Toybox Labs Update | Shark Tank Season 10

While working on education tech projects, Ben Baltes realised kids loved STEM toys but had no safe way to create their own. Traditional 3D printers were either too bulky, too technical, or simply unsafe for children to use at home. So, he and Jen Chin built ToyBox, a compact, app-controlled 3D printer that lets kids safely design and print toys on their own. Will this playful invention win over the sharks? Let’s get into our ToyBox Labs update and pitch recap to find out.

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

Ben and Jenn pitched their 3D printer for kids on Shark Tank Season 10, seeking $150,000 for 5% equity. After their pitch, they secured a deal with Kevin O’Leary for $150,000 for 13% equity + 2% advisory shares.

In terms of a Toybox Labs update, the company used the post-Shark Tank exposure to boost sales, launch new products, and grow its annual revenue to $6 million while remaining independently operated.

Shark	Result
Kevin O’Leary	Accepted offer of $150,000 for 13% equity + 2% advisory shares
Jamie Siminoff	No offer
Lori Greiner	No offer
Daymond John	No offer
Mark Cuban	No offer

Shark Tank Toybox Labs Pitch

• Entrepreneurs: Ben Baltes and Jenn Chin
• Business: 3D Printer / Toy Production
• Ask: $150,000 for 5% equity
• Result: $150,000 for 13% equity + 2% advisory shares
• Shark: Kevin O’Leary

Ben and Jenn pitched Toybox Labs, a kid-friendly 3D printer company, to the sharks.

Their product sells for $299 and costs $150 to make.

It’s designed for kids aged 6 to 9 and comes with a simple interface and a built-in library of over 750 printable toys, with new ones added weekly.

They explained that the printer is smaller and cheaper than most on the market. It’s meant to be used at home, making toy creation easy for kids with minimal setup.

The entrepreneurs had raised $290,000 so far and made nearly $300,000 in sales since launching in September, mainly through their website and Facebook ads.

During the pitch, they handed out 3D-printed shark figurines to the sharks.

Jenn added that kids could also print toys related to big franchises like Disney or Minecraft, though they didn’t yet have the licenses.

Kevin O’Leary noted that licensing could be tricky, but Ben saw it as a big opportunity.

Lori Greiner asked if the price point made sense, given that cheaper 3D printers already exist. Ben explained that their model was built specifically for kids, offering a unique and safe experience.

Mark Cuban asked how long it took to print a toy. Ben said about four hours. Mark didn’t think kids would wait that long, so he dropped out.

Daymond John raised concerns about parental supervision. He didn’t believe parents would sit with their child for hours, so he also passed.

Kevin wanted to know about their sales and margins. After getting clear answers, he offered $150,000 for 10% equity.

He liked the idea and thought some parents would pay for a product that sparks creativity.

Guest shark Jamie Siminoff said he liked the concept but wouldn’t personally spend $299 on it. He exited the deal.

Lori was close to making an offer, but changed her mind. She felt the product targeted too young an age group. She stepped away from the deal.

At this point, Kevin then increased his offer to $150,000 for 15% equity, warning that it might be their only option.

Ben and Jenn countered with 12%, which Kevin declined. They followed up with a revised offer of 13% equity and 2% advisory shares.

Ultimately, Kevin accepted the deal.

Now, let’s get a quick Toybox Labs update to see how the company has progressed since appearing on Shark Tank.

Shark Tank Toybox Labs Update

Our Toybox Labs update found that the deal with Kevin never closed. The company never disclosed why, but they decided to continue without outside investment.

After the episode aired, Toybox saw a major boost in attention. The company sold out quickly, and that momentum helped them expand.

In May 2019, they raised $2 million in a venture funding round backed by six firms. This gave them the capital to grow their technology and licensing network.

In March 2020, Toybox signed its first licensing deal with Beano Studios, which brought characters from Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed to their platform.

Then in 2021, they signed a major agreement with Warner Bros., unlocking access to DC Comics icons like Batman and Wonder Woman.

Following that, Toybox continued to land licensing deals with major names like Hanna-Barbera, Nickelodeon, NASA, DreamWorks, Universal Studios, and Cartoon Network.

These partnerships made it possible for kids to print recognizable characters at home using Toybox printers.

In 2022, our Toybox Labs update found that they introduced sun-activated printer food material that changes color in sunlight, and dropped the printer’s price to $289 to improve accessibility.

The same year, they launched the Alpha Two and Comet printers. The Comet model offers seven times more print space, catering to more advanced users.

In 2024, they expanded their content offering again by partnering with Paramount to include Star Trek and signed a celebrity deal with Penn & Teller.

Around this time, they also launched Toybox Plus, a subscription service that gives users premium features and exclusive designs.

Today, Toybox Labs brings in about $6 million in annual revenue.

The founders still run the business, and they continue to roll out updates through the Toybox website and TikTok.

We’re calling this Toybox Labs update a success.

You can find the other company updates from Season 10 Episode 15 here:

• Jolly Rogers Telephone Update
• Goalsetter Update
• Moink Update

Before you go, be sure to check out our list of all the Shark Tank Season 10 products.