Season 12 of “Shark Tank,” aired during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, featured a variety of entrepreneurs presenting tech gadgets and applications. Notable examples from this season included the Hopscotch app for teaching children coding, Sparkcharge for charging electric vehicles, and Flipstik for supporting and mounting your phone. Another significant tech-oriented product that made an impression during the season was the self-cleaning water bottle known as LARQ. Introduced by the CEO and co-founder, Justin Wang, LARQ asserted it utilized proprietary technology to purify the water contained within the bottle by removing impurities like chlorine, lead, mercury, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and more.
Wang’s pitch on “Shark Tank” was initially met with skeptical laughter from the investors present, as he sought a $500,000 investment for a mere 1% of his company. Kevin O’Leary, one of the episode’s investors, even commented that this was the highest valuation ever requested on the program. However, as negotiations advanced and Wang elaborated on LARQ’s potential growth prospects, he secured a deal from O’Leary and Lori Greiner for $1 million in exchange for a 4% equity stake. Nevertheless, an appearance or agreement on “Shark Tank” is far from ensuring success. For instance, the CATE app from season 4 ultimately faded away despite an agreement announcement from Kevin O’Leary and Daymond John. So, what transpired with LARQ following its showcase on “Shark Tank”?
LARQ was already in a favorable position even before its “Shark Tank” appearance. The company had been operational for over two years at that point, generating more than $5.5 million in sales during its first year, and $9 million in its second year. Additionally, it had raised $6.7 million in venture capital at a valuation of $31.7 million prior to its “Shark Tank” debut, much of which remained in the company’s accounts. Consequently, an investment was likely more of a supplementary benefit for LARQ rather than a crucial lifeline. It is still uncertain if the “Shark Tank” deal was actualized after the episode aired. However, the announcement and the appearance did indeed catalyze growth and enhance LARQ’s visibility. Shortly after its episode, the company raised another $10 million in a Series A funding round spearheaded by Seventure Partners, a European venture capital firm.
At the time of the funding round, LARQ bottles were already being sold through 88 retailers in 16 countries. The firm also diversified its product offerings, introducing several versions of the LARQ Bottle and LARQ Pitcher. LARQ continued its successful trajectory following the funding and was acquired by Germany-based Brita SE in early 2024. While details of the transaction remain undisclosed, the company became a subsidiary of Brita. As of early 2026, Wang remains at the helm of LARQ, which is still located in the Bay Area. Its products are available through several major retailers, including Amazon, Target, and Apple.com, as well as the company’s own website. Therefore, if you have an interest in LARQ or its offerings, the company appears to be well-established for the foreseeable future.