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Every parent knows the unwritten rule of birthdays and holidays: you can buy a kid the most expensive, flashy electronic toy on the market, but they are probably going to end up playing with the cardboard box it came in.
Cardboard is the ultimate blank canvas for a child's imagination. It can be a castle, a spaceship, a suit of armor, or a robot. But turning that thick corrugated cardboard into a masterpiece usually requires scissors that do not work or sharp box cutters that are a trip to the emergency room waiting to happen.
Handing a seven-year-old a utility blade is terrifying. But stifling their creativity is heartbreaking. This exact problem is what brought two brilliant engineers into the Shark Tank to pitch a product that promised to change hands-on play forever.
But did the Sharks bite on a power tool made for toddlers and elementary kids? And more importantly, did the business survive the brutal reality of manufacturing after the cameras turned off? Here is the complete, up-to-date look at what happened to ChompShop.
What is ChompShop?
ChompShop is an educational toy and tool company dedicated to giving kids the power to safely build, prototype, and invent using everyday recycled materials. Their flagship product is the ChompSaw, a kid-safe power tool specifically engineered to cut through cardboard without using dangerous, spinning metal blades.
Instead of a traditional saw blade, the ChompSaw utilizes a rapid hole-punching mechanism. Imagine an incredibly fast, heavy-duty hole punch that rapidly "nips" away tiny pieces of cardboard. Because of this unique reciprocating design, it simply bounces off soft tissue like skin without causing a single scratch, making it entirely safe for little fingers to touch while the tool is running.
The device allows children to easily slice through delivery boxes to build 3D models, craft art projects, and learn essential spatial reasoning and engineering skills. The company also offers a full ecosystem of accessories, including scoring tools, hole punches, angle guides, and an "Inventor's Workbook" to spark new project ideas.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Industry | Toy & STEM Education |
| Founded Year | 2022 |
| Core Product | ChompSaw (Kid-Safe Cardboard Cutter) |
| Target Audience | Kids ages 8+ (Certified safe for ages 3+ with supervision) |
| Retail Price | ~$230.00 |
Who is the Founder of ChompShop?
ChompShop was brought to life by co-founders Max Liechty and Kausi Raman. Max is a mechanical engineering alum from Brigham Young University (BYU) who went on to pursue his master's degree at the University of Pennsylvania.
Like many great inventions, the ChompSaw was born out of a father's desire to bond with his son. While Max was at UPenn, he wanted to build toys and create projects with his young son, Milo. He quickly realized that the gap between a kid coming up with an amazing idea and actually being able to build it was hindered by a lack of safe tools. You can draw a pirate ship, but cutting it out of heavy Amazon boxes is tough work even for an adult.
Max teamed up with Kausi Raman, a fellow visionary with a strong background in product design. Together, they officially formed their partnership in 2022. They spent countless hours testing different prototypes, observing how kids interacted with the tools, and refining the safety mechanisms.
Their hard work paid off massively when they took their prototype to Kickstarter in October 2023. The campaign was a runaway success, becoming fully funded in under 30 minutes. By the end of the campaign, they had raised an astonishing $1.2 million from over 5,000 eager backers. They knew they had a hit on their hands, but dealing with the logistics of Chinese manufacturing, ocean freight shipping, and direct-to-consumer marketing required more capital and expertise. They needed a Shark.
ChompShop Shark Tank Journey & Pitch
Max and Kausi walked into the Shark Tank during Season 16, Episode 5 (which aired in November 2024), asking for a $250,000 investment in exchange for 5% equity in their company. This gave ChompShop a hefty $5 million valuation right out of the gate.
The founders started their pitch with a lively demonstration, showcasing how kids naturally gravitate toward building things with cardboard. They fired up the ChompSaw, demonstrating its raw cutting power on thick boxes, and then, to the audible gasps of the Sharks, pushed their own fingers directly against the moving cutting head to prove it was completely safe.
The Sharks were instantly hooked. They all got a chance to play with the tool, and the room was buzzing with excitement. Lori Greiner praised the product for pulling kids away from laptops and smartphones and bringing them back to the basics of tactile, hands-on creation.
But then came the financial breakdown, and the mood shifted.
Kausi revealed their massive Kickstarter success, noting that they had generated over $2.1 million in pre-sales and had about 10,000 units waiting to be shipped. However, Kevin O'Leary zeroed in on the profit margins. The ChompSaw cost $73.81 to manufacture and retailed for $230. Kevin felt the margins were too tight for traditional retail distribution, especially when factoring in the high cost of customer acquisition.
Guest Shark Rashaun Williams felt the company was simply too young and had too many hurdles to overcome regarding fulfilling their massive backorder, so he dropped out.
Kevin O'Leary, seeing the potential but hating the current valuation, offered $250,000 for a steep 20% equity stake. Real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran loved Kausi's rock-solid presentation and matched Kevin's offer of $250,000 for 20%.
Mark Cuban saw things differently. With his background in tech and design, he believed that the founders' engineering expertise would allow them to streamline production, lower the manufacturing cost, and increase their margins over time. He saw a product that could easily become the hottest toy of the Christmas season. Mark offered $250,000 for 15%.
Before Max and Kausi could even counter, Lori Greiner jumped in. She looked at Mark and offered to split the deal with him. Mark agreed, offering the duo the combined power of two Sharks for the same 15% stake (7.5% each).
Knowing exactly how valuable Mark's tech infrastructure and Lori's retail dominance were, Max and Kausi happily accepted the deal without hesitation.
| Negotiation Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Initial Ask & Valuation | $250,000 for 5% ($5 Million Valuation) |
| Sharks in the Room | Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Kevin O'Leary, Barbara Corcoran, Rashaun Williams |
| Kevin O'Leary's Offer | $250,000 for 20% equity |
| Barbara Corcoran's Offer | $250,000 for 20% equity |
| Mark & Lori's Offer | $250,000 for 15% equity (7.5% each) |
| Final Deal Accepted | Mark Cuban & Lori Greiner ($250,000 for 15% equity) |
What Happened to ChompShop After Shark Tank?
The immediate aftermath of the show was a whirlwind of stress and success. The "Shark Tank Effect" is real, and the sudden spike in web traffic and orders can crush a small business if they are not prepared.
Right before filming, the founders faced a massive legal hurdle. They received a cease-and-desist letter regarding their original company name. In a single night, they had to completely rebrand their entire pitch, website, and company identity to "ChompShop." They even had to transport a giant cardboard wrecking ball across California at the last minute to finalize their new set design.
Once the episode aired in November 2024, inventory finally hit their US warehouses just in time for the Black Friday and holiday shopping rush. The timing was an absolute perfect storm. Sales exploded. By the end of the holiday season, they had completely fulfilled their initial Kickstarter backlog of 4,000 units and successfully shipped over 12,000 units to eager families across the country.
Max noted in follow-up interviews that seeing his son Milo watch the Shark Tank episode on TV was a surreal, funny moment for their family, but the real reward was seeing thousands of kids using the tools to bring their daydreams to life.
Is ChompShop Still in Business?
Yes, as of 2026, ChompShop is not just still in business, it is absolutely thriving. The company has successfully transitioned from a pre-order startup into a fully operational, direct-to-consumer powerhouse. ChompShop recently hit a monumental milestone: they produced and shipped their 100,000th ChompSaw.
Under the leadership of Kausi (CEO) and Max (CTO), the team has expanded to include multiple engineers and full-time staff. They have also heavily leaned into the educational sector. They launched specialized tax-exempt purchasing portals for schools and introduced the "Maker Bundle," designed specifically for classroom environments, donating hundreds of repaired ChompSaws to underprivileged schools across the country.
Their product line has also matured. Alongside the main saw, they now sell table accessories (like circle tools and angle guides) and frequently release free downloadable cardboard patterns on their website for holidays and events. Their innovation was firmly validated when they won the "Creative Toy of the Year" at the prestigious Toy Foundation TOTY Awards.
What is the Valuation & Net Worth of ChompShop?
When Max and Kausi stepped onto the Shark Tank stage, they valued their company at an ambitious $5 million. After taking the deal with Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner ($250,000 for 15%), their implied valuation dropped to approximately $1.66 million.
However, that valuation was based strictly on their early pre-order numbers. Fast forward to today, and the financial landscape of ChompShop is incredibly strong. Having successfully produced and shipped 100,000 units at a retail price of $230, the company has generated over $23 million in gross lifetime sales.
Taking into account their increased operational costs, expanded team, and likely improved manufacturing margins thanks to Mark Cuban's mentorship, the estimated net worth of ChompShop is widely cited to be around $4 million to $5 million. The founders have successfully turned a wild idea into a highly profitable, multi-million dollar toy empire.
Are ChompShop Reviews Actually Good?
With thousands of units in the hands of parents and kids, real-world reviews have poured in across platforms like Reddit and YouTube. The general consensus is highly positive regarding the safety and the sheer fun factor. Kids genuinely love the independence the tool provides.
However, there is a learning curve, and the product does have a few quirks that parents note:
- Cardboard Thickness Matters: Because the tool uses a rapid "nibbling" or punching action to remain safe, it performs best on thinner, single-wall corrugated cardboard. Some users reported that incredibly thick, heavy-duty appliance boxes can jam the tool or are simply too thick to fit into the cutting guard.
- The Noise Level: It is a power tool, and it sounds like one. The rapid punching mechanism is quite loud. Many parents note that it is best used in a garage, a dedicated playroom, or outside.
- The Price Tag: At $230, it is a premium investment. While adult scroll saws can be purchased for less, buyers are ultimately paying for the patented safety mechanism. For families focused on STEM education, the cost is viewed as worth it for the peace of mind.
Where to Buy the ChompSaw?
Despite Kevin O'Leary's initial concerns about retail margins, ChompShop has maintained a highly successful direct-to-consumer model. The absolute best place to buy the ChompSaw, along with all of its official accessories, replacement parts, and the Inventor's Workbook, is directly through their official website.
By avoiding big-box retail middlemen, the company has managed to keep its community engaged directly, offering free project patterns and running community events like the "Cardboard Genius Contest." While you might occasionally spot a unit on second-hand marketplaces, buying direct ensures you get the latest, most updated version of the tool with full warranty support.
Madhav Kushwaha
SEO Analyst & Digital Marketer
Madhav analyzes complex business pitches and provides high-level updates for tech startups and reality television ventures. Specializing in advanced organic search strategies, he brings clarity to the rapidly evolving digital landscape.