You’ve seen it before: a founder gets a handshake deal with a Shark and the world assumes they’re about to go big. But how many of those explode after the cameras stop rolling? Here’s what really happened when EZC Pak hit Shark Tank, how the pitch drama played out, where the money is now — and what every hustler should learn before chasing TV glory.
Who Built EZC Pak?
Dr. Sarath Malepati isn’t your average supplement founder. He didn’t just dream up a new immune booster because the wellness market was hot — he’s a California physician who’s spent over a decade treating stubborn infections. You and me have seen plenty of founders chase trends, but this guy had a real mission: stop the overuse of antibiotics. He saw people begging for scripts that do nothing for their colds, so he created EZC Pak as a smarter, natural way to support immune health without feeding the antibiotic resistance problem.
If you think he just slapped a label on some vitamins and called it breakthrough science, you’re not paying attention. Dr. Malepati was actually on a mission, and you can smell that from the minute he opened his mouth in the Tank.
The Pitch Room Drama
Shark Tank Season 11, November 2019. Dr. Malepati steps into the pitch room, asking the Sharks for $125,000 in exchange for 5% of his company. Now, if you’ve watched enough Tank, you know: ask for a $2.5 million valuation and you better have numbers to back it up — or a vision that’s crystal clear.
What’s interesting here is the packaging. Even the Sharks couldn’t help but compliment it. But then, the room went sideways. Lori Greiner — always the Queen of QVC, always sharp-eyed for packaging and practicality — felt ignored. She called Dr. Malepati out, hard: I was the customer, I’ve been taking zinc for years… She accused him of not seeing her as the market, and the gender dynamic got called out in front of everyone.
Let’s be real: being in front of the Sharks is pressure like nothing else. But if you ignore Lori, you risk missing the biggest check in the room for your kind of product. The tension was thick. But Dr. Malepati kept his cool, and that showed his real skill. I’ve watched a hundred founders tank their chances by crumbling under Shark pressure. He didn’t.
Counting EZC Pak’s Net Worth
Here’s what every insider and dreamer actually cares about: Does EZC Pak have real numbers or was this just a TV play? By 2025, EZC Pak pulled in about $4 million a year in revenue. That’s not unicorn territory, but it’s nothing to laugh at in consumer health.
Their net worth? Let’s talk real valuation for a supplement brand with $4 million in sales and solid margins. At a conservative 2-3x revenue, you’re looking at $8M to $12M as a back-of-the-napkin estimate — not fantasy, but also not fake Shark TV math.
Why? Because they outlasted the usual post-Shark Tank crash. Most brands spike and fade. EZC Pak is different. They landed more retail deals (CVS, Walmart, HyVee); they turned a Shark Tank TV moment into actual shelf space and returning customers. That’s the move every founder should chase: TV for momentum, then lock in the real distribution. And they did.
Did the Sharks Bite?
Let’s call this what it was — a classic royalty play. Kevin O’Leary (aka Mr. Wonderful) loves his money back first deals. He stepped in with the full ask: $125,000 for 5% equity, but he wanted a $1-per-unit royalty until he recouped $450,000. This isn’t just about Shark ego — Kevin’s been doing this I get my capital out first move for years. If you’ve watched Bombas or Wicked Good Cupcakes, you know the formula.
Dr. Malepati took the deal on air. But here’s the game within the game: the Kevin deal never actually closed post-show. Happens all the time (SharkWorth covers these non-closers in detail). Don’t ever think you’re set just because you scored a handshake on TV. The real contracts come after. Kevin’s royalty-heavy structure is great for him, but tough for founders who need cash flow for inventory and scaling — not just slicing off every sale for a Shark.
What’s Inside the Box? EZC Pak’s Formula and Promise
Let’s talk product. EZC Pak isn’t just a kitchen-sink immune booster. Dr. Malepati designed it for real-world sick days. The big guns? Zinc (which Lori Greiner was already a fan of), Echinacea, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D. Together, they pack a punch for cold and flu season, especially when you’re tempted to ask your doctor for antibiotics (which don’t work on viruses anyway).
It’s not some voodoo blend — it’s made to support your immune system, with a doctor’s understanding of what actually helps versus what’s just hyped. You see hundreds of supplements a year. Most are white-labeled, bought in bulk, and slapped with a celebrity label. EZC Pak is different — it was created with a single purpose: keep people out of the antibiotic line and let the body do what it’s meant to do.
The packaging is clinical, clean, and built for the pharmacy shelf — think Scrub Daddy simplicity, but for the medicine cabinet.
After the Cameras Cut: Real Growth or TV Fizz?
Most Shark Tank products enjoy about 30 days of crazy sales, then reality sets in. The ones that last usually nail retail expansion or get picked up by a major chain. EZC Pak? They absolutely made the most of their Shark Tank bump.
COVID-19 hit just months after their episode aired. No one could have planned that. Demand for immune support shot through the roof. EZC Pak got picked up by CVS, Walmart, and more — this is where founders win or lose. TV gets you into meetings — actual execution at scale wins you shelf space. That retail expansion is why their revenue didn’t crater after the first 6 months.
They didn’t just post As Seen on Shark Tank and coast. They hustled into every major chain they could. It’s the playbook smart founders follow: TV for brand credibility, then real deals for recurring revenue.
What Actually Matters: Lessons for Every Hustler
Pitching isn’t just about product or numbers. It’s about reading the room, adapting, and not getting rattled. Dr. Malepati could have lost his shot with that Lori Greiner confrontation. Instead, he took it in stride, issued a public apology later, and kept the press pointed toward his mission, not just the drama.
Deals dying after the show isn’t failure — it’s reality. I’ve seen plenty of founders whine when the legal side falls through. The smart ones pivot hard and use the exposure as leverage. EZC Pak did exactly that. They used Shark Tank to get into new channels and ignored the noise.
The real takeaway? Your on air deal is just another tool. The money comes after — if you actually execute.
Conclusion: EZC Pak’s Journey After the Tank
EZC Pak hit the Tank with more than a pitch — they had a real problem to solve. Dr. Sarath Malepati took the TV pressure, turned a big confrontation into an honest conversation, and vaulted his supplement out of obscurity. No, the deal with Kevin O’Leary didn’t close — but the growth did. They’re doing $4 million, stocked in giants like CVS and Walmart, and proving that Shark Tank is just a launchpad, not a finish line.
This one isn’t just another pitch story; it’s a clinic in how to turn fifteen minutes of fame into real business muscle. Hustle, adapt, and focus on the mission — that’s why EZC Pak still stands.
FAQs
1. Is EZC Pak still in business after Shark Tank?
Yes, EZC Pak is very much alive and thriving in 2025, with millions in annual sales.
2. Did Kevin O’Leary’s deal actually go through?
No, the royalty-heavy deal shown on TV with Kevin O’Leary didn’t close after the cameras stopped rolling.
3. Where can you buy EZC Pak today?
EZC Pak is sold in major retailers like CVS, Walmart, HyVee, and most major U.S. grocery chains.
4. What is so different about EZC Pak compared to other immune supplements?
EZC Pak was created by a physician to specifically reduce antibiotic misuse, using a no-nonsense combo of zinc, echinacea, vitamins C and D.
5. What is the current net worth or revenue of EZC Pak?
EZC Pak earned around $4 million in annual revenue as of 2025. Estimated value: $8-$12 million.
6. Did the Lori Greiner confrontation hurt the business?
No, if anything, the drama boosted media attention and forced an honest public conversation about respect and pitching.
7. Who is Dr. Sarath Malepati and does he still run the company?
He’s the founder, a California doctor, and he’s still at the helm — keeping the mission focused.
8. How did COVID-19 impact EZC Pak’s growth?
The pandemic sent demand for immune support skyrocketing, helping EZC Pak break into big retailers and boost year-over-year revenue.
For more Shark Tank deep-dives and up-to-the-minute business numbers, check out SharkWorth — the only source for real post-Tank analysis, not just the highlight reel. If you’re in the grind, learn from EZC Pak: Use TV for the spotlight but build your empire in the real world.
