"Relatively high"- When Shark Tank star Mark Cuban shared his thoughts about the price of MyoStorm

MyoStorm’s Meteor Ball, a high-tech muscle recovery device, was featured on Shark Tank in season 11 episode 5. The company’s founders, Shaquille Walker, Jared Ward, and Jono DiPeri, entered the tank seeking $150,000 in exchange for 10% equity.

Their product is designed for pain relief and athletic recovery, combined with rolling, heat, and vibration. However, the Sharks quickly raised concerns about its $160 price point. Mark Cuban, in particular, remarked,

"$169 is relatively high. Higher than I expected."

While some Sharks questioned whether the price was too steep, Cuban believed the right customers would recognize its value. The pitch sparked debate, but in the end, MyoStorm struck a deal with Lori Greiner, setting the stage for the company's growth after Shark Tank.

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Shark Tank: MyoStorm and the Meteor Ball's price point

MyoStorm's Meteor Ball was created to provide a better alternative to traditional muscle recovery tools. Unlike standard foam rollers, it integrates heat and vibration to enhance muscle relaxation. The company claimed its product was superior to competitors, with features that justified its $160 price tag. During the Shark Tank pitch, Mark Cuban asked:

“What do you guys sell these for, and what does it cost you to make?”

Co-founder Jonothan DiPeri stated that they had tested prices between $130 and $175 and planned to sell the product for $160. Cuban immediately reacted with, “That's expensive.” Fellow Shark Lori Greiner agreed, adding, “Wow.” The price point became a central topic of discussion. Co-founder Shaquille Walker defended the pricing by comparing it to other products, saying:

“There’s a lot of competitors that are selling inferior products with fewer features.”

Cuban pressed further, asking, “That are heated and vibrate?” Walker clarified, “That don’t heat.” When Cuban inquired about production costs, DiPeri revealed, “$40 landed.” Jared Ward, another co-founder, tried to justify the pricing by saying,

“Some of these products cost $600. And then, at the lower end, obviously, you have your $15 foam roller, but this really is a superior product at a more affordable price range.”

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What happened during the Shark Tank pitch

The MyoStorm team entered Shark Tank seeking $150,000 for 10% equity, but the Sharks were skeptical, particularly about the pricing strategy. When questioned about total sales, DiPeri explained that they had sold around 900 units, generating approximately $120,000 in revenue. O’Leary reacted with, “That’s not a lot.” However, Lori Greiner expressed concern about the $160 price, stating,

“I feel the $160 price point is a problem. Because if your cost is $40 landed, why are you putting so much markup on it?”

Mark Cuban interjected, “Because they’re in debt.” Greiner disagreed, stating that increasing the price to cover debt was not a sound business strategy. The discussion on price strategy continued, with Greiner suggesting, “If it was under $100, you’d do better.” Cuban disagreed, arguing that the target customers were already knowledgeable about recovery products.

“The people who get this off the bat are already using other options, right? They’re already educated. They see the perceived value.”

Cuban believed the product could be optimized, which would directly impact the cost of the product. He suggested that once it was reduced to $20, they could introduce a $99 version.

Eventually, Mark Cuban made an offer of $250,000 for 20% equity. However, when MyoStorm hesitated to hear other offers, he quickly withdrew. In the end, the team secured a deal with Lori Greiner—$150,000 for 5% equity, plus a $1 per-unit royalty.

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Shark Tank airs every Friday on ABC at 8/7c.