Shark Tank Stem Center USA Update 2026

While teaching STEM, Lavanya and Melissa Jawaharlal saw that kids lost interest because the lessons were mostly lectures. To fix this, they started STEM Center USA, where kids build robots and do hands-on projects instead of just listening. This makes learning fun and helps students develop real skills. Once we cover the negotiations, stay tuned to read our STEM Center USA update and pitch recap.

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

Lavanya and Melissa entered Shark Tank Season 7, seeking $150,000 for 15% equity in STEM Center USA. After their pitch, they reached an agreement with Lori Greiner for $200,000 in exchange for 20% equity.

In terms of a STEM Center USA update, the company successfully adapted during COVID-19 by launching virtual classes and partnering with over 10 charter schools.

Shark	Result
Lori Greiner	Accepted offer of $200,000 for 20% equity
Chris Sacca	$150,000 for 25% equity
Kevin O’Leary	No offer
Robert Herjavec	No offer
Mark Cuban	No offer

Shark Tank Stem Center USA Pitch

Entrepreneurs: Lavanya Jawaharlal and Melissa Jawaharlal
Business: Science, technology, engineering, and math learning center
Ask: $150,000 for 15% equity
Result: $200,000 for 20% equity
Shark: Lori Greiner

Lavanya and Melissa stepped into Shark Tank, ready to show how they are making STEM education more accessible.

The investment would allow them to grow their learning center model and bring their curriculum to more students across the country.

STEM Center USA is a business dedicated to hands-on STEM education for students.

Melissa and Lavanya explained that science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) were crucial for the future, yet many students struggled to keep up.

Their California-based center provided after-school programs and summer camps, helping kids learn STEM concepts through interactive lessons and robotics projects.

Moreover, they wanted to expand by franchising and opening more locations across the country to make STEM education more accessible.

Robert Herjavec was curious about their backgrounds. Lavanya, at just 21 years old, was studying mechanical engineering, while Melissa had experience designing satellites and working in defense contracting.

Melissa shared that 85 students were enrolled, each paying $135 per month, totaling $1,400 to $1,800 per year. Mark Cuban, clearly surprised by the pricing, acknowledged the strong revenue potential.

Furthermore, Lavanya explained that they had made $300,000 the previous year, generating revenue from two sources.

The STEM Center contributed $130,000, while their robotics product, PiBot, designed for middle and high school students, brought in $170,000.

While Kevin O’Leary recognized the potential, he believed they lacked a clear business focus. As a result, he decided to drop out.

Guest shark Chris Sacca, however, disagreed. He dismissed Kevin’s skepticism, stating that too few students were entering technical careers, which made their mission even more important.

Meanwhile, Robert felt that scaling the business would be a major challenge, leading him to drop out as well.

Mark also declined, explaining that education-focused businesses didn’t align with his investment strategy.

With three sharks out, Chris proposed $150,000 for 25% equity.

Lori Greiner offered $150,000 for 20% equity, a better deal than Chris’s. Nevertheless, Chris kept pushing, arguing that Lori wouldn’t bring as much value to the business.

Melissa and Lavanya expressed interest in working with both sharks, and Lori was open to a shared deal.

In the end, the sisters accepted Lori’s offer, securing $150,000 for 20% equity.

Was this the right decision for both Melissa and Lavanya? Find out in our STEM Center USA update.

Shark Tank STEM Center USA Update

Our STEM Center USA update found that the deal with Lori was not finalized post-show.

During COVID-19, they adapted by offering virtual classes and have since partnered with over 10 charter schools to provide specialized STEM curricula.

They now provide a variety of programs, including in-person classes at their Creativity Centers in Claremont and Rancho Cucamonga, California, as well as virtual programs and custom learning kits.

Their curriculum covers a wide range of topics such as robotics, coding, 3D printing, electronics, and game design, catering to students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

In addition to their regular classes, STEM Center USA offers seasonal workshops and summer camps.

For instance, during the summer of 2024, they hosted week-long camps at partner locations, schools, and universities across Southern California.

The organization has also developed federal programs aimed at educational equity, serving over 43,500 migratory, English learner, and underserved youth since 2011.

These programs include after-school and summer sessions that focus on academic enrichment and social-emotional learning.

At the time of this writing, our STEM Center USA update research found that the company reported an annual revenue of $2 million.

For more information about their programs and initiatives, visit their official website.

If we get another STEM Center USA update, we will let you know.

Don’t forget to check out our other company updates from Season 7 Episode 6. You can find them here:

Before you go, be sure to check out our list of all the Shark Tank Season 7 products.

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.