at $500,000. They made a deal with Robert Herjavec for $75k in exchange for 25% of their company, which valued their company at $300,000. After the show aired, Doc Spartan 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 Doc Spartan is about $7.4 million.
Did The Doc Spartan Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
Yes, Doc Spartan founders Dale King and Renee Wallace got a deal on Shark Tank. Dale King, an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, and Renee Wallace pitched their all natural first aid Combat Ready Ointment. The entrepreneurs walked into the Tank seeking $75,000 for a 15% equity stake in their business.
They stood out to the Sharks not only because of their memorable patriotic personalities but also due to their powerful mission. Their goal was to create manufacturing jobs in their economically depressed hometown of Portsmouth, Ohio, which had been hit hard by the opioid epidemic. Before a deal was reached, the company faced harsh criticism from some of the Sharks regarding their lack of testing and low sales volume.
Mark Cuban was the first to drop out, stating that he felt the founders lacked the research and preparation. Daymond John also backed out, noting that he believed Lori Greiner would be a better fit for a skincare product. Kevin O’Leary and Lori Greiner both passed as well, citing the crowded skincare market and early stage of the business.
With four Sharks out, Robert Herjavec stepped forward with an offer. He proposed $75,000 in exchange for 25% equity in Doc Spartan. Dale and Renee accepted Robert’s offer without much counter negotiation. Gaining a strategic partner to help them scale production and enter retail markets. Even though several Sharks bowed out, Robert Herjavec was drawn to the business for two key reasons.
The Sharks are often drawn to passionate, purpose driven entrepreneurs. Dale’s background as a veteran and the company’s commitment to revitalizing their hometown resonated with the Sharks. Robert invested in similar veteran owned, fitness adjacent companies and saw an opportunity to scale Doc Spartan using his existing retail and logistics connections.
Doc Spartan Shark Tank Deal Table
| Shark(s) Name | Offer & Demand | Counter Offer | Accepted? |
| Lori Greiner | Out | N/A | N/A |
| Daymond John | Out | N/A | N/A |
| Kevin O’Leary | Out | N/A | N/A |
| Mark Cuban | Out | N/A | N/A |
| Robert Herjavec | $75,000 for 25% equity | N/A | Yes |
Founders’ Backstory
Founded in 2015 by Dale King and Renée Wallace, Doc Spartan is an American made, natural skincare and first aid company based in Portsmouth, Ohio. They created their products to provide natural, chemical free healing solutions for the military and fitness communities while revitalizing their economically depressed hometown.
Dale King is an Operation Iraqi Freedom Army veteran who returned home to Portsmouth, Ohio, and witnessed his hometown ravaged by the opioid epidemic. To make a difference, he opened a local gym. Renée Wallace is a mother of three who was married to a former military helicopter pilot and taught yoga at Dale’s gym.
She was experimenting with essential oils to create non toxic skincare for her family. Dale approached Renée to create a natural, heavy duty ointment that could heal the hand rips, blisters and scrapes. Experienced by weightlifters, CrossFit athletes and military service members.
The duo wanted to make a high quality product right in their hometown to provide sustainable jobs for locals, targeting individuals in recovery from addiction. Dale delivered a memorable pitch stating, “Life is a contact sport and war wounds are a part of the game”. They showed the natural healing capabilities of their flagship product, the Combat Ready Ointment.
Doc Spartan Shark Tank Pitch
The founders, Dale King, a former army intelligence officer and Renee Wallace, entered the Shark Tank seeking $75,000 for 15% equity in their business. Dale captured the Sharks’ attention by highlighting their hometown of Portsmouth, Ohio, which was impacted by the opioid epidemic. They shared a resilient narrative about trying to revitalize their economically depressed community by creating jobs through local manufacturing.
The entrepreneurs identified the challenge of dealing with painful and bleeding skin conditions. Athletes, weightlifters and gym goers tore or blistered the skin on their hands. They pointed out that many traditional first aid creams and ointments are laden with harsh artificial chemicals.
Dale and Renee noted a lack of truly natural, heavy duty skincare alternatives for hard working or injured hands that actually provided soothing and rapid relief. Their primary product is “Combat Ready Ointment”, a 100% all natural first aid balm designed to soothe pain and accelerate the skin’s healing process.
The balm is formulated with a blend of natural essential oils and ingredients intended to treat cuts, scraps, rips and blisters. Users apply a thin layer of the salve to the affected, torn or irritated area to moisturize the skin and create a protective barrier that supports natural recovery. Doc Spartan operates on a vertically integrated, direct to consumer and local manufacturing model.
They kept startup overhead costs low by manufacturing all of their products by hand in house.Their margins were profitable during their initial pitch. A small tin cost approximately $0.95 to produce and retailed for $9.99, while a larger tin cost $$1.70 to produce and sold for $14.99.The company has since expanded its revenue streams by broadening its catalog to include beard care, deodorants and pet care.
Shark Questions, Negotiations, Discussion & Reactions
The founders faced a barrage of questions regarding their branding, preparation and medical claims.
Mark Cuban was put off by the lack of scientific research and formal testing for their healing claims, dropping out. Lori Greiner struggled with the confusing product packaging and design expressing that she didn’t know what the product was at a glance.
Daymond John felt it fell outside his area of expertise and backed out, recommending the founders to Lori instead. Kevin O’Leary liked the product margins but felt the company was not yet an “investable” entity. Robert Herjavec was a big fan of the brand’s veteran led story and the founders themselves. While four sharks dropped out,
Robert Herjavec remained interested and engaged in an active negotiation. Robert offered $75,000 in exchange for a 25% equity stake. Dale attempted to negotiate the equity down to 20%, but Robert remained firm on 25%. Recognizing the value of Robert’s backing, the founders accepted the original 25% offer.
Why Some Sharks Said No
Several Sharks were concerned about the company’s manufacturing capability and overall scalability. The business was localized in Portsmouth, Ohio, and lacked the automated production and distribution infrastructure required to fulfill nationwide retail orders. The brand was marketed toward CrossFit enthusiasts and military personnel.
Sharks questioned whether this niche was broad enough to build a mainstream consumer brand. Without altering their messaging and pouring millions into general consumer marketing. The Sharks debated the valuation of the early stage startup.
Noting that the founders were asking for $75,000 for 15% valuing the company at $500,000 while their current sales were quite low. A high valuation relative to current revenue made some investors feel the risk did not justify the equity offered. The personal care and first aid ointment space is crowded with well funded corporate giants.
Sharks like Barbara Corcoran and Kevin O’Leary expressed concern that a small independent brand would struggle to stand out on retail shelves and defend its market share against consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies. Mark Cuban passed because he did not see how he could add value to the specific niche the business was targeting, making it a poor fit for his investment portfolio.
Kevin O’Leary dropped out due to concerns regarding scale and the crowded nature of the first aid market. Lori Greiner felt that the product packaging and branding required a complete overhaul to appeal to the mass market, and she did not want to invest her time in rebuilding their presentation. Daymond John bowed out, citing a lack of personal connection to the niche product, which he felt would prevent him from advocating for the brand.
Where To Buy Doc Spartan Products and Product Features
Doc Spartan’s signature product is the Combat Ready Ointment (C.R.O). It is a natural, petroleum free and chemical free first aid salve. Formulated to treat rips, hand tears and blistered skin experienced by CrossFit athletes. It is now used for minor cuts, scrapes, rashes and burns.
The balm avoids artificial chemicals and synthetic petroleum products, relying instead on a blend of 100% natural ingredients. It uses refined coconut oil, natural beeswax, sweet almond oil, vitamin E and a blend of essential oils including lavender, eucalyptus, and tea tree for soothing and antibacterial properties.
It can be used as a daily moisturizer to combat dry skin or to soothe freshly done tattoos and skin rashes. They highlighted its effectiveness by presenting compelling visual “before and after” photographic evidence of severe hand rips and skin tears that healed after using the ointment. They demonstrated its everyday usefulness, pointing out how it could serve everyone from active soldiers and athletes to individuals dealing with burns and abrasions.
The founders secured a deal with Shark Robert Herjavec. Doc Spartan produces and manufactures their skin and grooming lines which have expanded to include natural deodorants, body washes, beard balms and cologne in Portsmouth, Ohio.
You can view and order the full product range on the Doc Spartan Official Website. Individual balms and bundled products can be purchased through the Doc Spartan Amazon Storefront. It can be found in a few select tactical shops, veteran owned businesses and specialized gyms across the United States.
What Happened To Doc Spartan After Shark Tank?
Doc Spartan remains active and in business expanding into a thriving lifestyle and grooming brand with an estimated annual revenue of $4 million. Sales skyrocketed after their appearance with the company experiencing growth, product line expansions and successful partnerships.
When founders Dale King and Renee Wallace first appeared on Shark Tank (Season 8), they were doing about $56,000 in sales. After the episode aired the company sold over 4,000 units in a single week. By the time of their Season 12 update total revenue generated since the deal had reached over $2 million. Continuing to scale the business has grown, bringing in $4 million in annual revenue.
Despite some initial friction over packaging and medical claims from other sharks, Robert Herjavec offered $200,000 for a 15% stake. The deal closed, and the founders maintained quarterly and weekly contact with Robert’s team to strategize and develop new retail pathways. In 2021, Doc Spartan announced an expansion in Scioto County, Ohio, backed by a $50,000 grant from JobsOhio Inclusion, investing in new machinery to modernize their in-house manufacturing process.
While the business was launched based on their signature Combat Ready Ointment (C.R.O.), the company has branched out. The website now features a wide range of grooming products, including body scrubs, tooth powder, deodorants, beard care, perfumes, apparel and even pet care ointments.
Doc Spartan is best known for its commitment to fighting the opioid epidemic in its hometown of Portsmouth, Ohio. Instead of just selling products, they have championed the “Neighborhood Internal Defense” principle by running free fitness and recovery programs.
They partner with local non profits to employ individuals who are in recovery from substance abuse tying their company’s expansion to community rehabilitation. Like many small businesses they faced logistical and supply chain hurdles during the pandemic but navigated this period by focusing on their direct to consumer online storefront.
Founder Dale King helped produce a documentary in 2022 titled Small Town Strong which highlights the realities of opioid addiction and was featured in documentary film festivals. If you are looking to shop their latest lineup or read more about their products, you can explore the Doc Spartan Official Store.
Conclusion
Doc Spartan’s journey from Shark Tank is the perfect underdog tale. Born in the economically depressed town of Portsmouth, Ohio, army veteran Dale King and Renee Wallace appeared on Season 8 seeking $75,000 for a 15% stake to scale their Combat Ready Ointment (CRO). They secured a deal with Robert Herjavec. From the original kitchen mixed balm, the brand has grown into a multi-million dollar grooming and first aid line.
Today, Doc Spartan produces a range of items from natural deodorants and body scrubs to beard care and sunblock. The company’s roots in Portsmouth have remained central to its fundamental values. The founders have stayed committed to fighting the local opioid crisis by prioritizing the hiring of individuals. Who are on the comeback trail from addiction making their social mission just as important as their commercial success.
The Shark Tank exposure was an absolute game changer for the business. Following their episode online sales skyrocketed from their initial modest numbers to over $1.7 million within just three years. The bump gave Doc Spartan the financial runway and brand visibility required to move away from small batch farmers market selling into a full scale digital retailer with national reach.
Looking ahead, Doc Spartan is prepared to make even more aggressive moves in the consumer market. They have already started expanding into broader lifestyle products like apparel and the logical next step is securing major national brick and mortar retail distribution. Additionally, with Dale King’s background in film and documentaries e.g., Small Town Strong. The company might lean even further into media and storytelling, utilizing its powerful, socially conscious brand narrative to reach a wider demographic across the United States.
Hey there! I’m Fatima Shoaib, a passionate content writer who believes in creative solutions. Reading enthusiast and storyteller, dedicated and eager to apply my skills to a fast-paced environment and make a positive impact in the industry.Currently focusing on current business projects and goals, I aim to stay passionate about driving results in the business sector. This connection that I felt towards business was because of Shark Talent. I am always exploring to binge into new episodes of Shark Tank. Read more About me.
