Shark Tank The Duo Update 2026

Nathaniel Wellen saw how awkward it was for two people to share a single umbrella; someone always ended up wet or uncomfortable. So he created The Duo, a patented umbrella with two handles designed for easy sharing. It keeps both people dry and gives each person their own grip for better balance. Will it rain down money for him on Shark Tank? Find out in The Duo update and pitch recap!

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

Nathaniel pitched his innovative umbrella on Shark Tank Season 15, seeking $100,000 for 10% equity. After his pitch, he ultimately made a deal with Robert Herjavec for $100,000 for 18% equity.

In terms of The Duo update, the company received national recognition in mid-2024, with TIME naming it one of the Best Inventions of the year. They also featured in Good Housekeeping and Parents Magazine.

Shark:	Result:
Robert Herjavec	Accepted deal for $100,000 for 18% equity
Barbara Corcoran	No offer
Kevin O’Leary	No offer
Lori Greiner	No offer
Mark Cuban	No offer

Shark Tank’s The Duo Pitch

Entrepreneur: Nathaniel Wellen
Business: Shareable Umbrella
Ask: $100,000 for 10% equity
Result: $100,000 for 18% equity
Shark: Robert Herjavec

Nathaniel kicked off his Shark Tank pitch by showing how his product works.

The Duo is large enough to share and has an extendable handle that pulls down from the bottom of the umbrella.

This means that both users can hold the umbrella handle, no matter their height difference. Overall, it’s a game-changer and the first of its kind.

With a 54-inch canopy, The Duo protects two people comfortably. It comes in two styles, which include the Compact Duo and The Stick Umbrella.

At the time of the pitch, Nathaniel presented prototypes to the sharks. His company was pre-revenue and held two patents.

One utility patent was for the two-handle design. A second utility patent for the handle’s locking mechanism was pending.

Then he dropped a surprise, he was just 15 years old. He came up with the idea and design when he was 9, built the first prototype himself, and applied for the patent.

He eventually got invited to the Henry Ford Museum to compete in the National Invention Convention. Unsurprisingly, he won the award for “Most Original Invention”.

Nathanial also revealed that Shed Rain, the largest umbrella company in the U.S., owns 49% of his business.

Shed Rain will handle manufacturing and distribution and is already committed to placing The Duo in major retailers like Target, Walmart, and Kroger.

There are two SKUs for the product. The Compact version costs $4 to manufacture and will wholesale for $10 and retail for $25.

The Stick Umbrella costs $8 to manufacture and will wholesale for $20 and retail for $50.

Barbara Corcoran went out first. She said Nathaniel already had the right partner with Shed Rain.

Kevin O’Leary liked the product but didn’t like the idea of a CEO who couldn’t be available 24/7 due to school. That was a dealbreaker for him; he was out.

Mark Cuban admired Nathaniel’s work but didn’t want to dilute his ownership. Nathaniel owns 51%, and Mark wants him to keep control. So he also passed.

Robert Herjavec believed that if the product did well, Shed Rain would eventually buy Nathaniel out. So for this reason, he offered $100,000 for 20% equity.

Like Barbara, Lori Greiner was impressed but felt Nathaniel didn’t need more help. She passed.

Nathaniel countered Robert with 15% equity. However, Robert came back at 18% equity, and Nathaniel accepted.

Now that we know how the negotiations ended, let’s get The Duo update to see what happened to the company after Shark Tank.

Shark Tank The Duo Update

In terms of The Duo update, we found that over one year after their Shark Tank appearance, there is still no confirmation if the deal with Robert was finalized or not.

In the days following the episode, the company launched its umbrella in three colors: Retro Blue, Stone, and Black. Orders were scheduled to ship in the third quarter of 2024.

ShedRain owns 49% of The Duo and worked with Nathaniel between 2022 and 2024 to produce 4–5 prototypes before finalizing the version launched after the show.

ShedRain now handles production and shipping, and there are plans for The Duo to launch in major retail chains such as Target, Walmart, Costco, Kroger, Macy’s, Dillard’s, Nordstrom, and ACE Hardware.

The umbrella also appeared in the gift shop at The Henry Ford museum.

In mid-2024, The Duo had already received major recognition. TIME named it one of the Best Inventions of 2024, while Good Housekeeping and Parents Magazine included it in their list of the 8 best umbrellas of the year.

In addition, the company announced a scholarship partnership with Invention Convention Worldwide, with funding tied to umbrella sales.

If you need a stylish umbrella built for sharing, you can purchase one now. Follow their journey on Instagram.

If we get any more news on The Duo update, we will let you know.

In the meantime, you can check out our other company updates from Season 15 Episode 11 by following the links below!

Before you go, be sure to check out our list of all the Shark Tank Season 15 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.