Sports such as snowboarding, skateboarding, and surfing enjoy widespread popularity despite their inherent risks, which ensures a consistent demand for products aimed at enhancing safety for these activities. “Shark Tank” has showcased various inventive creations that merge safety with aesthetics, including ActionGlow, a groundbreaking LED lighting system designed for sporting gear like skis, boards, and kayaks that enhances their safety, particularly during nighttime use.
Siblings Dakota and Garret Porter developed ActionGlow when they were merely 16 and 13 years old, respectively. The pair invested ten years attempting to secure a spot on “Shark Tank” before finally featuring on Season 14, Episode 7 in 2022, where they sought $200,000 in exchange for 15% equity in their venture. They aimed to utilize that funding to launch ActionGlow 2, an updated version allowing for color changes in the lights and significantly reducing their required stock-keeping units (SKUs) from 40 to just eight.
While the Sharks were initially captivated by the product and the brothers’ narrative, they began to withdraw upon discovering that ActionGlow had generated only $130,000 over a decade. Kevin O’Leary expressed concerns over the ease of replicating the product, implying substantial effort and resources would be needed to safeguard ActionGlow’s patent in court. Ultimately, Robert Herjavec was the only Shark to present an offer of $200,000 for 30%, which the brothers accepted, providing their new partner with a skateboard.
What became of ActionGlow following Shark Tank?
It is crucial to note that a significant number of “Shark Tank” agreements fall apart between filming and finalization. This also applies to the safety light venture Brake Free, which involved Herjavec, as well as Mark Cuban’s deal with Sway Motorsports, which also did not culminate. Keeping that in mind, the developments for ActionGlow were surprising and commendable. The product’s immediate post-show sales were so remarkable that the Porters managed to renegotiate a more favorable arrangement with Herjavec. Details concerning the finalized agreement have not been disclosed publicly; however, in a 2025 interview with The Ticker, a local news outlet in the brothers’ hometown of Traverse City, Michigan, Garret Porter indicated that their collaboration with the shark remains robust.
ActionGlow is still operational, now offering 10 diverse products for snow, land, and water sports. Some of their items are available on Amazon, receiving star ratings between 3.6 and 4.1. The feedback for the snowboard lights is particularly varied, with some customers claiming the adhesive lacks strength while others commend it for its strong stickiness — it appears to depend on personal perspective.
As for the Porter siblings, both continue their roles at ActionGlow, with Dakota serving as CEO and Garret as COO. In 2025, they initiated the LEDTheWay National Tour to promote the brand by directly selling ActionGlow to retailers and sharing their journey on social media.