GOB Earplugs After Shark Tank: The Feature That Divided the Sharks
Lauryn Menard pitched earplugs grown from mycelium. The Sharks heard the difference, but a $5 million asking valuation proved harder to sell.
Two people can try the same earplug, hear someone speaking and come to opposite conclusions. One appreciates taking the edge off a noisy room without losing the conversation. The other bought an earplug because they wanted quiet. GOB ran directly into that difference when Lauryn Menard demonstrated plugs made from mycelium on Shark Tank.
The material gave Menard a distinctive story, and early customers had already spent money on the product. But the Sharks had to judge how many people would pay a premium for a single-use plug that deliberately lets some sound through. Menard left without investment. GOB continues to sell the plugs, and its own description is a useful starting point for deciding which customers it actually serves.
No deal
Pitch outcome
No deal
$250,000 for 5%
Opening ask
Terms sought on Shark Tank.
12 pairs
Product detail
Number in the brand’s Core pack.
Product snapshot
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Company | GOB Earplugs |
| Founder or founding team | Lauryn Menard |
| Product | Single-use earplugs grown from mycelium foam |
| Industry | Consumer earplugs and biomaterials |
| Shark Tank episode | Season 17, Episode 14 • March 18, 2026 |
| Current status | The official store lists earplug packs and a carrier. |
How does GOB Earplugs work?
Mycelium is the network of filaments produced by fungi. GOB uses it to grow a soft foam rather than starting with conventional petroleum-based foam. The manufacturer’s FAQ describes the material as molding to the ear and claims up to 20 dB of noise reduction. “Up to” describes a limit, not a guaranteed reduction for every person or across all frequencies.
Two decisions are easy to conflate: whether you prefer a certain material and whether the finished product provides appropriate protection for your situation. For workplace hazards or other high sound exposures, use hearing protection with the required rating and fit for that setting. A general marketing claim about quieter sound is not a substitute for that assessment.
Who built GOB Earplugs?
Menard connected her interest in hearing protection to her mother’s hearing loss and to loud music environments. The design problem she took on was the disposal of plugs after short periods of use. A durable reusable plug and a compostable single-use plug approach that problem in entirely different ways. GOB chose to preserve the single-use habit while changing what gets discarded.
The larger Sustain pack pictured by GOB.
“The Future of Single Use” — GOB’s description of the product category.
What happened to GOB Earplugs on Shark Tank?
Menard offered 5% for $250,000, a $5 million implied post-money price. She reported early organic sales of roughly $40,000 over two months. That showed there were people willing to try the product, but two months could not establish its long-term repeat purchase rate.
Lori Greiner and Fawn Weaver were unconvinced by the degree to which sound remained audible. Kevin O’Leary questioned the valuation. No investment was agreed. The objections point to different kinds of evidence: the first concerns what a particular wearer wants; the second concerns how much an investor should pay for the business at its early stage. Episode reporting.
Deal snapshot
| Negotiation point | What the evidence supports |
|---|---|
| Asked | $250,000 for 5% |
| On-air outcome | No deal |
| Key negotiating point | Sound remained audible in the demonstration, and the asking valuation drew objections. |
What makes a single-use earplug worth buying again?
GOB sells packs, which makes the next purchase depend on how frequently someone reaches for a fresh pair. A traveler who uses plugs a few times a year and a daily user may both like the product yet generate quite different demand. A larger pack can reduce the need to reorder frequently, but the upfront price makes fit and satisfaction more important.
The environmental case likewise has a practical side. The buyer needs to understand how to dispose of the material and what to do with its packaging. The company’s replacement policy identifies the plugs as single-use and explains its approach to disposal. A claim about the foam should not automatically be extended to every component of the pack.
Business model snapshot
| Business question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Product | Single-use earplugs grown from mycelium foam |
| Sales channel | Direct online sales in multiple pack sizes. |
| Buyer decision | Compare cost per pair, fit and intended noise reduction. |
| Business question | Will customers pay again for controlled sound reduction and the material choice? |
What happened after Shark Tank?
Latest update — November 12, 2026. GOB lists Core and Sustain packs, including 12-pair and 30-pair options. Its site also provides a fit and use FAQ.
Those listings are stronger evidence of current availability than a television recap. They do not establish current earnings or prove a specific reduction at a particular concert or workplace. For a consumer deciding what to buy, fit and the published specifications matter more than a celebrity endorsement.
Current status evidence
| Evidence | What it establishes |
|---|---|
| Official offering | The official store lists earplug packs and a carrier. |
| Pitch evidence | No deal |
| What is still unknown | Current sales, repeat order rates and individual fit-dependent attenuation. |
Company timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Before filming | Menard developed mycelium plugs and reported early organic sales. |
| March 18, 2026 | She pitched in Episode 14 and left without a deal. |
| November 2026 | GOB continues to list multiple packs online. |
What should a buyer check?
Decide whether your priority is softening everyday noise, keeping conversation audible, sleeping comfortably or obtaining protection for a hazardous setting. These are different uses. Review the instructions, the product’s stated performance and its single-use design. Someone who wants a long-lived reusable plug should compare that option directly rather than assuming a larger pack makes the two products equivalent.
What can founders learn from GOB Earplugs?
A feature becomes persuasive only when the founder names the use case. Letting some sound through can be desirable or disappointing. The lesson for product demonstrations is to state the setting and expected result before inviting an audience to try the product. Otherwise everyone judges the same experience against a different promise.
The Season 17 episode guide lists the other pitches. Readers following the other investment decisions in this part of Season 17 can also find Beer Girl, REMplenish, BRCĒ.
Frequently asked questions
Who presented GOB Earplugs on Shark Tank? Lauryn Menard
What did the founders ask for? $250,000 for 5%.
What happened in the negotiation? No deal
Is GOB Earplugs still operating? The official store lists earplug packs and a carrier.
Do the plugs block all sound? No. The brand describes softening sound and claims up to 20 dB of reduction.
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