Dig World Update | Shark Tank Season 16
Jacob Robinson’s son, Pierce, loved playing with construction equipment. But Jacob noticed there wasn’t anywhere safe for kids to try driving real machines. After Pierce got very sick and lost his ability to walk and talk, Jacob realized how much families needed fun activities they could enjoy together. This inspired him to open Dig World—a theme park where kids and their parents can safely operate real excavators, tractors, and other construction vehicles. Will the sharks see the potential and help Dig World grow? Let’s find out in our Dig World update and pitch recap.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of what happened to Dig World after
Jacob entered
In terms of a Dig World update, the company increased its visibility by featuring on ABC13 Houston and actively sharing updates through social media.
| Shark | Result |
| Robert Herjavec | Accepted offer of $200,000 for 10% of the franchising business and 10% of Dig World 1 |
| Daymond John | No offer |
| Lori Greiner | No offer |
| Kevin O’Leary | No offer |
| Mark Cuban | No offer |
Shark Tank Dig World Pitch
- Entrepreneur: Jacob Robinson
- Business: Construction-themed park for families
- Ask: $200,000 for 10% equity
- Result: $200,000 for 10% of the franchising business and 10% of Dig World 1
- Shark: Robert Herjavec
Jacob stepped into
His company, Dig World, is a construction-themed amusement park where kids and families operate real construction equipment in a safe setting.
Unlike simulation-based attractions, Dig World provides hands-on experiences. Kids can drive excavators, skid steers, and utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) under supervision, making it a unique and interactive adventure.
He explained how the business works, emphasizing its accessibility. Dig World caters to families, particularly children who are at least 32 inches tall.
The sharks were eager to understand the business potential. Robert Herjavec first asked how Dig World differs from Extreme Sandbox.
Jacob clarified that Dig World operates as a theme park for families, while Xtreme Sandbox is designed for adults.
Every visitor pays $24.99 for about two hours of activities.
Additionally, the park offers food and drinks, ensuring families have a complete experience.
The conversation then shifted to Jacob’s background. He shared that he is a serial entrepreneur who built and sold a commercial cleaning company before launching Dig World.
The idea for the business first emerged in 2019, but securing funding proved difficult. Many investors were skeptical, believing that parents wouldn’t allow their young children to operate construction equipment.
However, Jacob remained persistent, eventually raising $2.6 million from 30 investors, which allowed him to open Dig World’s first location in March 2022.
At this point, Jacob revealed that opening a new Dig World location requires $2.5 million in investment.
Daymond John followed up, asking whether the company leases or owns the equipment.
Jacob explained that they purchase the machines outright and modify them for safety, a decision that Lori Greiner agreed was the right approach.
Mark Cuban asked about revenue, prompting Jacob to share that Dig World generated $1.2 million in its first full year and was on track for $1.5 million in its second year.
More importantly, the business expected to net $350,000 with a 26% EBITDA, proving that the model was profitable.
Kevin O’Leary, however, wanted to dig deeper into the franchise model. Jacob explained that franchisees would need to pay a $100,000 fee and invest between $2.5 million and $5.5 million to open a location.
Kevin was skeptical, questioning whether enough franchisees could afford such a high investment.
However, Jacob assured him that 28 vetted franchisees had already expressed interest and were financially prepared to move forward.
Despite the promising numbers, the sharks grew hesitant when they realized Jacob was only offering equity in the franchising business, not in the original Dig World location.
Daymond declined, citing concerns about the high investment costs and the challenges of finding the right locations.
Lori and Kevin also passed, noting that while they admired Jacob’s passion, the business still had too many unknowns.
Mark suggested that before franchising, Jacob should first open a second corporate location to prove the model.
Despite the setbacks, Robert made an offer of $200,000 for 10% of the franchising business and 10% of Dig World 1.
Understanding the importance of this deal, Jacob accepted immediately.
Was this a good deal? Let’s find out in our Dig World update.
Shark Tank Dig World Update
Our Dig World update found that since their
At the time of writing, Dig World still just has the one location. But the exposure from
Our Dig World update found that shortly after airing, Jacob posted a picture on Instagram about making a deal with Robert. So, it seems things are on the right track.
If you’re interested in learning more or would like to be a franchisee, you can find all the relevant info on the Dig World website.
And if you happen to live near Katy, Texas, you can visit the park and try it for yourself!
Once the dust settles, we shall be back with another Dig World update.
For other company updates from
Before you go, be sure to check out our list of all the Shark Tank Season 16 products.
Marvin Uzor
Marvin Uzor is a content contributor for Shark Tank Recap. He specializes in crafting engaging, well-researched content that delve into the latest Shark Tank stories, keeping readers hooked. He has a soft spot for his favorite Shark Tank companies, Bombas and Doorbot, known for their innovation and impact.