Whatever Happened To Sleep Pod Blanket By Hug Sleep After Shark Tank Season 12?

In Season 12, Episode 3 of "Shark Tank," husband-and-wife team Matt Mundt and Angie Kupper, founders of Hug Sleep, appeared before the Sharks to pitch their product, the Sleep Pod Blanket. Their blanket invention uses compression for deep-touch pressure, which is known to help those with anxiety or sensory issues.

Mundt was inspired to create the Sleep Pod after trying weighted blankets, and while the heaviness of other products was initially comforting, he found they got too hot and were difficult to wash. With his background in mechanical engineering and his wife's psychology experience, Mundt was able to design a swaddling blanket for people of any age. The Sleep Pod has a similar shape to a sleeping bag, allowing it to totally cover a person from feet to shoulders, but because it's made of lycra and polyester, it's stretchy and doesn't overheat.

"We spend a third of our lives sleeping, yet so many of us struggle to get a good night's rest," Mundt told the Sharks. In the episode, Robert Herjavec came to the front of the room to test Hug Sleep's blanket, and despite accidentally falling over and cutting his nose, Herjavec approved of it. "It's actually really soothing," he said.

Matt Mundt and Angie Kupper went on "Shark Tank" looking for $150,000 for a 10% stake in their company. In the month before appearing on the show, Hug Sleep sold $50K of their blankets, making a profit of $22K. Daymond John gave the first offer to Mundt and Kupper, $150K for 20% equity, but Kevin O'Leary countered the deal, saying he'd do it for 15%. Lori Greiner got into the mix as well, matching O'Leary's offer.

With all Sharks still in and multiple offers on the table, Kupper spoke of her drive for this company to succeed. "The reason I went into psychology is I lost my mom to suicide when I was 17, and through all of that pain, I found a passion for helping other people," she said as she held back tears. "So I want to make sure we make a deal with somebody who's just as passionate about this as we are."

Kupper's emotional story caused Mark Cuban to offer Hug Sleep a choice, either $150K for 10% or $300K for 20%. Greiner matched this offer, triggering Robert Herjavec and John to do the same. With all Sharks presenting a deal, the couple became overwhelmed with their choices, and the Sharks decided to split into teams. Cuban and Greiner said they would go in together with an offer of $300K for 20%, and O'Leary, John, and Herjavec gave Hug Sleep the same deal. In the end, the company developed a partnership with Greiner and Cuban.

Hug Sleep started selling its Sleep Pods about 16 months before going on "Shark Tank," and its sales at the time came to $490,000. On the day Hug Sleep's episode aired, the company was overwhelmed with sales, totaling $2 million. Overnight, Hug Sleep exploded, and the husband-and-wife team put out a thank-you video for all their supporters. In the video, Matt Mundt and Angie Kupper explained that they had to start a waitlist because they ran out of Sleep Pods but assured their customers they'd have more made soon.

Two years after its appearance on the show, Hug Sleep had sold a total of 250,000 units of the Sleep Pod Blanket, and the year prior, the company did $8 million in sales. The deal Mundt and Kupper made with Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner proved extremely beneficial for them. "Both of them are just business titans," Mundt said in an interview with Sleepopolis. "They always have great advice and great tips."

Hug Sleep continues to sell its blankets on its website and on Amazon, and it's also created several new products since appearing on "Shark Tank" in Season 12, including a Sleep Pod with more space to stick a foot out and a version with a hood. Hug Sleep's original Sleep Pod Blanket now has a smaller size for children. The company has also started a line of comfortable clothes for men and women, offering hoodies and sweatpants made from its HugStretch fabric.

Matt Mundt and Angie Kupper started their business by themselves with only $2,500, but with the help of Sharks Lori Greiner and Mark Cuban, their success skyrocketed. "After we aired, it just exploded in a way that I don't think anyone expected," Mundt said in an interview with CBS58 in early 2023. "We're about to cross $25 million dollars in lifetime sales in under four years so it's a dream come true." Hug Sleep has since patented its Sleep Pod Blanket, which is made by hand in the United States.

Matt Mundt and Angie Kupper are still the main team behind Hug Sleep's success, and they continue working to adapt their products to their customers' needs. "We're really doubling down on our core product Sleep Pod," Mundt said (via Sleepopolis). "We're a small business at the end of the day, and I'm really able to keep my finger on the pulse of the customer and kind of what they want, so we're constantly evolving, constantly making small tweaks to the product, and then also adding new additions and new versions."

Despite running their small business, both Kupper and Mundt are keeping up with their respective psychology and engineering careers. According to their LinkedIn pages, Kupper is currently a primary therapist at Rogers Memorial Hospital and Mundt is a member of the board of directors at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. With a passion for helping others and a unique idea, the Hug Sleep founders have made their dream a reality. "Every person we can help, it's just such an honor to do so," Mundt told Sleepopolis.