Kymera Body Boards After Shark Tank: The $500K Deal That Fell Through
An electric body board sounds like a James Bond gadget, but for Jason Woods, it was a practical solution to a highly expensive problem.
Sick of dropping hundreds of dollars on boat fuel and dealing with the logistical nightmare of towing heavy jet skis, Woods retreated to his garage to build a lightweight, battery-powered alternative.
What followed was a decade of engineering struggles, a crushing rejection on national television, and a dramatic redemption arc that ranks among the best in reality business television history.
The Bottom Line (Executive Summary)
- Current Status: Kymera Body Boards is actively in business, boasting a massive global distribution network of over 29 international marine dealers.
- Deal Outcome: The massive $500,000 handshake deal with Robert Herjavec in Season 10 fell apart behind the scenes, but the company successfully raised independent capital shortly after.
- Financial Growth: The company has scaled past $6 million in lifetime revenue, expanded its product line to include electric kayaks, and increased its flagship board price to roughly $4,999.
What is Kymera Body Boards?
Kymera Body Boards is a manufacturer of lightweight, electric-powered personal watercraft designed to offer the speed and thrill of a jet ski without the high costs, heavy trailers, or environmental impact.
Powered by a 5000-watt motor and a high-capacity lithium-ion battery, the flagship board allows riders to carve through the water at speeds up to 25 miles per hour.
Unlike a traditional jet ski that weighs hundreds of pounds and requires a dedicated hauling vehicle, a Kymera board weighs just 46 pounds (plus a 24-pound battery pack), making it easy to carry straight from the trunk of a standard car to the shoreline.
The product targets recreational water sports enthusiasts, luxury yacht owners looking for compact water toys, and even search-and-rescue teams operating in shallow waters.
Product Overview Table
| Category | Details |
| Industry | Recreational Watercraft & Marine Tech |
| Founder(s) | Jason Woods (Founder) & Adam Majewski (COO) |
| Core Product | 5000W Electric Body Board |
| Retail Price | $4,999 (As of latest 2024/2026 updates) |
| Target Audience | Water sports enthusiasts, yacht owners, marine rescue teams |
The Founder Behind Kymera Body Boards
The story of Kymera Body Boards begins with frustration. Jason Woods loved spending his weekends at the lake, but he hated the financial and logistical barriers associated with traditional personal watercraft.
Gas for a jet ski could easily exceed $200 for a single day on the water. Furthermore, typical watercraft required a towing vehicle, a trailer, a boat ramp, and expensive winter storage.
Woods wanted to create a solution that was affordable, easy to transport, and ready to deploy at a moment’s notice.
He spent the better part of ten years designing, iterating, and testing prototypes in his garage. Woods envisioned a personal watercraft that was eco-friendly, running purely on electricity, and light enough to be carried under one arm.
However, hardware engineering is notoriously expensive and difficult to scale. To fund his vision, Woods launched a Kickstarter campaign with a funding goal of $250,000. He fell short, raising approximately $165,000. Because Kickstarter operates on an all-or-nothing funding model, he saw none of that money.
Running low on funds and carrying over $130,000 in personal debt sunk into the project, Woods realized he needed a massive cash injection and strategic mentorship to move from the prototyping phase to mass manufacturing. He set his sights on the Shark Tank.
Kymera Body Boards’ Shark Tank Pitch & Deal
Kymera holds a rare distinction in the Shark Tank universe: the company pitched the investors not once, but twice, separated by a span of five years.
The First Pitch (Season 5, Episode 1)
In 2013, Jason Woods walked into the Tank alone. He presented his early prototypes and explained his vision for the electric body board. However, the presentation quickly derailed.
Woods admitted he had been working on the product for ten years and had sunk $130,000 into development, yet he had zero units sold and no mass-production supply chain in place.
The Sharks were ruthless. They zeroed in on his lack of sales over a decade-long period. Mark Cuban famously labeled Woods a “wantrepreneur,” arguing that a true entrepreneur would have figured out a way to sell at least a few handmade boards over ten years to validate the market.
Guest Shark John Paul DeJoria, Daymond John, Kevin O’Leary, and Lori Greiner all passed. Woods walked out of the Tank empty-handed and publicly humbled.
However, Woods absorbed the harsh feedback. He realized he was an engineer, not an operations manager.
He brought on Adam Majewski as Chief Operating Officer to handle the business logistics, distribution, and daily operations, freeing Woods to finalize the manufacturing process.
The Second Pitch (Season 10, Episode 20)
Six years later, in 2019, Woods returned to the Tank, this time flanked by Majewski. The difference was night and day. They did not bring a garage prototype; they brought a polished, mass-market-ready product that was actively selling through retail marine shops and international distributors.
They asked the Sharks for $250,000 in exchange for 5% equity. The investors were thoroughly impressed by the turnaround. A bidding war erupted.
Kevin O’Leary offered the $250,000 for 5%, but attached a $500 per board royalty until he recouped $750,000.
Daymond John offered $250,000 for 10% equity, promising to leverage his licensing and manufacturing contacts.
Robert Herjavec believed they needed more capital to scale hardware properly and offered $500,000 for 10% equity. Seeing the value in doubling their capital for a reasonable equity hit, Woods and Majewski eagerly accepted Herjavec’s deal.
Pitch & Offers Table
| Season/Episode | Initial Ask & Valuation | Sharks Present | Notable Offers | Final On-Air Deal |
| Season 5, Ep 1 | Undisclosed (Prototype Stage) | Cuban, John, O’Leary, Greiner, DeJoria | None | No Deal |
| Season 10, Ep 20 | $250,000 for 5% ($5M Valuation) | Cuban, John, O’Leary, Greiner, Herjavec | O’Leary ($250k/5% + royalty), John ($250k/10%), Herjavec ($500k/10%) | Herjavec ($500,000 for 10%) |
Did the Kymera Body Boards Deal Actually Close?
Reality television rarely shows the gritty corporate paperwork that follows a handshake. While the on-air agreement with Robert Herjavec made for fantastic television and a perfect redemption narrative, the deal did not survive the due diligence phase.
As is common with complex hardware startups, contract terms, manufacturing audits, and liability assessments often complicate final signatures.
Neither Herjavec nor the Kymera founders have publicly detailed the exact reason for the split, but industry norms suggest that the capital requirements to scale heavy marine equipment might have altered the risk profile for the investor.
Despite losing the Herjavec investment, Kymera capitalized heavily on the “Shark Tank Effect.” The massive surge in national exposure drove significant pre-orders and retailer interest.
Using this momentum, Woods and Majewski successfully raised $625,000 from independent investors shortly after the episode aired. This private capital allowed them to fund their initial production runs without giving up the 10% equity they had promised on television.
Kymera Body Boards After Shark Tank: The Current Update
As of today, Kymera Body Boards is navigating the premium marine equipment market with impressive agility. The company has moved far beyond the garage-startup phase and now operates as an established brand in the recreational watercraft industry.
Following their second Shark Tank appearance, Kymera secured a major strategic distribution agreement with one of the world’s largest luxury boat and RV manufacturers.
This partnership provided Kymera with direct access to a sprawling network of high-end dealers, placing their product directly in front of consumers who routinely spend six figures on watercraft.
Manufacturing constraints and global supply chain inflation have clearly impacted the brand over the past few years. Initially pitched to the Sharks with a target retail price of around $3,500, the flagship electric body board saw its price creep up to $3,995, then $4,399, and currently sits at $4,999 as of recent updates.
To diversify their revenue streams, the company expanded its product catalog. They now offer electric kayaks, surfboards, and specialized personal watercrafts alongside their core body board.
They also launched a Wefunder equity crowdfunding campaign in early 2023 to generate community-driven capital for further research and development.
Today, Kymera operates through 29 international distributors and dozens of domestic dealerships, ensuring comprehensive global reach while relying on local partners to handle import complexities and warranty support.
What is the Net Worth and Valuation of Kymera Body Boards?
Estimating the exact net worth of a privately held hardware company requires analyzing their last known financial data and investor valuations.
During their Season 10 appearance, Kymera’s initial ask of $250,000 for 5% equity implied a company valuation of $5 million. Robert Herjavec’s accepted on-air offer of $500,000 for 10% equity validated that exact $5 million number.
Financially, Kymera achieved over $1 million in annual sales by 2023, pushing their lifetime revenue past the $6 million mark. Hardware companies in the marine and recreational vehicle sector typically trade at revenue multiples between 2x and 4x, heavily dependent on their profit margins and debt loads.
While exact profit margins remain private, industry estimates place Kymera’s current enterprise valuation between $4 million and $7 million. For Jason Woods and Adam Majewski, their personal net worths are directly tied to their equity retention.
By successfully raising $625,000 independently instead of closing the Herjavec deal, the founders likely preserved a larger equity stake, bolstering their personal financial standing as the company continues to log consistent multi-million dollar lifetime sales.
Is Kymera Body Boards Still in Business?
Yes, Kymera Body Boards is fully operational and actively in business. The company maintains an updated e-commerce presence and a robust network of international dealers.
They continue to fulfill orders, provide warranty support for existing customers, and expand their product lineup into new aquatic categories.
Where to Buy Kymera Body Boards?
Purchasing a Kymera Body Board is heavily regulated by geographic territory to ensure proper customer support and maintenance for the heavy lithium-ion batteries.
- United States Customers: US buyers can purchase directly from the manufacturer through the official Kymera website or by contacting their sales department.
- International Customers: Kymera strictly prohibits direct international shipping from their US headquarters. Buyers outside the United States must purchase through one of the 29 authorized international distributors. The company enforces this rule to guarantee that local dealers can manage the complex customs processes associated with large batteries and provide adequate local warranty servicing.
Top Kymera Body Boards Alternatives
The electric watercraft market has exploded over the last decade. If you are looking for alternatives to the Kymera, the market offers several high-end competitors, though most come with a significantly higher price tag:
- Awake Boards: A premium Swedish brand producing high-performance electric surfboards. These boards can reach extreme speeds but often start well above $10,000.
- Fliteboard / Lift Foils: These are electric hydrofoils (eFoils) that lift the rider above the water for a smooth, flying sensation. They are incredibly popular but cost between $10,000 and $15,000.
- Radinn: Another major player in the motorized surfboard space, offering modular jetboards where users can upgrade the battery and motor.
- Seabob: A luxury underwater sled popular on mega-yachts. It allows riders to cruise on the surface or dive underwater, though prices typically range from $10,000 to over $17,000.
Compared to these alternatives, Kymera maintains a unique position. At roughly $5,000, it remains one of the most accessible and easy-to-ride entry points into the electric personal watercraft market, requiring zero surfing balance or hydrofoil training.
