In the latest episode of ABC's hit entrepreneurial reality show Shark Tank, viewers witnessed a remarkable success story as Julia Cheek returned to update the Sharks on her at-home medical testing company, Everlywell. Seven years after securing a $1 million deal with investor Lori Greiner, Cheek revealed the company's astronomical growth from $2.5 million to $1.4 billion in sales. Reflecting on the investment during the May 9, 2025 episode, Greiner didn't hold back her enthusiasm:
"[Julia] was taking on the $10 trillion healthcare industry. But hey, it just takes 1 great idea to be disruptive and to take over and she did exactly that. Everlywell is one of the most successful companies in Shark Tank history."
For fans of the show, where aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of wealthy investors, Everlywell stands as a testament to the life-changing potential of landing the right deal with the right Shark.
What happened during Everlywell’s Shark Tank pitch?
In November 2017, during Season 9, Julia Cheek stepped into the Shark Tank with a vision to revolutionize healthcare accessibility. Her company, Everlywell, offered at-home medical testing kits that eliminated unnecessary hospital visits for routine tests.
The pitch resonated strongly with Lori Greiner, who saw the future of healthcare unfolding before her eyes. Despite the daunting challenge of disrupting the massive healthcare industry, Greiner offered Cheek a $1 million line of credit at 8% interest for 5% equity in the company:
"I believed in-home testing was the future, and I saw Julia as the visionary to lead that charge," Greiner explained during the update segment.
The transformation of Everlywell over seven years has been nothing short of remarkable. What began as a small operation with just 20 employees has blossomed into a healthcare powerhouse employing over 200 people:
"Before Shark Tank, Everlywell had 20 employees. Today we have over 200 employees," Cheek shared during her update.
She elaborated:
"The year before I went on Shark Tank, Everlywell did two and a half million in total sales. Seven years later, we have over $1.4 billion in sales."
This dramatic growth trajectory places Everlywell among the most successful businesses featured on the show, validating Greiner's initial faith in the concept and the entrepreneur behind it.
The episode not just highlighted the financial success, but also the real-world impact of Everlywell's products. During the company's 10th anniversary celebration, which was featured in the update segment, customers shared personal stories about how the at-home testing kits had transformed their healthcare experiences:
"We have changed the lives of so many people, and in some cases, customers tell us that our tests allowed them to get an early diagnosis that saved their life," Julia revealed in her confessional.
This human element adds depth to Everlywell's success story, demonstrating that profitable businesses can also serve a vital social good.
What is Lori Greiner’s perspective?
For Lori Greiner, the Everlywell investment represents much more than a financial win:
"Everlywell and its founder, Julia, are probably one of my proudest outcomes of Shark Tank," Greiner confessed.
Adding, she said:
"I couldn't love Julia more and be prouder of what the company does for people across our country."
This endorsement from a seasoned investor like Greiner, often called the Queen of QVC, speaks volumes about both the company's execution and its mission.
In typical Shark Tank fashion, Cheek herself offered some advice as the program came to a close. Instead of emphasising trendy markets or rapid profits, she advised would-be business owners to "solve a really big problem":
"Starting and building a company is challenging, but what keeps me going every day is because I started this company to help people, and that's what we're doing, and I'm really proud of that," she stated.
It appears that Everlywell's remarkable transformation from a promising startup to a billion-dollar healthcare disruptor is rooted in this idea of balancing mission and profit.
Everlywell, a real success story that started with a pitch and developed into a healthcare revolution that is transforming lives throughout America, is an inspiration to Shark Tank's ongoing showcase of entrepreneurial ideas.
You can watch Shark Tank Season 15 on Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, with episodes streaming the next day on Hulu.