When Maniac Pumpkin Carvers appeared on Shark Tank Season 15, they carved more than just pumpkins, they etched a lasting impression.
The New York-based duo, Marc Evan and Chris Soria, brought artistic flair and passion to the Tank, pitching their intricate pumpkin artistry and their vision for an online carving school. At the time, their net worth was estimated at $800,000.
But where are they now? Has their artistry translated into a scalable business? And what does the future hold for this seasonal sensation?
In this article, we unpack the Maniac Pumpkin Carvers net worth in 2025, their rise and fall, and the fate of their Shark Tank pitch.
Founder Profile: Who’s Behind Maniac Pumpkin Carvers?
Marc Evan and Chris Soria are lifelong friends and professionally trained artists who met in high school and later studied art in college. With a shared love for Halloween and visual storytelling, they transformed pumpkin carving into high art.
Their carvings have been featured in national museums, high-end events, and media outlets.
“We never thought pumpkins would take us this far,” said Marc Evan in a pre-Shark Tank interview. “But when you do what you love and push the boundaries, opportunities find you.”
Before Shark Tank, they managed a seasonal business, pulling in six-figure sales during fall months by offering:
- Custom carved pumpkins for celebrities and brands
- Live carving events
- Online pumpkin carving classes
- Curated carving kits
Their net worth was modest pre-pitch but growing thanks to national attention and loyal clientele.
The Shark Tank Pitch: High Stakes in the Tank
On Season 15, Episode 4, Evan and Soria asked for $150,000 in exchange for 8% equity, valuing their company at $1.875 million.
Their pitch was entertaining, complete with carved likenesses of the Sharks. But the core of their offer was a scalable vision, The School of Pumpkin, an online platform teaching carving techniques and selling carving tools.
They reported impressive three-year numbers:
- $170,000 in virtual class revenue
- $90,000 from toolkits
- $294,000 in gross revenue the prior year from events and custom carvings
Despite their artistic credibility, the Sharks had concerns.
“This isn’t scalable,” Kevin O’Leary said bluntly. “You’re trading time for money.”
Mark Cuban echoed this: “I love the art. But I don’t invest in seasonal, artist-driven models.”
Though the pair proposed expanding their toolkit offerings and licensing their teaching, no Shark made an offer. “This is a passion business,” said Lori Greiner. “But it’s not investable at scale.”
Still, Evan and Soria exited with pride. “We’re going to keep carving our path,” Chris Soria said.
Maniac Pumpkin Carvers Pitch on Shark Tank (Quick Info Card)
| Product | A Pumpkin carving arts company |
| Episode | Season 15 Episode 05 |
| Founders | Marc Evan and Chris Soria |
| Asked for | $150,000 for 8% of equity |
| Company name | Maniac Pumpkin Carvers |
| Final deal | No deal |
| Shark | No shark |
| Location | Brooklyn, New York |
Did the Sharks’ Investment Pay Off? Inside Maniac Pumpkin Carvers’ Post-Tank Boom
Although they didn’t get a deal, Maniac Pumpkin Carvers enjoyed a short-term post-Shark Tank boost.
Website traffic spiked in the days following the episode. Their carving kits sold out within 72 hours. They received hundreds of custom order requests and even secured a temporary partnership with a major craft retail chain for Halloween promotions.
Yet, the momentum didn’t last long. As reported in early 2025, the company is no longer actively selling products.
“We hit a ceiling,” admitted Evan in a later interview. “Without infrastructure and investment, we couldn’t sustain the growth.”
The School of Pumpkin site has since gone offline, and their social media activity has gone silent since late 2024.
What Happened After Shark Tank?
Following their national exposure, the duo explored multiple avenues:
- Talks with retail chains for licensing deals
- A limited-edition toolkit run via their website
- Online workshops via Zoom during Halloween season
However, their business remained heavily dependent on seasonal demand and manual labor.
They didn’t sell the company, and as of 2025, Maniac Pumpkin Carvers appears to be on hiatus.
Is Maniac Pumpkin Carvers Closed?
Yes, the business is currently inactive. Their website redirects to a placeholder page, and there has been no social media activity in months. No official closure has been announced, but signs indicate the business has ceased operations.
What Is Maniaac Pumpkin Carvers’ New Name?
There is no record of a rebrand or new name as of March 2025.
Maniac Pumpkin Carvers Reviews: Passion Over Profit?
Reviews during their operational years were largely positive. Customers praised the artistry and uniqueness:
“Their carving was the highlight of our corporate Halloween party,” one Yelp user wrote.
However, some recurring issues included:
- High cost per carving (often $600+)
- Limited availability due to custom demand
- Long wait times during peak season
Some clients also reported communication lags and delayed shipments due to overwhelming seasonal demand.
What Went Wrong?
While the business was creatively brilliant, it lacked scalability. Their reliance on handcrafted work limited their capacity.
The Sharks were right, Maniac Pumpkin Carvers didn’t have the infrastructure to become a national brand. Without a manufacturing partner or licensing support, they couldn’t turn their artistry into mass revenue.
They explored expansion, but ultimately, the seasonal nature, overhead costs, and lack of automation caught up with them.
How Much Did the Shark Make?
No Shark invested in Maniac Pumpkin Carvers, so none earned equity or royalties. However, Kevin O’Leary joked about a 7% royalty deal for using his likeness in a carving, an idea that never materialized.
In contrast, Sharks have had huge wins with scalable products. Lori Greiner made over $9 million from Scrub Daddy. Robert Herjavec turned his investment in Tipsy Elves into over $3 million in profit.
Compared to those hits, Maniac Pumpkin Carvers didn’t present a comparable upside.
Shark Tank Investor Profile: Where Else Are the Sharks Winning?
While they passed on this deal, the Sharks continue to dominate in niche and seasonal markets:
- Lori Greiner: Squatty Potty, Scrub Daddy, Sleep Styler
- Robert Herjavec: Tipsy Elves, The Bouqs
- Kevin O’Leary: Wicked Good Cupcakes, Lovepop
Each of these successes shared something Maniac Pumpkin Carvers lacked: replicability and scale.
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Maniac Pumpkin Carvers Net Worth in 2025
As of 2025, Maniac Pumpkin Carvers’ net worth is estimated at under $100,000, a steep drop from their 2023 peak of $800,000.
Without Shark backing or operational continuity, the company declined rapidly. While their art lives on in viral clips and Halloween nostalgia, the business is no longer carving profits.
Their story reminds us that passion alone isn’t enough. To thrive, art must meet scale, and that’s a lesson every aspiring entrepreneur should remember.
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TL;DR
Maniac Pumpkin Carvers’ net worth dropped below $100K by 2025. The business is now inactive after failing to scale post-Shark Tank.
