"We've worked really hard" When Terra-Core made a bold entrance on Shark Tank, impressing Lori Greiner

When fitness entrepreneur Greg Nigro stepped into the Shark Tank dressed as the "Sultan of Sweat," he was on a mission to secure funding for his innovative workout equipment, Terra-Core. The portable fitness board with an air surface was designed to provide more effective workouts from anywhere.

After a dramatic bidding war erupted between the Sharks, Nigro ultimately chose Lori Greiner, stating:

"Having Lori as a partner means everything to our business. We've worked really hard to get to this point and Lori is really somebody who can take us to the next level."

Entrepreneurs can present their business ideas to a group of successful investors (the "Sharks") on ABC's popular reality show, Shark Tank, in the hopes of landing investment opportunities. Having already made $2.1 million in sales since 2017, Nigro's involvement in the November 2019 episode demonstrated both his product inventiveness and business savvy. But despite the initial excitement and promise, Terra-Core's journey after Shark Tank would take some unexpected turns.

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What happened during Terra-Core’s Shark Tank pitch?

It was clear to Greg Nigro that he needed to impress the Shark Tank panel. His dramatic arrival as the "Sultan of Sweat" drew the attention of Daymond John, Lori Greiner, Kevin O'Leary, Mark Cuban, and Shark Anne Wojcicki, who was invited.

Nigro's request for $300,000 in exchange for a 15% interest in Terra-Core was straightforward but persuasive. He invited fitness enthusiasts to showcase the product's adaptability by performing a variety of activities on the board, highlighting its distinctive air surface design:

"For the last five years... we built functional training equipment that essentially has an air surface and that air surface is dynamic, it activates our core, it's much more comfortable," Nigro explained during his pitch.

The Sharks were invited to try the equipment, giving them a firsthand experience of how the Terra-Core worked. This hands-on approach proved effective in building interest.

What truly caught the Sharks' attention were Terra-Core's impressive sales figures. Nigro revealed that the company had generated $2.1 million in sales since 2017. He also projected that Terra-Core would break even that year and earn over $1 million the following year.

These numbers caused the sharks to go into a feeding frenzy. Daymond John took the initiative and offered $300,000 in return for 40% of the business. Kevin O'Leary responded with $300,000 for 30% plus a $20 royalty on each unit after Nigro retrieved his $1 million.

As the bidding intensified, John lowered his equity ask to 35%. Lori Greiner entered the fray with a $300,000 offer for 22.5% equity. Not to be outdone, Anne Wojcicki proposed $300,000 for 17% equity plus a $10 royalty per board.

With multiple offers on the table, Nigro had achieved what many entrepreneurs dream of on Shark Tank—a bidding war. Despite having lower equity offers, Nigro chose Lori Greiner. His decision wasn't purely about the numbers but about finding the right partner for his business vision.

Greiner, known as the "Queen of QVC," brought retail expertise and connections that could help Terra-Core reach a wider audience. Her track record of successful fitness product launches made her an ideal partner for Nigro's ambitions.

The entrepreneur's choice reflected his strategic thinking about Terra-Core's future beyond just an immediate investment. Greiner's marketing prowess and retail relationships could potentially open doors that money alone couldn't buy.

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What happened to Terra-Core after its Shark Tank appearance?

Terra-Core's Shark Tank appearance had a bit of a mixed reception. Since Greiner didn't publicly confirm the investment after the program, it is unclear if the deal was closed.

Nigro however took advantage of the show's popularity, particularly when the episode reran in August 2020 amid the COVID-19 epidemic. As home exercises gained popularity at the time, he used social media to offer exclusive prices on Terra-Core equipment:

"During this pandemic everyone at @terracorefitness is grateful to be in a position to meet the demand of so many people needing an incredible, low cost, versatile home fitness tool," he wrote on Instagram.

However, Nigro's journey with Terra-Core took an unexpected turn when he left the company in 2020, just five years after founding it and shortly after the Shark Tank episode aired.

Despite the initial excitement and multiple Shark offers, Terra-Core has largely disappeared from the market. The company maintained an active social media presence until 2023, amassing over 79,000 followers on Instagram. However, recent activity has ceased.

By early 2025, customers reported issues with the company's website and unfulfilled orders.

Currently, Terra-Core's official website returns an error message, and its Amazon listing is no longer active. The product is listed for pre-order on Power Systems, but without a release date, suggesting ongoing production issues.

While Terra-Core may have faded, Greg Nigro has continued his fitness industry career. He now serves as Vice President of Sales at gym180, where he leverages his experience pitching to the Sharks to promote new gym equipment:

"My recent trip to Germany allowed me to evaluate the quality of manufacturing, innovation, product lines, and company culture," Nigro shared on Instagram about his new role.

Nigro also owns The Gym Sherpa, a fitness consultancy where he has collaborated with Sylvester Stallone and Vin Diesel.

His Shark Tank experience undoubtedly influenced his career path in the fitness business, demonstrating that sometimes the journey is more valuable than the destination, even though it did not lead to a long-term success story for Terra-Core.

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Shark Tank airs Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, with all episodes available on Hulu.