DENVER — A Denver-based startup has secured a $150,000 investment from a “Shark Tank” venture capitalist — and just months later is paying back the investment as sales continue to skyrocket.
Tom Filippini, the founder and sole employee of Pepper Pong, a portable, more versatile game described as the “love child” of pickleball and table tennis, launched the product last year hoping others would use the game to connect with each other and use their cell phones less.
He pitched the product in a Nov. 22 episode of ABC’s “Shark Tank,” and guest shark Todd Graves took the bait. Filippini initially asked for a $150,000 investment for a 10% stake in the company.
On the show, Filippini opened up about how his previous struggles with alcoholism inspired him to work on Pepper Pong, which he described as his "passion project." That caused “Shark Tank” venture capitalist Daymond John to talk about his own struggles with alcoholism and make an offer of $150,000 for a 30% stake.
