How Dude Wipes Shark Tank, the toilet humour brand, went mainstream
Dude Wipes Shark Tank burst into fame with a pitch straight from the bathroom stall of flushable wipes for guys ditching the outdated toilet paper game. By blending unapologetic humour with savvy business moves, the founders turned a simple wet wipe into a massive disruptor in the $11 billion toilet paper industry.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Dude Wipes was founded in 2011 in a small Chicago apartment by three friends: Sean Riley, Ryan Klimkowski, and Jeff Meegan.
- The brand secured $300,000 for 25% equity deal from Mark Cuban on Shark Tank Season 7, Episode 4, which aired on 16 October 2015.
- In 2024, sales surpassed $220 million as the products reached over 20,000 retail locations nationwide.
- The founders projected the brand to hit $500 million in annual sales by 2029.
Dude Wipes profile summary
Business name | Dude Wipes |
Industry | Hygiene products |
Founders | Sean Riley, Ryan Meegan, Jeff Klimkowski |
Year of establishment | 2011 |
Product | Men's wipes |
Business valuation | $1.2 million |
Shark Tank appearance date | October 2015 |
Shark Tank appearance | Season 7, Episode 4 |
Equity asked | $300000 for 10% equity |
Equity offered | $300000 for 25% equity |
Shark | Mark Cuban |
Outcome | Deal |
Dude Wipes Shark Tank success story: From apartment startup to retail giant
In 2011, Sean Riley, Ryan Klimkowski, and Jeff Meegan started Dude Wipes in a small Chicago apartment. Their mission was simple: destigmatise masculine hygiene through humour and relatable branding. In 2015, the founders took a swipe and pitched their business on Season 7 of Shark Tank, seeking $300000 for 10% equity.
Dude Wipes Shark Tank deal
Source: UGC
While some Sharks were sceptical, like American businesswoman Barbara Corcoran, over flimsiness and Lori Greiner valuation concerns, Mark Cuban saw potential. Ultimately, Dude Wipes secured a life-changing deal of $300,000 for 25% equity from Cuban. In an article published by Businesswire on 23 June 2025, Cuban remarked about the deal:
DUDE Wipes is the best Shark Tank investment I've ever made. The team built an iconic brand by staying authentic, having fun, and outworking everyone. I can't wait to keep wiping with the DUDEs in this next chapter.
Dude Wipes Shark Tank update
Source: UGC
The company achieved profitability in 2016 and gained massive momentum following a 2018 retail trial with Walmart. This test was so successful that Dude Wipes earned a permanent spot in the toilet paper aisle nationwide.
Distribution soon expanded to Target and Sam's Club, enabling the brand to capture a significant market share. By the end of 2022, annual revenue reached $70 million as the brand's viral popularity continued to grow, according to Forbes Australia.
Revenue jumped to $110 million in 2023, bringing their total lifetime sales to $341 million. By mid-2024, sales surpassed the $220 million mark as the products reached over 20,000 retail locations nationwide.
Source: UGC
The brand also diversified its lineup by launching Lil' Dude Wipes for toddlers and expanding into bodywash and deodorant. In June 2025, Dude Wipes secured an investment from TSG Partners. According to Businesswire, Riley, Klimkowski, and Meegan said:
We bootstrapped DUDE Wipes from our apartment with nothing but an idea and some guts. Now, we're teaming up with TSG Consumer to take this thing to a whole new level.
A return to the reality TV series, Shark Tank Season 16, highlighted their evolution into a dominant force in the hygiene industry. As of 2026, Dude Wipes remains a major disruptor, owning 1% of the $11 billion toilet paper market. The founders are focused on further scaling, with projections to reach $500 million in annual sales by 2029.
Dude Wipes' ultimate vision is to become a $1 billion brand by evolving its product lines and maintaining savvy partnerships. This journey began with an aggressive marketing campaign timed for National Toilet Paper Day on 26 August 2025, during which the brand rolled out 650 billboards in cities across the United States.
FAQs
- What are Dude Wipes? Dude Wipes are the flushable men's hygiene pre-moistened wipes made from plant-sourced fibres.
- When did the Dude Wipes Shark Tank episode air? Dude Wipes appeared on Shark Tank Season 7, Episode 4, which initially aired on 16 October 2015.
- What was Dude Wipes' Shark Tank pitch? The wet wipes brand pitched for $300,000 in exchange for a 10% equity stake.
- What was the Dude Wipes Shark Tank deal? Dude wipes got a $300,000 contract with a 25% equity stake.
- Who was the Dude Wipes Shark Tank investor? The American investor and TV personality Mark Cuban invested in Dude Wipes.
- What happened to Dude Wipes after Shark Tank? Dude Wipes skyrocketed after their Shark Tank, turning a humorous men's hygiene pitch into a retail powerhouse.
- What is Dude Wipes' Shark Tank's net worth? While the hygiene brand does not disclose an exact valuation, its lifetime sales exceeded $341 million by 2025, and its 2024 revenue was over $220 million, according to Forbes Australia.
Dude Wipes proves toilet humour packs a punch when paired with savvy execution. From a cheeky Shark Tank pitch in 2015 that landed Mark Cuban's backing, the brand wiped out scepticism, surging to over $220 million in annual sales, over 20,000 retail doors, and owning 1% of the $11 billion toilet paper market.
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Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
