Rocketbook Shark Tank Update: Is it still in business?
Rocketbook is one of the most famous and innovative products ever presented on Shark Tank. First appearing in Season 8, the product offered a genius blend of traditional pen-and-paper note-taking and advanced digital technology.
It catered to students, professionals, and creatives who were desperate for an efficient, organized, and eco-friendly way to document their lives without wasting endless reams of paper.
Unlike a conventional paper notepad, Rocketbook provides a reusable and digitally connected option. It has survived a wild business journey, from getting laughed out of the Shark Tank, to a massive $40 million corporate buyout, to a near-death experience in 2025, and finally, a triumphant rescue in 2026.
If you are wondering what happened to Rocketbook, how much the company is worth today, and whether the app is still working in 2026, here is the complete, updated story.
What Is Rocketbook and How Does It Work?
At its core, Rocketbook is a completely reusable writing system. The pages look and feel like normal paper, but they are actually made from a specialized synthetic polyester blend. When you write on these pages using a special Pilot FriXion pen, the ink dries and binds to the surface so it will not smudge.
However, because of the synthetic material, you can easily wipe the page completely clean using nothing but a damp microfiber cloth. This single feature drastically reduces paper waste and saves you money, as one Rocketbook can replace dozens of traditional notebooks over its lifespan.
But the real magic happens when you connect the physical book to the digital world. The free Rocketbook application uses advanced machine vision to scan your handwritten pages perfectly.
At the bottom of every Rocketbook page, there are seven distinct symbols (such as a star, a diamond, or a bell). You can assign each symbol to a specific location in your favorite cloud service, including Google Drive, Dropbox, Evernote, OneDrive, or Slack.
If you mark the “star” symbol with your pen and scan the page with your phone, the app automatically beams your notes exactly where they need to go in the cloud.
2026 App Updates: Smart Titles and Smart Lists
By 2026, the technology behind the Rocketbook app has become incredibly advanced. You no longer have to manually type out file names on your phone.
With the newly updated Smart Titles feature, the app uses Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to read your handwriting. By writing your title in the designated bar at the top of the page, the app automatically names your digital file for you.
Additionally, the app now features Smart Lists. If you draw little squares next to your tasks to create a to-do list on the paper, the app will automatically detect those squares. It reads your handwriting and instantly creates an interactive, digital checklist right inside the app on your phone.
Who Are the Founders of Rocketbook?
Joe Lemay and Jake Epstein are the creative minds behind Rocketbook. Lemay, who serves as the CEO, is an experienced tech entrepreneur.
He holds an accounting degree from Boston College and a Master’s in Business Administration from MIT. Epstein, the Chief Marketing Officer, brought a strong background in product development and digital marketing.
The idea for the smart notebook was born out of a frustrating personal experience. In 2013, Lemay was working as a sales executive. He showed up to an incredibly important meeting but realized he had forgotten his notebook at home.
He had tried using expensive digital tablets and electronic pens in the past, but they never felt as natural or reliable as real paper.
Lemay shared his frustration with Epstein during a brainstorming session at the Sligo Pub in Somerville, Massachusetts. Together, they decided to build a product that offered the satisfying physical act of writing, but with the indestructible backup and organization of digital cloud storage.
Before they ever stepped foot in front of the Sharks, Lemay and Epstein proved their concept on crowdfunding platforms. In 2015, they launched the Rocketbook Wave (an early version that you erased by placing it in a microwave) on Indiegogo and Kickstarter.
The campaign went completely viral, eventually raising over $1.8 million. However, to mass-produce their next generation of water-erasable notebooks, they needed a serious investor.
Rocketbook Shark Tank Pitch
Joe Lemay and Jake Epstein stepped into the Shark Tank during the Season 8 finale, seeking a $400,000 investment in exchange for 10% equity in their company. This offer valued Rocketbook at $4 million.
To demonstrate the product, the founders had Shark Robert Herjavec put a notebook into a microwave to show how the ink magically disappeared.
They proudly announced that they had already sold $2.2 million worth of product, a massive sales number that instantly commanded the Sharks’ respect.
Despite the great sales, the Sharks were deeply skeptical of the long-term vision:
- Kevin O’Leary argued that the company needed customers to buy multiple books to survive. He pointed out that the entire point of a reusable notebook is that you only need one. He eventually called the idea “crazy” and dropped out.
- Barbara Corcoran thought the microwave concept felt like a mere gimmick and exited the negotiations.
- Robert Herjavec passed on the opportunity as well.
- Lori Greiner liked the innovation but felt the process of scanning and erasing involved too many steps for the average consumer to bother with.
- Mark Cuban was the last Shark to drop out, leaving Lemay and Epstein to walk away without a deal.
What Happened to Rocketbook After Shark Tank?
Walking away from Shark Tank empty-handed is usually a crushing blow for a startup, but for Rocketbook, it was just the beginning.
The national television exposure caused their sales to skyrocket. Consumers loved the “misfit” energy of the brand and the genuine usefulness of the product.
By focusing heavily on students, educators, and working professionals, Rocketbook expanded its product line to include the Rocketbook Core, the Mini, and the Fusion planner.
Their marketing was fun and rebellious, and the company grew to achieve a massive $32 million in net sales in the year 2020 alone.
The $40 Million BIC Acquisition
In December 2020, the massive success of the brand caught the attention of BIC, the global giant famous for its pens, lighters, and shavers. Realizing that digital note-taking was the future, BIC acquired Rocketbook for $40 million.
At the time, it seemed like a perfect match. The founders stayed on board, and BIC’s massive global supply chain helped push Rocketbook into retail stores all over the world. By 2021, sales had reportedly climbed to $40 million.
The 2025 Crash: Why Did BIC Kill Rocketbook?
For a few years, everything seemed great. However, as the global economy shifted, the relationship between the agile tech startup and the massive corporate conglomerate began to fall apart.
On December 4, 2025, the smart notebook world was hit with a shocking announcement: BIC publicly declared it was completely discontinuing Rocketbook. The company announced that operations would be entirely wound down by the first quarter of 2026.
Rob Versloot, the CEO of BIC, stated that Rocketbook had suffered “significant declines in net sales and profitability”. The product simply was not hitting the massive financial targets required by BIC’s corporate strategy.
This announcement caused mass panic among Rocketbook’s dedicated user base. Customers flocked to internet forums, terrified that the Rocketbook app would be shut down. Without the app to scan and save notes, their smart notebooks would become completely useless.
The 2026 Rescue: Global Printing & Packaging Steps In
Just as it seemed the brand was dead forever, a savior stepped in from behind the scenes. In March 2026, it was officially announced that a company named Global Printing & Packaging (GPP) had acquired Rocketbook from BIC.
This was a perfect rescue scenario. GPP, a highly successful company based in Marlborough, Massachusetts, was not a stranger to Rocketbook. In fact, GPP had been the exclusive manufacturer making the physical notebooks for Rocketbook for years.
Doug Dratch, the CEO of GPP, realized that while the brand might not be big enough for a massive corporation like BIC, it was a highly profitable and deeply loved product line that GPP could easily support.
Backed by financing from Cambridge Savings Bank, GPP took full ownership of the brand. Most importantly, GPP released an immediate statement to the community promising that:
- All Rocketbook products and the mobile app will remain fully supported.
- Significant investments are being made into new software features.
- Expanded product categories are already in development.
Because GPP already owned the manufacturing factories, they could produce the notebooks much more efficiently than BIC could. This ensures the company will remain profitable for years to come.
Rocketbook’s 2026 Product Lineup
Under the new leadership of GPP, Rocketbook has refreshed its product catalog to compete in the modern 2026 market. The current top-selling products include:
- The Next Gen Core Notebook: The classic reusable notebook has been redesigned. It now features built-in Smart Title Bars and Smart Tags printed directly onto the pages, making the scanning process faster and much more accurate than the older versions.
- The Rocketbook Pro: Designed for business professionals, the Pro version features a premium, scratch-resistant cover, a lay-flat binding, and interchangeable magnetic page packs so you can swap out dot-grid pages for lined pages.
- Reusable Sticky Notes: Launched to massive success, these are highly durable, wipe-to-erase sticky notes. They feature a specialized space-age adhesive that allows them to be stuck and re-stuck to computer monitors and desks thousands of times without leaving a sticky, gross residue. A starter kit costs $29.99 and includes a custom carrying case.
Rocketbook vs. The 2026 Competition
To understand Rocketbook’s success today, you have to look at the competitive market. The global smart notebook industry is booming, and Rocketbook is no longer the only option.
Rocketbook currently holds a dominant 35.7% market share in the “reusable smart notebook” category, easily beating out budget competitors like Elfin Book. However, Rocketbook also competes against premium E-Ink digital tablets.
Here is a simple breakdown of how Rocketbook compares to high-end digital alternatives in 2026:
| Feature / Device | Rocketbook Core (Next Gen) | reMarkable Paper Pro | Boox Note Air 5C | Kindle Scribe |
| Price Point | ~$38.00 | $500+ | $500+ | $340+ |
| Technology | Synthetic paper + Phone App | Color E-Ink Tablet | Color E-Ink Tablet | E-Ink Tablet |
| Writing Feel | Real pen on smooth paper | Stylus on textured glass | Stylus on glass | Stylus on glass |
| Power Source | None required | Rechargeable Battery | Rechargeable Battery | Rechargeable Battery |
| Best For | Students, budget buyers, quick note-takers | Dedicated writers, deep focus, professionals | App users, Android fans | E-book readers |
As the table shows, devices like the reMarkable Paper Pro or the Boox Note Air 5C offer an incredible, distraction-free digital experience, but they come with a massive price tag.
Rocketbook survives and thrives by offering 90% of the organizational benefits of a smart tablet for less than $40. It never runs out of battery, it won’t shatter if you drop it, and it costs a fraction of the price of a digital tablet. This makes it the undeniable king of budget-friendly, eco-conscious note-taking.
What Is the Net Worth of Rocketbook?
Because Rocketbook is now privately owned by Global Printing & Packaging, its exact 2026 net worth is not public information. However, we can make an educated estimate based on its financial history.
When Joe Lemay and Jake Epstein went on Shark Tank, they valued the company at $4 million. In 2020, they sold the company to BIC for $40 million.
Although sales dipped under BIC leading to the 2025 discontinuation, GPP is a massive company with an estimated overall valuation of $160 million and annual revenues around $50 million.
Considering Rocketbook’s enduring 35% market share in an industry projected to be worth billions , the Rocketbook brand alone easily retains a market valuation between $30 million and $50 million today.
The story of Rocketbook is a masterclass in business survival. By fighting through a Shark Tank rejection, navigating the complexities of a massive corporate buyout, and ultimately finding a permanent home with its original manufacturing partner, Rocketbook has proven that simple, clever, and sustainable ideas will always find a way to succeed.
