Forte3D Update | Shark Tank Season 17
As Mike Block played with orchestras and helped young musicians, he kept meeting students who couldn’t afford a good cello or violin. Most had to rent cheap ones that don’t make good sounds, which in turn made learning quite difficult. To fix this, he teamed up with Alfred Goodrich and Elijah Lee to start Forte3D, a company that makes strong, great-sounding instruments with 3D printing at a much lower cost. Let’s take a closer look at our Forte3D update and pitch recap to find out if any of the sharks made an offer to them.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of what happened to Forte3D after
Mike, Alfred, and Elijah entered
In terms of a Forte3D update, the company leveraged its
| Shark | Result |
| Lori Greiner | Accepted offer of $250,000 for 16% equity |
| Kevin O’Leary | $250,000 for 10% equity + a $100 royalty per unit sold until $250,000 is paid |
| Daymond John | No offer |
| Barbara Corcoran | No offer |
| Daniel Lubetzky | No offer |
Shark Tank Forte3D Pitch
- Entrepreneurs: Mike Block, Alfred Goodrich, and Elijah Lee
- Business: 3D-printed string instruments
- Ask: $250,000 for 10% equity
- Result: $250,000 for 16% equity
- Shark: Lori Greiner
Mike opened his pitch by pointing out that traditional instruments like violins, violas, and cellos can cost as much as a new car. He said that kind of price keeps great sound out of reach for both students and professionals.
Alfred picked it up from there and explained that they created Forte3D to change that by building the world’s first 3D-printed professional string instruments.
The sharks watched as Alfred showed how each instrument was built from flat carbon-fiber sheets stretched over a 3D-printed frame.
The process takes hours instead of months, he said, and produces instruments that are both lighter and stronger than wood. Mike then played a Forte3D cello, filling the room with rich sound. The sharks were visibly impressed.
Lori Greiner wanted to know if the 3D-printed instruments could really match the sound of a traditional one. Mike explained that every cello has its own unique tone, and their technology allows them to fine-tune warmth and resonance within hours.
Lori took that in and then proceeded to ask about the cost. Alfred said the cellos sell for $3,000 with a production cost of $800, while upcoming violins will cost $450 to make and retail for around $1,800.
Kevin O’Leary asked how much a wooden cello costs. Mike said the cost ranged anywhere from $20,000 to $100,000. The sharks looked surprised when they heard that.
Kevin then asked why they hadn’t started with guitars, a bigger market. Alfred replied that affordable guitars already exist, but affordable cellos and violins do not.
Meanwhile, Alfred mentioned that the string instrument market is worth about $7 billion.
He added that Forte3D’s instruments are light enough to check under a plane, saving musicians from having to buy a separate ticket for their cello. Mike joked that this feature alone made his life as a touring musician easier.
When Kevin asked for numbers, Elijah explained and said they did $30,000 in sales in 2022, $150,000 in 2023, and $350,000 in 2024, totaling $570,000 to date. The company was also cash-flow positive by $65,000.
Barbara Corcoran applauded them for already turning a profit.
Daniel Lubetzsky noticed a design printed on one of the instruments and asked about it. Alfred explained that each product could be customized using UV printing, letting customers add their own artwork or photos. Kevin laughed, pointing out one that had his face printed on it.
Daniel questioned the company’s $2.5 million valuation, saying the market seemed small. Alfred answered that their intellectual property was fully secured and that all sales so far came from a single product line.
Daymond John was the first to drop out, saying he wasn’t a music expert. Barbara followed, unsure how she’d make her money back.
In contrast, Mr. Wonderful offered $250,000 for 10% equity plus a $100-per-unit royalty until his investment was repaid. Lori countered with $250,000 for 18% equity.
Alfred chose to negotiate Lori’s offer down to 16% equity, and she agreed right away. The trio happily accepted her deal.
Let’s find out where the company stands now in our Forte3D update.
Shark Tank Forte3D Update
Our Forte3D update was not able to confirm if the deal with Lori ended up going through. However, it is very common for these deals to go through a due diligence phase, which can take some time.
Nonetheless, our Forte3D update found that the company wasted no time leveraging its
Shortly after airing, the company launched its Forte3D Violin, now shipping with a 25%
Forte3D has also secured major endorsements from world-renowned musicians like Yo-Yo Ma, Mike Block, and Steven Sharp Nelson of The Piano Guys.
The company has since rolled out new shopping options for both cellos and violins, introduced custom art-top and wood-top cello designs, and added accessories such as bridges, string sets, and wolf stoppers.
As time goes on, we can’t wait to bring you another Forte3D update.
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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.