NineteenTwenty Shark Tank Update: Did Robert Herjavec Make Millions?

Walking into the Shark Tank is stressful enough, but pitching a high-end fashion line while working a 12-hour-a-day corporate job is a whole different level of pressure. When high school sweethearts Ashley and Zach Sankar walked onto the carpet in Season 16, they carried the weight of a massive viral following and a major inventory problem.

Their company, NineteenTwenty, had already blown up on TikTok. Millions of people watched a woman sitting on a rock in New York City magically transform her puffer jacket into a functional tote bag. The internet was hooked. But virality does not equal stable cash flow, and the couple needed serious capital to stop selling out and start scaling up.

What followed was a tense financial grilling, a heated debate among the investors about the value of a day job, and an emotional breakdown that led to one of the most memorable deals in the show's history.

What is NineteenTwenty?

NineteenTwenty (often stylized as 1920) is a functional fashion brand that specializes in convertible clothing. Their flagship product is a line of fashionable, high-quality puffer jackets that can effortlessly transform into a tote bag, a comfortable pillow, or a warm blanket.

The core appeal of the product solves a very specific, modern problem: traveling comfortably without paying extra baggage fees. Instead of lugging around a bulky coat through an airport or stuffing it into a suitcase where it takes up half the space, a user can simply fold the NineteenTwenty jacket into itself, zip it up, and carry it as a stylish tote bag. If you are stuck on a long flight or a cold stadium bleacher, the same jacket converts into a blanket or a pillow.

While the brand started with heavy winter puffer coats, they have since expanded their utility-focused mission. They hold utility patents for their designs, ensuring that fast-fashion knockoffs cannot easily replicate their exact folding mechanisms.

Today, the product line serves frequent flyers, festival-goers, commuters, and minimalist travelers who want their wardrobe to work double duty.

Who are the Founders of NineteenTwenty?

NineteenTwenty was founded by a husband-and-wife team, Ashley and Zach Sankar. The couple, who are high school sweethearts based out of Phoenix, Arizona, have a deep background in logistics and operations, skills that perfectly translated into building a direct-to-consumer apparel brand.

Before stepping into the fashion world, Ashley spent nine years serving as a logistics officer in the United States Army. Following her military service, she transitioned into the corporate tech world, eventually landing a demanding role as a senior product manager at Amazon.

Zach also built a career in operations, working for US Airlines in various customer-centric and operational roles while simultaneously pursuing his lifelong dream of becoming a commercial airline pilot.

The idea for NineteenTwenty was born out of Ashley's personal frustration. As someone who traveled frequently, she was constantly annoyed by the restrictive and expensive baggage fees airlines were charging. Her bags were almost always overweight, and carrying a heavy winter coat through an airport was a hassle. She realized there had to be a smarter way to transport bulky clothing without sacrificing luggage space.

Ashley started designing a solution that adapted to her busy lifestyle while still looking fashionable. After developing a working prototype, she successfully secured a utility patent for the convertible design.

In December 2022, they officially launched NineteenTwenty as a side hustle to supplement their income while Zach continued his pilot training. Little did they know, the internet was about to take their side project to the moon.

NineteenTwenty Shark Tank Journey & Pitch

Ashley and Zach stepped into the Shark Tank during Season 16, Episode 4 (which aired in October 2024), seeking a $250,000 investment in exchange for 10% equity in their company. This ask gave NineteenTwenty an initial valuation of $2.5 million.

The pitch started strong. Ashley demonstrated the jacket's versatility, showing the Sharks exactly how easily the garment zipped into a tote bag. The Sharks were impressed by the quality, but they were absolutely floored when Ashley revealed their social media numbers.

In late 2022, a single TikTok video showing the jacket transforming on a New York City street went completely viral, racking up 66 million views and over a million likes.

That single video drove $78,000 in sales in just one month. Ashley proudly shared their lifetime financial numbers up to that point: $505,000 in total sales. For 2023, they hit $269,000, and they were on track to hit $750,000 by the end of 2024.

However, the mood in the room shifted when the Sharks started digging into the profit margins. The Sankars revealed that their lifetime profit on that half-million in sales was only $97,000.

Mark Cuban immediately threw a red flag. He pointed out that their shipping and research and development costs meant they were confusing gross margin with net profit. Mark bluntly told them they did not understand their own accounting and that their actual take-home profit was likely much lower. Because of this financial disconnect, Cuban dropped out.

Daniel Lubetzky also dropped out, citing that the apparel market was simply too crowded and competitive for his liking.

Then, Kevin O’Leary jumped in. He liked the sales, but he hated that Ashley was working 12-hour days at Amazon instead of running NineteenTwenty full-time. He offered the $250,000, but he wanted a massive 30% equity stake, and he attached a strict condition: Ashley had to quit her job at Amazon immediately.

Robert Herjavec vehemently disagreed with Kevin's ultimatum. Robert defended the couple, sharing that he kept his own full-time job for six months when he started his first tech business because he needed the safety net. Robert then offered $250,000 for 25% equity, without the demand that Ashley quit her job.

Ashley, knowing her worth, tried to counter Robert at 20%. Robert held firm at 25%. The pressure of the moment, combined with the stress of running the business and the memory of her late mother who had always supported her, caused Ashley to break down in tears.

Lori Greiner left her seat to hug and comfort her. Robert also grew emotional, sharing how his own mother supported him during his hardest struggles. He gently told Ashley not to squabble over 5% when they could do great things together. Convinced by his empathy and business track record, the Sankars accepted Robert's deal.

What Happened to NineteenTwenty After Shark Tank?

The "Shark Tank effect" hit NineteenTwenty immediately. On the night their episode aired, the company's website traffic instantly doubled. More importantly, Ashley noted that 110% of their buyers were brand new customers, meaning the show successfully pushed them past their existing viral TikTok audience and into mainstream American households.

Before the show, the couple's biggest operational bottleneck was cash flow. Because it costs so much to manufacture high-quality outerwear, they could only afford to release new inventory in small "drops" once a quarter. This meant they were constantly selling out and leaving money on the table because they didn't have the capital to keep their warehouses stocked.

Robert Herjavec’s $250,000 cash injection solved this problem overnight. Following the show, the Sankars used the capital to drastically increase their manufacturing orders. They stopped operating on a limited-drop model and transitioned into a reliable e-commerce storefront with consistent inventory.

They also began hiring help. Operating out of the Canyon Ventures Innovation Center at Grand Canyon University, they began bringing on marketing and advertising students to help run pop-up shops in major cities like New York, allowing the founders to delegate tasks and focus on expanding the brand.

What is the Valuation & Net Worth of NineteenTwenty?

The estimated net worth of NineteenTwenty ranges between $1.5 million and $3 million.

When they pitched on Shark Tank, they valued their company at $2.5 million. By accepting Robert Herjavec’s offer of $250,000 for 25%, their on-screen valuation technically dropped to $1 million. However, valuations based on reality TV deals rarely reflect the actual market value of a business years later.

Given that they hit their target of $750,000 in revenue at the end of 2024 and have consistently launched new, sold-out collections throughout 2025 and 2026, their annual revenue has easily pushed past the seven-figure mark.

Because they operate entirely direct-to-consumer through their website and TikTok Shop, they keep their overhead relatively low. Ashley and Zach retain 75% ownership of the highly profitable enterprise.

Where to Buy NineteenTwenty?

If you are looking to purchase a NineteenTwenty convertible jacket today, the primary destination is their official website, HeyNineteenTwenty.com. By keeping their sales direct-to-consumer, the Sankars avoid the massive retail markups that come with placing products in big-box department stores.

In addition to their main website, NineteenTwenty leans heavily into social commerce. You can purchase their newest releases, including the Wind Pro Mid and the Hoodie Lite, directly through their official TikTok Shop, which often features exclusive flash sales and direct demonstrations from Ashley.

NineteenTwenty Alternatives

When a product goes viral, copycats are bound to surface. A quick search on Amazon for "convertible puffer jacket to bag" will yield dozens of cheap, generic alternatives manufactured overseas.

However, buyers should be aware that NineteenTwenty holds a utility patent for their specific 4-in-1 folding design. Most cheap alternatives only function as a jacket and a basic stuff-sack, lacking the structured tote handles and the comfortable padding that allows the NineteenTwenty jacket to act as a proper travel pillow.

If you want the exact viral jacket seen on Shark Tank with premium zippers, inclusive sizing, and a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects, sticking with the original brand is the safest bet.