Shark Tank Novel Effect Update 2026

Matt and Melissa Hammersley developed Novel Effect as a way to enhance children’s story time. Their voice-activated app adds sound effects and music to classic children’s books. The app currently offers a limited selection of titles but aims to expand and potentially introduce a monetization strategy. Will this new method of storytelling interest the sharks? Let’s see if they take a bite in this Novel Effect update and pitch recap.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of what happened to Novel Effect after Shark Tank.

Matt and Melissa Hammersley pitched the Novel Effect on Shark Tank, seeking $500,000 for 10% equity. They made a deal with Lori Greiner for $500,000 in exchange for 15% of the company.

In terms of a Novel Effect update, the company is still thriving today, with a library of over 750 children’s books, partnerships with the Jim Henson Company, and a Chromebook-compatible version for classroom use. The company boasts a steady annual revenue of $4 million.

Shark	Result
Lori Greiner	Accepted offer of $500,000 for 15% equity
Kevin O’Leary	No offer
Mark Cuban	No offer
Sara Blakely	No offer
Daymond John	No offer

Shark Tank Novel Effect Pitch

Entrepreneur: Matt and Melissa Hammersley
Business: Narration app with sound effects for children’s books
Ask: $500,000 for 10% equity
Result: $500,000 for 15% equity
Shark: Lori Greiner

Matt and Melissa Hammersley entered Shark Tank seeking $500,000 in exchange for a 10% equity. They showcased their voice-activated storytelling app to the sharks by reading a children’s story titled “Novel Effect Goes To Shark Tank.”

When they’re done, Matt highlights the valuable contribution of his background as a patent attorney.

His expertise has been instrumental in securing comprehensive patent protection for Novel Effect, ensuring their technology and innovation are safeguarded.

Matt explained that Novel Effect takes classic children’s books that we know and love and adds a layer of interactive magic through their smartphone app.

As you read aloud, the app triggers sound effects and music that complement the story, making it come alive for both you and your child.

Imagine the wind blowing as you read about a pirate ship or a bird chirping as you turn the page in a story about a forest adventure.

Matt further elaborated on the app’s functionality. He explained that the sound effects are meticulously crafted by professionals from the world of video games, movies, and television.

These sounds are seamlessly integrated into the app and triggered by voice recognition software. This means that specific sound effects play when you read aloud certain words, creating a truly immersive and interactive experience for both children and parents.

Additionally, the app features accompanying music that sets the tone for each story. For example, “Madeline” has a Parisian-inspired soundtrack, while “The Cat in the Hat” has a playful and whimsical musical backdrop.

The founders’ inspiration for Novel Effect came from their own experiences as parents. They wanted to create a more engaging and interactive way to read with their children, which led them to develop this innovative app.

The app currently focuses on classic children’s books, but the team is looking to expand the library in the future.

While the app is currently free, the founders are seeking sharks’ investment and expertise in developing a long-term sustainable monetization strategy.

Kevin wants the numbers. They reveal that Novel Effect has secured $620,000 in funding so far and is valued at $5 million.

While the sharks are impressed by the traction, the company’s lack of revenue raises concerns.

However, in response, the couple outlines their monetization strategy. They plan to use stickers on books with soundscapes to facilitate easy access to the app’s features.

Additionally, they want to link to books on Amazon. Finally, they envision opening up their platform to allow other creators to develop and share their own soundscapes. This will expand the app’s content library and user base.

The sharks’ initial response was cautious. Mark Cuban felt there was too much of a challenge to acquire customers and dropped out. Daymond John quickly followed as he was just not that interested in the product.

Kevin O’Leary had been in a similar business when parents were using CDs instead of apps but described the difficulty in getting customers for this type of product. After bickering with Lori Greiner, he dropped out.

Lori saw the potential here and thought it was a great product, so she gave an offer of $500,000 for 20%. Matt countered with $500,000 for 12.5%. Guest shark Sara Blakely asked if Lori would want to go in with her.

After some thought, Lori decided she would be giving away more equity than she wanted and stayed with her offer. Matt countered with $500,000 for 13%, and Lori came back with $500,000 for 15%. After some thought, they all agreed and made a deal.

Let’s see how things worked out for Matt and Melissa in our Novel Effect update.

Shark Tank Novel Effect Update

At the time of this Novel Effect update, the company is still in business and runs on a subscription basis.

While the deal with Lori didn’t materialize, Novel Effect found success through other avenues. In 2018, they secured $3 million in funding from prominent investors like Amazon and Alpha Edison.

This allowed them to expand their reach and develop an Android version of the app in 2019, followed by another $1.2 million in funding.

Their commitment to growth continued in 2020 with a significant partnership with the Jim Henson Company, adding soundscapes to all Muppet-themed children’s books.

This opened the door for further innovation, leading to the launch of voice-interactive television shows.

Our Novel Effect update found that since appearing on Shark Tank, the company has been featured many times, including in Forbes Magazine and on The Today Show. Novel Effect now has over 750 titles in its library.

Demonstrating their adaptability to the educational market, Novel Effect released a Chromebook-compatible version of their app in February 2023, making it more accessible for classroom use.

The company continues to thrive with a steady annual revenue of $4 million.

It looks like Matt and Melissa didn’t need a shark after all, and things are looking good for our next Novel Effect update.

You can find the other company updates from Season 9 Episode 6 here:

Be sure to check out our Shark Tank Season 9 page for more updates.

Andrew Smith

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Andrew is a lifelong fan of Shark Tank and an entrepreneur at heart. He started Shark Tank Recap because he wanted a single place to track what happens to the companies, founders, and deals after they air on TV. With a sharp eye for business insights and a passion for all things Shark Tank, Andrew makes sure every recap is accurate, engaging, and fun.