Shark Tank TROBO Update 2026

Chris Harden and Jeremy Scheinberg were at home with their kids when they kept hearing the same thing, endless questions like “Why is the sky blue?” or “How does my iPad work?” They realized there weren’t many toys that explained science in a way kids could follow. That’s when they created TROBO, a plush robot that reads fun STEM stories through a tablet. Will the sharks get behind this kid-friendly learning tool? Let’s find out in our TROBO update and pitch recap.

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

Chris and Jeremy entered Shark Tank Season 7 to pitch their Plush STEM Storytelling Robot. They sought $100,000 for 10% equity. After their pitch, they made a deal with Robert Herjavec for $166,000 for 33.3% equity.

In terms of a TROBO update, the company faced challenges securing licensing deals and retail partnerships. Despite efforts to boost sales, it shut down in 2017 due to financial difficulties.

Shark	Result
Robert Herjavec	Accepted offer of $166,000 for 33.3% equity
Kevin O’Leary	No offer
Lori Greiner	No offer
Daymond John	No offer
Mark Cuban	No offer

Shark Tank TROBO Pitch

Entrepreneurs: Chris Harden and Jeremy Scheinberg
Business: STEM toy for children
Ask: $100,000 for 10% equity
Result: $166,000 for 33.3% equity
Shark: Robert Herjavec

Chris and Jeremy were engineers and dads looking to provide a different experience with educational toys for children.

After a successful Kickstarter campaign, they entered Shark Tank, looking for the sharks’ backing to break into their chosen niche market.

They introduced it as a plush robot that tells educational stories about science and math.

TROBO connects to a tablet or smartphone and plays personalized stories through a companion app.

Additionally, kids can create avatars, use their names in the stories, and interact with puzzles during each story session.

Jeremy clarified that the robot was only a speaker, but the emotional connection with the child made it more meaningful.

Each TROBO sold for $59.95 with five stories included. Kevin O’Leary didn’t like the price.

Next, Daymond John asked about sales. Chris said they had 600 units ordered from small boutiques. Daymond pushed further and found out they had only attended two trade shows.

Lori Greiner asked if any major retailers had shown interest. Chris said they were focused on small stores.

At this point, Daymond pointed out the market already had storytelling apps and smart toys. He asked what made TROBO different.

To support their case, Chris said they had been featured in 45 publications. Daymond wasn’t impressed, noting the attention didn’t match the sales.

Chris admitted that they were new to sales and needed help. Robert Herjavec asked about subscriptions. Additional stories cost $4.95 each, but they planned to switch to a subscription model.

However, Mark Cuban didn’t think the content stood out and dropped out. Kevin said the toy was overpriced and couldn’t compete with free content already available online. He also dropped out.

Daymond said TROBO would hit a dead end and also went out. Lori didn’t like that large toy retailers showed no interest at trade shows. She said that was a red flag and backed out as well.

Robert said he didn’t like the toy but saw value in the content platform. He offered $100,000 for 33% equity, contingent on closing a deal with DreamWorks.

Chris countered with $166,000 for the same equity, valuing the company at $500,000. Robert agreed.

Ultimately, Chris and Jeremy accepted the deal and left with a deal..

What do you think happened after their exit? Check out the rest of our TROBO update to learn more.

Shark Tank TROBO Update

After appearing on Shark Tank, our TROBO update found that the company enjoyed mixed success.

The deal with Robert never closed, perhaps due to a lack of interest from Dreamworks and intricate legal demands.

However, the company struggled to land licensing deals or major retail partnerships.

They lowered the product’s price to drive more sales, but it wasn’t enough. TROBO shut down in 2017 due to financial challenges and difficulties scaling the business.

This will be our final TROBO update.

Would you like to know more about the other companies featured in Season 7 Episode 23? Check out our other company updates for the episode in the links below.

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.