Let’s get one thing straight: not every Shark Tank pitch turns into a Scrub Daddy or Bombas. Plenty sink after the lights go off and the Instagram hype fades. That’s why Kawaii Lighting caught my eye. They’re not just cute lights. Chloe and Lan, the founders, built their brand for people hustling online—YouTubers, Twitch streamers, even Zoom warriors. Their signature? Ring lights that actually add character, not just brightness.
Here’s what you need to know—they scored a deal on Shark Tank, but did it matter? Absolutely. They turned the usual flash-in-the-pan moment into real, profitable growth. If you create content, side hustle, or just enjoy watching startups survive, this company shows what it takes to keep climbing when most quit.
2. How Kawaii Lighting Came to Be
Every successful product solves a real problem. Chloe Mae Loop (you might see her as Chloe Mai somewhere) and Lan Bui saw it firsthand. Both came out of the toy business—a place where cute design and clever appeal keep you alive. Lan spent years in Shenzhen, China, learning how trends are born and copied overnight.
When COVID hit, everyone suddenly cared about home video lighting. But every ring light looked the same—plain, boring, utilitarian. Chloe and Lan had a hunch from their toy days: looks sell, especially in a crowded online space. They wanted lights that work great but pop on camera and add personality. Not just another Amazon rebrand—real differentiation.
The result? Heart-shaped, star-shaped, even cat-eared ring lights. Sure, it sounds playful, but in the content creator world, standing out is the name of the game. These two played it smart—built a direct-to-consumer website, proved demand, and threw themselves straight into the pitch den.
3. The Shark Tank Pitch — Where the Heat Happened
There’s a reason Kawaii Lighting got the table buzzing on Season 13, Episode 22. The founders didn’t show up asking for tech-world valuations with no numbers to back them up. Their ask: $88,000 for 22% equity. Not greedy, but not desperate. Realistic.
Let’s talk numbers, since hype alone doesn’t pay the bills:
- Heart-shaped light: $305 retail, $100 landed cost (that’s a meaty margin)
- Only one year in business at the time of filming
- Already hit $261,000 sales, purely DTC, no big-box partnerships in sight
Every Shark listened up when they saw those sales and margins. During their pitch, Chloe and Lan showed what actually makes content pop—reflected hearts and stars in a creator’s eyes. Mark Cuban sat out, not sure of the scale. Emma Grede and Lori Greiner liked the product but didn’t see themselves in this beat. That left Barbara Corcoran and Kevin O’Leary.
What got the Sharks really interested? It wasn’t just the numbers—it was how smartly Chloe and Lan owned their niche. They knew their audience, product, and how to stand their ground during negotiations. That’s what separates showstopper founders from the ones just chasing camera time.
4. Net Worth — What’s Kawaii Lighting Actually Worth?
Now you want the real math, not Shark Tank fairy tales? Let’s break it down. Pre-show, they were clocking $261,000 in annual sales, doubling every few months. With 67% gross margins (selling at $305, costs at $100), that’s healthy cash flow to reinvest.
After the Shark Tank effect, reports show they doubled typical two-month sales in just two weeks after airing. That’s what I call a post-show pop. According to SharkWorth, methods that track Shark Tank businesses, Kawaii Lighting’s estimated market value sits between $1.2 and $2 million as of mid-2025.
Here’s the secret: they kept control of their story. Barbara Corcoran’s deal gave them the fuel but didn’t dilute them out. With new products and smart brand play, the company avoided the one-product-wonder trap so many Shark Tank brands fall into after the cameras cut.
5. Barbara Corcoran’s Deal — Why She Won
Let’s get real—deals with royalty clauses can kill or make a business. Barbara Corcoran knows this better than most. Chloe and Lan got offers from her and Kevin Mr. Wonderful O’Leary. The two Sharks duked it out, throwing bigger checks and dropping royalty percentages.
Barbara’s first swing: $100,000 for 22% plus $10/unit royalty until payback. Kevin cut that royalty in half. So Barbara went toe-to-toe, matched his royalty, and kept her higher investment. I’ve seen founders get blinded by the word Shark and take whatever comes first. These two? They wanted cash to scale, but not at any cost.
Choosing Barbara was strategic. She’s the queen of quirky, visually-driven brands. She knows how to turn cool for TikTok into now available everywhere. On paper, Kevin’s deal looked more founder-friendly. But street-smart founders like Chloe and Lan know Barbara’s network and retail push are a cheat code worth more than a few extra percentage points.
6. Sales Explosion and New Products After Shark Tank
This is where we separate hype from hard numbers. Kawaii Lighting rode the Shark Tank wave hard—and actually banked the money. Right after the episode aired, they posted what many call a Scrub Daddy moment: two months of sales in just fourteen days.
They didn’t get lazy, either. New products hit their site fast. The viral Kawaii Lighting microphone—yes, the heart-shaped and star-shaped USB mics everyone started wanting for TikTok—became another best-seller. Add in cat-ear lights, LED panels for streamers, and custom collabs with content creators. Suddenly, Kawaii Lighting wasn’t just a one-hit wonder—they built a full toolkit for the modern creator.
It’s textbook: leverage your hot moment, ride the attention, then expand your catalog while everyone’s still watching. They did it faster and sharper than most post-Shark Tank brands.
7. Is Kawaii Lighting Still Crushing It Today?
I’ve seen more post-Shark Tank flops than I care to count. Kawaii Lighting is not one of them. Fast forward to 2025, and their presence is still loud on Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch. Influencers push their lights in videos; you still see their products popping up when you search best ring light or unique creator gear.
They’re not resting. New product drops, frequent collabs, and smart influencer marketing keep the buzz alive. They keep their DTC site front and center—they never handed their future off to big-box retail or a fickle Amazon listing. That’s a game-winning move in a space where trends can change overnight and copycats lurk around every corner.
Are they lighting up the mega-millions like a Scrub Daddy or Bombas? Maybe not. But they’re profitable, relevant, and still dictating their narrative. They didn’t overextend, chase every shiny wholesale order, or let hype ruin their margins. And that’s why they’re still in the conversation.
8. Lessons for Entrepreneurs — Wins, Warnings, and Grit
Want to actually learn from this? Let’s bust some myths and hit you with the facts:
- Don’t try to be everything. Kawaii Lighting got specific—they built gear for creators, not for everyone who owns a phone.
- Play the pitch. When two Sharks are circling, don’t just grab the first offer. Negotiate, get what your business really needs.
- Build a movement, not just a product. People buy into what you stand for. Cute lights? Sure. But they made it about empowerment for creators, not just better selfies.
- Cash flow over pipe dreams. Healthy margins kept them adept. Don’t just chase top-line sales—focus on profitable growth first.
- Use your 15 minutes wisely. The Shark Tank boost dies fast. The founders planned their expansion and product drops to cash in while interest peaked.
I’ve watched too many founders blow it after TV fame. Greed, over-expansion, ignoring their core customer—it’s a killer combo. Kawaii Lighting stuck to their lane, grew steadily, and stayed hungry. That’s how you go from cute idea to stable business.
9. Wrap-Up — The Real Impact of a Shark Tank Deal
Here’s the truth: a Shark Tank deal makes headlines for a day. What matters is how you use the momentum after the lights fade.
Chloe and Lan walked in with a product that snapped heads. They walked out with a deal that fueled real business—not just a moment of fame. They outmaneuvered royalty roulette, kept equity, and picked a partner (Barbara Corcoran) for the long game.
I’ve seen it up close—hype is easy, discipline is rare. Kawaii Lighting’s journey should fire up any hustler, entrepreneur, or pitch-room veteran. The real play was never the Shark Tank moment. It was everything that came after.
FAQs
1. Is Kawaii Lighting from Shark Tank still in business?
Yes, Kawaii Lighting is still active and selling strong in 2025.
2. Did the Shark Tank deal with Barbara Corcoran actually close?
Yes. Barbara’s deal closed with a $100,000 investment and a $5 per unit royalty.
3. How much money has Kawaii Lighting made since Shark Tank aired?
Exact numbers aren’t public, but revenue jumped, with quick six-figure sales post-show and steady growth since.
4. What makes Kawaii Lighting different from other ring lights?
Their lights add shapes—hearts, stars, cat ears—giving creators a unique look that generic lights can’t match.
5. Can I buy Kawaii Lighting products outside the US?
Yes, their DTC site ships internationally, but check shipping fees before you click buy.
6. Are the heart and star lights as good as they look on camera?
Creators consistently say yes. The reflected shapes are real and the overall lighting is pro quality.
7. Where can I get the Kawaii Lighting microphone everyone talks about?
On their official site—these mics go in and out of stock fast, so grab them when you see them.
8. Did any of the other Sharks invest after the show aired?
No. Barbara is the sole Shark investor on record.
Kawaii Lighting didn’t just survive Shark Tank—they used it as a launchpad. Smart founders, great margins, and laser focus on their users. That’s how you build a brand that lasts longer than the pitch. Check their numbers and deeper analysis at SharkWorth.
You want real business lessons, here they are—straight from the grind, not a TV soundbite. Keep hustling.
