David Gonzales and Michael Manoogian from Denver, Colorado, entered Shark Tank with a simple but innovative idea to solve a common problem that is faced by athletes. Because in sports, especially basketball, maintaining better shoe traction is important and difficult. On the court, dust and dirt reduce the grip, which causes injuries to the athletes and also affects their performance. Players struggle to clean their shoes during matches and practice.
To solve this problem, the founders came up with a business model called STOMP Athletics, while the prototyping company focused on products that improve grip during matches. Their main product is the Stomp Mat, which has a reusable and portable surface that can remove dust and dirt, restore traction, and improve grip during gameplay. This product is designed for both casual and professional users.
They appeared on Shark Tank seeking $50,000 for 5% equity for their company, whose valuation is $1 million. They not only wanted to get the deal but also wanted a partner whose strategies would help them scale up their brand and increase its visibility.
In this article, we will discuss the brand’s profitability, scalability, backstory, and journey, and whether they successfully secured the deal or not.
STOMP Athletics Net Worth 2026
David Gonzales and Michael Manoogian went on Shark Tank asking for $50,000 for 5% of their company. This meant they valued STOMP Athletics at about $1 million. They secured a deal with Kevin O’Leary for $50,000 for 15% equity in their company. After the show aired, STOMP Athletics gained major exposure, expanded its traction product line across teams, gyms, and individual athletes, secured distribution with BSN Sports and Game One Sports, and says its products are now used by NBA teams, more than 75 Division I colleges, and over 1,500 high schools, building on the $220,000 lifetime sales and $250,000 yearly sales shared in the pitch. With Kevin O’Leary’s backing, growing sports distribution, and wider adoption across basketball programs nationwide, STOMP Athletics’ current net worth in 2026 is estimated to be between $1.5 million and $3 million.
Did STOMP Athletics Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
Yes, David and Michael successfully secured the deal on Shark Tank. At the beginning, they were seeking $50,000 for 5% equity. Even though the Sharks liked the product’s uniqueness and usability, some Sharks were concerned about the scaling and scalability of the product.
But Kevin saw the potential in their brand and really wanted to become a partner; that’s why he offered $50,000 for 15% equity. This was surprising for the founders and fellow Sharks.
STOMP Athletics Shark Tank Deal Table
| Shark(s) Name | Offer & Demand | Accepted? |
| Kevin O’Leary | $50,000 for 15% equity | Yes |
| Lori Greiner | Out | No |
| Barbara Corcoran | Out | No |
| Rashaun Williams | Out | No |
| Daymond John | Out | No |
Founders’ Backstory
David Gonzales comes from an engineering background and has extensive experience in the oil and gas industry, where he built and sold multiple products. On the other hand, Michael Manoogian, who has expertise in leading sales, played an important role in product validation. They got the idea when David mentioned that during college, they met each other, and Michael was such an expert in selling the product.
During the early days of their brand, Michael sold out all the products to athletes within the week. This success encouraged them to take their business to a high level and give a better solution to athletes who are suffering from traction during matches. And here the idea of their company, “STOMP Athletics,” came into their minds.
STOMP Athletics Shark Tank Pitch
David and Michael entered Shark Tank and started their pitch by mentioning the serious concern faced by athletes. They mentioned that during matches, athletes lose their balance because of poor traction due to dust on their shoe soles.
They mentioned that their solution includes three main products, which were designed to instantly clean the shoes.
- Large Stomp Mat for teams and gyms
- Mini Mat for the athlete, whether professional or casual
- And the last one was Shoe Armor, used to protect the traction by removing dust
They invited William and demonstrated how athletes can instantly clean their shoes using the mat. They mentioned that while designing this product, they also thought about their target audience, which includes teams, gyms, and individual athletes.
Shark Questions & Reactions
The Sharks asked several questions so they could understand the product deeply.
Daymond John was concerned about the pricing of the product. He asked what the cost of the product was and how much they sold it for.
David and Michael confidently replied that their brand consists of three products.
- A large mat costs $35, and they sell it for $99
- A mini mat costs around $15 and sells for $55
- Shoe Armor costs $7 and sells for $29
The Sharks were really impressed by the strong profit margins.
Kevin O’Leary asked why they didn’t collaborate with sneaker companies to expand their business. They replied that this strategy was on their future list, which showed a strong mindset.
Barbara Corcoran asked about the backstory of the founders and how much they invested in the business. David replied that he was the only investor in the business and had invested $50,000.
Then, the Sharks asked about their sales since the launch. They mentioned that their lifetime sales were $220,000 and yearly sales were $250,000. At that time, the Sharks had mixed emotions; they were impressed by the margin but concerned about sales.
Sharks Negotiation & Discussion
After the discussion, most Sharks began to step out because they were concerned about the product for the following reasons:
Barbara Corcoran mentioned that she felt that their business was too early for investment.
Lori Greiner mentioned that she would like to be a customer, but was not ready for the investment.
Daymond John liked the idea and product, but was concerned that they required marketing strategies to reach the audience.
Rashaun Williams said no to the investment by saying that he was not the right Shark for them.
However, Kevin saw the potential in their product and made an offer of $50,000 for 15% equity, which was higher than they demanded. The founders attempted to negotiate it down to 10%, but Kevin remained firm on his offer. With no other offers on the table, they accepted the deal.
Why Some Sharks Said No
The Sharks said no to the deal for several reasons:
Their business targeted an audience that made the brand limited to only basketball and similar sports.
The Sharks were concerned that the company required a strong marketing strategy to reach customers.
And lastly, their sales still had low revenue as compared to their margin. Because of all these reasons, they said no to the investment.
STOMP Athletics Shark Tank Update
As of 2026, STOMP Athletics is still in business and actively selling its traction products through its website and Amazon. The company now says its products are used by NBA teams, more than 75 Division I colleges, and over 1,500 high schools, which shows much broader adoption than the article covered. STOMP is also still promoting its large mat, mini mat, and Shoe Armor products while highlighting custom team colors and wholesale options, signaling continued expansion into team and institutional sales. There is no public sign that the company has shut down, but there also does not appear to be clear public confirmation that Kevin O’Leary’s on-air deal officially closed.
Product Features & Availability
STOMP Athletics offers traction-free products.
Key features include:
- Shoes can be cleaned instantly, so players can restore the grip easily
- Portable and reusable design
- The material used is hypoallergenic
Customers can buy the product from their official website and get updates from their Instagram account.
What Happened To STOMP Athletics After Shark Tank?
After their appearance on Shark Tank, their brand got global recognition, and their sales increased in no time. Their motive from the beginning was clear: to get a partner who could help them scale up their product.
And after securing the deal with Kevin, they scaled it up with his mentorship. Now the company is focused on a strong strategy to tackle the weaknesses of its product and fix them.
Conclusion
STOMP Athletics highlighted a simple but unique solution for athletes who are suffering from injuries and bad performance because of traction.
Even though the Sharks were concerned about sales and market size, they still convinced Kevin to give them an offer.
Their story is the best example that even simple ideas can succeed when they solve real problems and are supported by the right strategy.
With the help of Kevin, they tried their best to fix the flaws and worked on sales and profitability by implementing better strategies.
Hi, I’m Sandiya Kanwal! I’m in my final semester of my bachelor’s degree and I have a strong passion for sharing the inspiring stories of entrepreneurs. Writing for SharkTankInsights.com helps me explore how creative people turn simple ideas into successful businesses. I enjoy learning from their challenges, strategies, and achievements, and I love inspiring readers who dream of building something great.
