9 STRAP After Shark Tank: How Four Sharks Kept the $4 Million Price and Added a Royalty

A batting coach can describe hand position, demonstrate it and watch a player lose it again as soon as the pitch comes in. Ryan Vaughn’s idea was to put the cue into a piece of equipment the hitter could feel. 9 STRAP connects the grip to a physical reminder during the swing, giving the player and coach something more specific to work with than another instruction shouted from the side.

Ryan and Alyson Vaughn went into Shark Tank asking for $360,000. They came out with an $800,000 agreement involving four investors. It looked like a dramatically higher price for the business until you divide the checks by the equity: both offers implied the same $4 million post-money valuation. The real change was the larger ownership stake and the addition of a royalty.

Product snapshot

How does 9 STRAP work?

According to 9 STRAP’s explanation, the product helps guide a palm-up, palm-down hand position and addresses the tendency to roll the hands over during a swing. It is intended for baseball and softball. The useful comparison is with a coach’s physical cue, not with a device that electronically measures a batted ball.

A player still needs to select an appropriate version, follow the fitting directions and practice. The manufacturer’s descriptions of control and performance are design goals. They do not establish that every batter will hit farther or that the device independently prevents injury.

Who built 9 STRAP?

Ryan grew up playing baseball in Yucaipa, California. In its April 9 company announcement, 9 STRAP describes the accessory as a response to recurring swing problems. By the pitch the team had a physical product, a defined audience and sales history. The demonstration therefore did two jobs: it showed the accessory in place and helped explain why a coach might recommend it to more than one player.

Another configuration from the official 9 STRAP catalog.

“Each brings a unique perspective across consumer, retail, brand-building, and scaling businesses.” — Ryan Vaughn on the four investors, in the company announcement.

What happened to 9 STRAP on Shark Tank?

The team reported approximately $1.3 million in sales. The opening offer priced each percentage point at $40,000. Lubetzky, Williams, O’Leary and Scott ultimately agreed to invest $800,000 for 20%: still $40,000 per point. But the headline equity comparison leaves out the $2 payment on each qualifying unit. Deal reporting describes that payment continuing until a three-times return.

At a $2.4 million cap, a $2 unit royalty would take 1.2 million qualifying units to run its course. That is an illustration of the terms, not a sales forecast. The royalty makes the deal more expensive to the founders than a straight equity investment at the same implied valuation. Episode reporting.

Deal snapshot

Why a coach can be more valuable than one retail order

A batting accessory has an unusual route to a customer. A parent might first see it in a store, but a player is more likely to understand the benefit when a coach can show the difference between two swings. One trusted demonstration can reach an entire team. The challenge is making the product easy enough to fit and explain that the result does not depend on the inventor being there.

The company reported more than 50,000 players in its April announcement. That is a company-reported reach figure. It does not disclose repeat sales, the number of active users or the breakdown between paid products and demonstrations. Those measures matter when judging how much a specialist sports accessory can grow.

Business model snapshot

What happened after Shark Tank?

Latest update — November 12, 2026. 9 STRAP publicly identified all four investors and the $800,000 amount after the episode. Its official store continues to list multiple configurations.

The company’s own announcement is stronger confirmation of its account than a recap alone. Public sources reviewed here do not disclose detailed investment documents, actual royalty payments or a complete current financial statement.

Current status evidence

Company timeline

What should a buyer check?

Start with the hitter’s actual problem. If a coach has identified hand rollover, ask which version and size suits the player and how to practice with it. If the issue is pitch recognition or timing, a grip cue addresses a different skill. Compare the current model descriptions rather than assuming every version has the same purpose.

What can founders learn from 9 STRAP?

When a negotiated check gets bigger, calculate the price per equity point before calling it a valuation win. Then put every royalty into the same model. Here the larger headline number preserved the founders’ equity price while adding a payment tied directly to unit sales.

The Season 17 episode guide lists the other pitches. Readers following the other investment decisions in this part of Season 17 can also find Bloom, BRCĒ, Clean Green Golf Balls.

Frequently asked questions

Who presented 9 STRAP on Shark Tank? Ryan and Alyson Vaughn

What did the founders ask for? $360,000 for 9%.

What happened in the negotiation? $800,000 for 20% plus a $2 unit royalty with four Sharks.

Is 9 STRAP still operating? 9 STRAP lists batting accessories and product variants.

Did the larger check increase the implied equity valuation? No. Both the opening ask and final equity terms imply $4 million before accounting for the royalty.