Forus Athletic Net Worth Shark Tank Update 2025

It can be difficult to find the ideal sports shoe. Finding shoes that are supportive, comfortable, and long-lasting can be difficult for many people, especially those who play sports or engage in other physically demanding activities. Ordinary sports shoes frequently need extra soles for comfort, are heavy, and don’t absorb stress well enough. 

Joel Vinocur and Arsene Millogo made the decision to develop a better solution after realizing this issue. They created the Forus Athletics line of athletic shoes, which are lightweight, shock-absorbing, and highly comfortable because of their special gel and memory foam inserts. Over time, the shoes adjust to the wearer’s foot, offering an ideal fit. 

Joel and Arsene asked for $200,000 in exchange for 15% of their company’s stock. After demonstrating the advantages of their product and their remarkable sales figures. Did they close a deal, and if so, let’s find out what became Forus Athletics?

Forus Athletic Net Worth Shark Tank Update 2025

Jermain Smith went on Shark Tank asking for $200,000 for 15% of his company. This meant he thought his business was worth $1,333,333. He did not make a deal with any Shark. The episode was aired on April 10, 2015. The athletic shoe brand later shut down and is no longer active. The current net worth of Forus Athletics is $0 in 2025.

Forus Athletics continued running after appearing on Shark Tank at first, but things soon started to go downhill. The business had serious customs and logistics issues, which resulted in a large number of orders that were not filled and an increasing number of unhappy customers.

Forus Athletics struggled to deliver products; however, they did take orders in spite of these problems. Their reputation took a hit as a result of this circumstance, and by the end of 2015, Forus Athletics had completely shut down. The company’s journey into the sports shoe industry has come to an end, as shown by the fact that its social media pages have not been updated since 2015.

Shark Tank did not result in a deal for Forus Athletics. Even though the company’s creative design and strong sales attracted the sharks, they decided against making an investment mainly due to the competitive market and some other reasons. However, Robert offered them that he would accept a $200,000 investment for 15% but only if Daymond joined him but Daymond refused.

Shark(s) name	Offer & Demand	Counteroffer	Accepted?
Robert Herjavec	Out	N/A	N/A
Lori Greiner	Out	N/A	N/A
Kevin O’Leary	Out	N/A	N/A
Daymond John	Out	N/A	N/A
Mark Cuban	Out	N/A	N/A

Forus Athletic Shark Tank Pitch

Forus Athletics was established in 2009 by Joel Vinocur and Arsene Millogo, three additional Indiana University partners, and one other. They felt that the running shoes that were on the market at the time were of poor quality, being both too heavy and unsupportive.

They were determined to come up with a better solution, so they created a sneaker that combined outstanding breathability and shock absorption with lightweight materials. With the use of gel and memory foam inserts, their creative design made it possible for the shoe to adjust to the wearer’s foot for a perfect fit. Forus Athletics was founded after they successfully funded over $48,000 through an IndieGoGo campaign to finance their first production expenses. 

Joel and Arsene highlighted the minimal weight, excellent shock absorption, and comfort of their sports shoes in their Shark Tank pitch. They gave an example of how the memory foam and gel inserts gradually adapt to the wearer’s foot to provide a customized fit.

Additionally, they highlighted their dedication to social responsibility, stating that they fund educational programs for the offspring of Chinese factory workers and donate 10% of their worldwide sales to charities that benefit children. The business owners wanted to invest $200,000 for 15% of their company’s stock.

They revealed that their shoes were produced for between $11 and $13, sold for $35 to $50 at wholesale, and retailed for $75 to $85. Forus Athletics had made $500,000 in sales in the six months before filming, and they expected to make $2.5 million in the next six months.

All the sharks had different queries and questions about the product that the entrepreneurs answered. 

Lori Greiner was questioned regarding how they will survive with the huge competition in the shoe industry, to which Joel and Arsene responded by saying that their special qualities, like the gel and memory foam inserts, set them apart from competitors.

Kevin O’Leary questioned the difficulties with marketing and distribution. The entrepreneurs were aware of these difficulties, but they felt that the special features of their product and the rate at which sales were increasing would enable them to get over these challenges.

Mark Cuban questioned potential conflicts between Forus Athletics and other shoe brand collaborations. In response, Joel and Arsene stated that their product was unique enough to stand alone in the face of possible competition from other businesses.

Daymond asked about the selling price of the product. The entrepreneurs replied that the product ranges from $11 and $13, sold for $35 to $50 at wholesale depending on the country, and retailed for $75 to $85. 

Lori Greiner was the first shark to quit because of the huge competition in the market and it will be very difficult to stand out in this industry.

Kevin O’Leary also decided to leave because he believed the company faced too many challenges with marketing and distribution. The industry has many other businesses with strong marketing strategies which will result in failure of Forus Athletics. 

Mark Cuban chose not to invest because he already had partnerships in the shoe business so he didn’t want to invest more in the same industry.

Robert Herjavec expressed some interest and offered $200,000 for 15% equity but he also wanted Daymond’s partnership in this deal since he was worried about market competition and managing inventory but Daymond refused to invest.  

Daymond John chose not to invest in the start as he was not impressed by the idea and he had some disagreements with Arsene in the end when Robert asked him to join so he also refused the offer of Robert. 

What Went Wrong With Forus Ethletic On Shark Tank?

Forus Athletics failed to make a deal for a number of reasons. The first and most important reason was that the sharks were afraid of investing due to the tough competition in the athletic shoe market.

They were aware that to compete with these well-established businesses, they would need to offer a product that was not just new but also had a large marketing budget and a unique selling point that would attract customers to switch brands. 

Second, the difficulties connected with marketing strategies and implementation of those strategies and managing distribution of products. The sharks had doubts about Forus Athletics’ abilities to execute successful advertising campaigns and engage with a large number of audiences.

Third, the high costs of the products and possible differences with established brands. Forus Athletics used high-quality materials and creative designs, which resulted in relatively expensive production costs, which resulted in higher selling prices. The sharks were concerned that customers would not buy because of the higher price. 

Product Availability

In 2024, Forus Athletics will not be available in the market. Forus Athletics shoes were priced between $75 and $85, comparable to other high-end running shoes. Their unique selling points included lightweight construction, comfort from gel and memory foam inserts, and a commitment to social responsibility.

Unfortunately, due to the company’s operational struggles, Forus Athletics was unable to fulfill many orders, which resulted in unhappy customers and, eventually, the closure of the business. Initially, the shoes were only available online. 

Conclusion

With a promising product that aims to transform the athletic shoe industry, Forus Athletics made an appearance in the Shark Tank. Forus Athletics entered the Shark Tank with great expectations with a unique idea that promised to transform the sports shoe market.

A line of lightweight, comfortable, and shock-absorbing shoes made up of their unique materials, which include memory foam and gel inserts that fit the wearer’s foot. Their $500,000 in sales in just six months showed there was a market for their unique shoes. But even with their early success and an appealing concept, they failed to impress sharks and the audience too. 

The company experienced competition, distribution, and inventory issues, which eventually led to the closure of the business. Joel Vinocur and Arsene Millogo’s attempt to innovate in the athletic shoe industry was impressive. Their story serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by startups in competitive markets.