Whatever Happened To LuminAid Inflatable Floating Solar Light After Shark Tank Season 6?

Anna Stork and Andrea Sreshta began developing their solar-powered lantern company, LuminAid, while attending Columbia University, and in 2015 they brought their innovative product to "Shark Tank." The LuminAid is a lantern with an LED light and a solar panel that recharges the battery. While the lantern is compact for easy shipment, it can be unfolded and inflated to disperse the light.

Stork and Sreshta's design is waterproof and buoyant, making it a great option for camping or boating, but also for disaster relief. "What we're really passionate about is the 'aid' in LuminAid. Our light shines brightest for those who are left devastated after a natural disaster. We have the perfect tool for first responders to use on the ground in areas without electricity or that are ravaged by floods," Stork told the Sharks. Depending on the power setting, they stated that a LuminAid lantern can shine for 10 to 16 hours and recharges with seven hours of sunlight.

LumindAid went into the tank seeking $200,000 in exchange for 10% equity. Before coming onto the show, LuminAid had been operating for two years. In the first year, the company made $250,000 in sales, and in the second, they brought in a little more than $1 million. LuminAid sold their lanterns online to consumers, but also to retailers and non-profit organizations geared toward disaster relief.

All five sharks were highly interested in Andrea Sreshta and Anna Stork's invention. Kevin O'Leary set off the bidding war, offering $200K for a 4% royalty that would continue until he received $800K, while Daymond John followed by presenting a deal of $300K for 20% of the company. Every shark made LuminAid an offer, but Stork and Sreshta chose Mark Cuban's offer of $200K for 15% and an option for help with future financing. "I want you to know that you've got a foundation to grow from," Cuban told the LuminAid founders.

Anna Stork and Andrea Sreshta's company sold $2 million of their inflatable lanterns in nine months after their episode aired. Mark Cuban helped get LuminAid's product into more retail spaces, including The Container Store, Brookstone, and Zullily. The company also started an initiative called "Give Light, Get Light," which encourages customers to buy a lantern and donate another. This allowed LuminAid to give out 13,000 lights to those in drastic situations.

In early 2016, LuminAid appeared on "Shark Tank" again, discussing its progress since the show and its ongoing humanitarian work. The update episode featured Sreshta and Stork's relief trip to Malawi with ShelterBox, an NGO charity, showing how the lanterns impact people in need. "We're so grateful for our experience and know that our future is brighter than ever with the help of Mark [Cuban] and 'Shark Tank,'" Stork said in the update.

LuminAid's original lantern saw great success with retail sales and making a difference around the world, and the inventors used this inspiration to develop more products. The company now sells solar-powered lanterns that can also be used to charge a phone, as well as color-changing lights. LuminAid has also developed other products besides lanterns that are great for emergencies, such as the Survival Straw, which purifies water as you drink it, and their sturdy emergency blanket which is waterproof.

The company also sells a variety of other outdoor and emergency gear. Because of their "Give a Light, Get a Light" program, LuminAid was able to provide lanterns to people in over 100 countries. In 2017, LuminAid appeared on "Shark Tank" for a third time, showing their relief trip to Puerto Rico with Convoy of Hope, a non-profit, to help people who had lost electricity after a hurricane.

Anna Stork and Andrea Sreshta continue to follow their humanitarian mission and grow their business. In 2021, the company was acquired by Adventure Ready Brands, which manufactures a variety of outdoor products. "Partnering with Adventure Ready Brands brings with it the capabilities to scale our business and humanitarian work to reach more people around the world. We couldn't be more excited for this next step for the brand we've poured our lives into for more than a decade," Sreshta said in a press release.

Though LuminAid has merged with Adventure Ready Brands, Stork and Sreshta seem to still be involved, and are both listed as currently active with the company on their LinkedIn pages. LuminAid's lanterns and other products are currently available on their website and Amazon. Since their appearance on "Shark Tank," Stork and Sreshta have continued turning their dream of helping others into a reality with their innovative and eco-friendly products.