Highlights
- Larq made Shark Tank history by asking for $500,000 for just 1% of the company — a $50 million valuation.
- Although the high valuation initially sparked laughter, the Sharks were impressed by the patented UV-C technology and the company’s strong sales.
- Larq received an on-air offer of $1 million for 4% from Kelvin O’Leary and Lori Greiner.
Larq appeared on Shark Tank Season 12, and it became one of the most memorable moments in Shark Tank history.
Justin Weng, Larq founder, stepped into Shark Tank asking for half a million dollars for just 1% of the company, which sparked laughter in the tank.
In this article, I walk you through the pitch, what happened before and after the show, and how it is doing today.
Larq Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Company name | Larq (LARQ) |
| Founder / CEO | Justin Wang (co-founder & CEO) |
| Industry | Consumer hydration/water purification |
| Product name(s) | LARQ Bottle PureVis |
| Asking | $500,000 |
| Valuation | 1% for $500k → $50 million implied valuation |
| Result | Accepted on-air offer of $1,000,000 for 4% from Lori Greiner & Kevin O’Leary |
| Shark(s) with deal | Kevin O’Leary & Lori Greiner (joint). |
Net Worth: How much is Larq worth today?
In February 2024, BRITA GmbH acquired LARQ for an undisclosed amount. Before the acquisition, LARQ had raised approximately $15 million in institutional funding and was generating around $30 million in annual revenue by 2022. Industry sources estimated the company’s valuation today to be approximately $100 million
How the Larq Bottle Works
UV-C Purification
- The bottle’s cap contains a UV-C LED chip emitting light at around 280 nm — a wavelength known for destroying the DNA/RNA of bacteria and viruses.
- The inner surface of the bottle is electropolished stainless steel, which reflects the UV-C light and ensures it bounces around inside the bottle for more complete coverage.
- When you press the button, the UV-C light activates for a set cycle, purifying the water and sanitizing the interior surfaces.
Modes of Operation
- Normal Mode: One tap of the button activates a standard purification cycle (around 60 seconds) for water from trusted sources. The dosage is about 12 mJ/cm² in some models.
- Adventure Mode: A double tap triggers a longer/more intense cycle (about 3 minutes) with >30 mJ/cm² — useful for uncertain or outdoor water sources.
- Self-Cleaning / Automatic Mode: Every 2 hours (if not in travel mode) the bottle activates a short UV-C cycle (~10 seconds) to keep the interior of the bottle clean and prevent smells/ bacterial growth.
- Travel Mode / Battery Lock: You can hold the button for ~5 seconds to enable Travel Mode, which disables the automatic self-cleaning to conserve battery when unused for a long stretch.
Battery & Charging
- The cap includes a rechargeable lithium‐polymer battery. It uses a Micro-USB or USB-C cable (depending on model) to recharge.
- Battery life estimates: In Normal Mode (with ~3-4 cycles/day) you might get up to a month on one charge. In Adventure Mode the battery life drops (10-12 days) because it uses more power.
Larq Shark Tank Pitch
- Justin Weng pitched Larq as a design-forward company solving two options at a go- cleaner water on the go and a reduction in single-use plastic.
- Weng introduced the company’s signature technology that uses a UV-C LED inside the bottle cap to sanitize the water and self-clean itself.
- He impressed the Sharks with the patents, intelligent product design, and early sales, despite sparking laughter at the start of the pitch due to the high valuation.
- He asked $500,000 for 1% of the company, implying a $50 million valuation.
During the pitch, Weng revealed the company had 10 patents. In 2019, the company had $5.5 million in sales, and in the 12 months prior to filming, the company had brought in $9 million in sales and was projecting up to $14 million in revenue for 2020. Weng also revealed that they had $6.5 million in the bank at the time of the show.
Did Larq Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
Impressed by the reported revenues and the potentially big market for LARQ bottles post-COVID, Wang managed to enter into deal negotiations with three Sharks.
- Kevin O’Leary offered $500,000 for 4%, Lori offered $500,000 for 5%, while Robert offered 3% plus 2% advisory shares.
- Wang countered with an offer to bring the three Sharks together for $1.5 million ($500,000) for 4.5% equity plus 1% advisory shares.
- However, Robert was uncomfortable with some of Wang’s terms, and pulled out of the deal.
- In the end, Wang closed the deal with Kevin and Lori for $500,000 each in return for 4% stake in the company.
Though Daymond did not give an offer, he admitted to owning two Larq bottles and was happy with them.
What happened to Larq after Shark Tank?
Although Wang got an on-air deal with Kevin and Lori, the deal did not close.
- Shortly after the episode aired, the company raised $11 million in Series A funding in 2020 from Seventure Partners and DCM to develop its innovative water pitcher.
- Larq went on to presell over 20,000 pitchers, generating $4 million in sales in 2021, with projections to close the year at around $20 million in revenue.
- In 2024, BRITA GmbH announced it had acquired Larq as part of its push to expand consumer and digital businesses in North America. However, BRITA did not disclose the purchase price.
Larq continues to operate as its own brand, and Weng continues to lead the team.
How is Larq doing today?
Larq continues to operate as part of BRITA GmbH and has expanded internationally due to the continued demand for self-cleaning water bottles.
Since appearing on Shark Tank, Larq has moved beyond producing self-cleaning water bottles and has released additional products, including an in-home self-cleaning water pitcher and other accessories.
The water pitcher put Larq in competition with other home water filtration brands in the United States, like PUR.
In a past interview, Wang acknowledged the profile boost the company got after the Shark Tank appearance, even though the on-air deal did not close.
Where to buy Larq
- Official site (direct-to-consumer): Larq’s official website carries the full lineup (bottles, pitchers, accessories) and is the best place for new model launches, bundles, and direct warranty support.
- Major retailers: Larq products have been carried by chains and specialty retailers, including Target, Best Buy, and selected design/home retailers.
- Marketplaces: Larq bottles are often sold through Amazon and other online marketplaces — useful for fast shipping or discounts, but watch for authorized-seller listings if warranty/service matters.
Conclusion
Larq’s pitch was headline-worthy because of the high valuation and the clear product demo.
The on-air outcome — a joint $1M for 4% offer from Lori Greiner and Kevin O’Leary — gave the brand massive publicity.
After the show, Larq continued to scale via product launches, retail expansion, and venture funding, and in February 2024, it was acquired by BRITA GmbH.
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