Many students struggle in school because they find it hard to keep up with lectures. Some have learning difficulties, and others just cannot take proper notes. This makes it tough for them to study for exams or complete assignments. On the other hand, some students take great notes but do not get anything in return for their effort. The problem is clear. There is a gap between those who need notes and those who can provide them.
Sean Conway faced similar problems due to his ADHD. He had trouble focusing in class and found it hard to take proper notes. To solve this problem, he and his co-founder, D.J. Stephan, created Notehall. This is an online platform where students can buy and sell class notes. It helps struggling students while allowing note-takers to earn money.
Sean and Stephan entered Shark Tank in Season 1. They asked for $90,000 for 10% equity. They believed that Notehall could become a big success. The sharks were interested in their idea, and a deal was made. Did the entrepreneur get a deal on Shark Tank? Check out our Notehall update to find out!
NoteHall Net Worth Shark Tank Update 2025
Sean Conway, Justin Miller, D.J. Stephan and Fadi Chalfoun went on Shark Tank asking for $90,000 for ~10% of their company (implied valuation ~ $900,000). They did not proceed with the Sharks’ deal but later the company was purchased by Chegg in June 2011 for ~$3.7 million in equity. The episode was aired on October 6, 2009. Since this was an acquisition, the net worth method applicable is “acquired”. The value at acquisition was ~$3.7 million.
The deal with Barbara Corcoran never closed. Instead, Sean and Stephan joined the DreamIt Ventures accelerator program. This program helped them grow their business by providing funding and guidance. It also gave them access to 54 universities and around 750,000 students. In return, DreamIt Ventures took a 60% cut from all online sales.
Notehall grew quickly, but it also faced some issues. Some professors were against the idea of selling class notes. They believed that students should not make money from sharing study materials. This caused some controversy.
Despite this, Notehall continued to expand. In June 2011, Chegg acquired the company for an estimated $3.7 million. Some sources claim the deal was worth $10 million. After the acquisition, Notehall became a part of Chegg’s platform. The founders left the company, and Notehall was fully merged into Chegg.
As of today, Notehall no longer exists as a separate platform. However, its concept lives on within Chegg, helping students across the country.
Yes, Sean and Stephan made a deal on Shark Tank with Barbara Corcoran. However, the deal never went through after the show.
| Shark(s) name | Offer & Demand | Counteroffer | Accepted? |
| Kevin O and Robert | $90,000 for 25% equity | N/A | No |
| Barbara Corcoran | 1# $90,000 for 50% equity 2# $90,000 for 25% equity | $90,000 for 15% equity | Yes |
| Robert Herjavec | $115,000 for 35% equity | $90,000 for 15% equity | No |
| Kevin O’Leary | 1# $90,000 for 51% equity 2# $90,000 for 35% equity 3# $115,000 for 35% equity | $90,000 for 15% equity | No |
| Daymond John | Out | N/A | N/A |
| Kevin Harrington | Out | N/A | N/A |
NoteHall Shark Tank pitch
Sean Conway had ADHD, which made it hard for him to focus in class. He struggled to take good notes and often found himself falling behind. He knew that other students must have the same problem. His co-founder, D.J. Stephan, was a strong student who always took great notes. They realized that there was a way to help students while also creating a business.
They came up with Notehall, a platform where students could buy and sell notes. This would help students who struggled with note-taking while also rewarding students who were good at it. The idea was simple, but it had the potential to help thousands of students.
Sean and Stephan walked into the Shark Tank with confidence. They explained how Notehall worked and why it was needed. They showed that the platform had an easy-to-use interface. Students could upload notes, organize them, and even search for specific topics. The company had already gained traction, with 40% of a school’s students using the platform in the first year. They had 6,000 customers and $30,000 in sales.
The entrepreneurs valued their company at $900,000. They asked the sharks for $90,000 in exchange for 10% equity. Sean confidently claimed that Notehall would be worth $24 million in four years. He even offered to stake half the company on this promise. Keep reading our Notehall update to see what happens next!
Kevin O’Leary: How do you stop students from uploading copyrighted content? Sean explained that Notehall had strict rules. Students could only upload original notes. They also worked with schools to ensure compliance.
Daymond John: How will you reach more schools and students? The founders said they planned to partner with universities and student organizations.
Robert Herjavec: What makes this different from free study groups or note-sharing platforms? They explained that Notehall was a marketplace, not just a sharing platform. Students could earn money, making it more appealing.
Kevin O’Leary: He did not believe in the valuation. He offered $90,000 for 51% equity.
Barbara Corcoran: She liked the idea and offered $90,000 for 50% equity.
Robert Herjavec: He teamed up with Kevin O’Leary and offered $90,000 for 25% equity.
Kevin Harrington and Daymond John: They did not see the potential and opted out.
Final Deal: Sean and Stephan accepted Barbara’s offer of $90,000 for 25% equity.
Product Availability
From our Notehall update research, Notehall is no longer a standalone platform. After its acquisition, it became a part of Chegg. Now, Chegg offers similar services, allowing students to access study materials. However, the original Notehall website no longer exists.
Conclusion
Notehall was a great idea that helped students. The founders created it to solve a real problem. They entered Shark Tank and secured a deal. However, the deal never closed. Instead, they took another route and joined an accelerator program. This led to a big opportunity. Eventually, Chegg acquired Notehall for millions of dollars.
Although Notehall no longer exists as an independent platform, its impact remains. Students today can still access class notes through Chegg. This shows that even if a deal on Shark Tank does not work out, success is still possible. The founders took a different path and made their company a success.
Hey, I’m Amna Habib an undergraduate student of Bachelors in Business Administration. Shark Tank is one of my favorite TV shows of all time. The show provides a fascinating insight into the world of entrepreneurship by presenting creative solutions to common problems, which strongly connects to my academic interests. I’m interested in learning more about the strategic thinking and creativity that lead these companies as each pitch provides insightful information. I’ve found that watching Shark Tank has inspired my enthusiasm for business and entrepreneurship and has been a very enlightening and motivating experience. Apart from business and writing, I love food, shopping, and hanging out with friends and family. Read more About me.
