Future Circus Update | Shark Tank Season 16
While running a 50,000-square-foot VR park in Downtown LA, Brent Bushnell saw how limited the tech was—bulky gear, expensive setups, and not enough real-world interaction. That pushed him to create Future Circus, a mixed-reality platform that uses lightweight headsets to turn empty malls and parking lots into massive multiplayer game zones. It brings people together through active, in-person play without the need for traditional theme park infrastructure. Will the sharks see the future in Future Circus? Let’s find out in our Future Circus update and pitch recap.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of what happened to Future Circus after
Brent pitched Future Circus on
In terms of a Future Circus update, the company moved while waiting for its episode to air, launching Super Adventure Land in February 2025 at Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade. Further, they expanded again in March with new installations in San Francisco, including at Fort Mason Center and Yerba Buena Gardens.
| Shark | Result |
| Kevin O’Leary | No offer |
| Barbara Corcoran | No offer |
| Lori Greiner | No offer |
| Daniel Lubetzky | No offer |
| Mark Cuban | No offer |
Shark Tank Future Circus Pitch
- Entrepreneur: Brent Bushnell
- Business: Virtual Theme Park Experience
- Ask: $500,000 for 5% equity
- Result: No deal
- Sharks: None
Brent introduced Future Circus to the sharks. Its flagship project, Dream Park, is a tech-driven entertainment startup blending real-world locations with mixed-reality experiences.
His business transforms vacant retail spaces, parking lots, and parks into immersive game zones—what he calls “downloadable theme parks.”
Using lightweight headsets and controllers, players step into large-scale, interactive games, like wizard duels or drift trike races, creating a shared experience that feels like living inside a video game.
The model is designed for physical locations—ideally underutilized mall spaces—where guests pay around $30 per visit, including $20 for gameplay and $10 for food and beverages.
Customers check in on-site, guided by entertainment directors, and participate in various attractions that combine digital action with real-world movement.
To demonstrate how it works, Brent invited Mark Cuban and guest shark Daniel Lubetzky to try one of the games on stage.
As they played, the other sharks watched a live feed of the mixed-reality gameplay. It felt like being inside a video game—but in real life.
Brent admitted the product wasn’t in use as they were still building the technology.
However, he claimed their team, led by a strong technical co-founder, Aidan Wolf, is a full year ahead of the competition.
Previously, he launched a 50,000-square-foot virtual reality park in Downtown Los Angeles.
In 2019, that park generated $8 million in revenue and was on pace to reach $10 million in 2020. Unfortunately, COVID shut the entire operation down.
Brent revealed they raised $40 million to build and operate the Los Angeles park. However, he clarified that none of those investors are involved in Future Circus.
Kevin O’Leary asked how Future Circus planned to work with mall owners. Brent said they would use vacant retail space, only needing internet access, air conditioning, and basic infrastructure.
In return, they would give landlords 10% to 20% of their revenue.
Brent then admitted they hadn’t launched any locations yet. So far, they have only generated $9,000 in revenue by offering a few games at other people’s events.
Barbara Corocran and Lori Greiner questioned why previous investors didn’t back the new venture. Brent said they opted out after the pandemic shut down his last company.
Kevin asked if any funds had been raised, and Brent confirmed this was his first attempt.
Despite the enthusiasm for the idea, the sharks had concerns. Daniel felt it was too early for an investment and backed out.
Barbara didn’t feel comfortable with the lack of carryover from the original investors.
Mark believed the concept required constant refreshment to stay relevant and didn’t see a clear solution to that challenge.
Kevin said that if Brent had asked for a smaller amount, he might have taken a chance. Lori closed the discussion by saying she liked Brent but didn’t see it as the right fit for her.
In the end, Brent left
Shark Tank Future Circus Update
Our Future Circus update found that after appearing on
In February 2025, Dream Park launched Super Adventure Land at Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade. The attraction lets visitors interact with digital elements overlaid on real-world settings.
In March, they expanded to San Francisco with setups at Fort Mason Center Farmers’ Market and Founders, Inc.
Later that month, our Future Circus update found that they opened another experience at Yerba Buena Gardens during the Game Developers Conference.
Currently, Future Circus is focused on expanding Dream Park’s offerings and enhancing user engagement through continuous technological advancements.
Their commitment to pushing the boundaries of mixed reality positions them at the forefront of immersive entertainment.
Once the dust settles, we shall be back with another Future Circus 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.