Kore Baseball, the maker of soft, hand-stitched baseballs and custom bats for backyard ball, secured a $150,000 investment for 15 percent equity from Daniel Lubetzky, founder of KIND Snacks, and Rashaun Williams, venture capitalist, founder, and chief investment officer of Harbinger Sports Partners, on ABC’s Shark Tank, on Wednesday, Nov. 4. The deal was made by Susan Koelliker and her sons, Will and Charlie, who relaunched the company after its founder, David Koelliker, died of brain cancer shortly after starting the business in 2014.

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Kore Baseball makes a softer ball with the look, stitching, and feel of a regulation baseball, designed to help young players build confidence without the injury risk of a hardball. The idea came from David’s childhood: he and his friends played until their baseballs fell apart, then stuffed the torn leather covers with soft materials, laced them back together, and kept playing. As an adult, he set out to make that ball for a new generation, with the goal of making baseball safer, more affordable, and more accessible to families.

After David’s passing, the Koelliker family chose to carry on his work in his honor, rather than close the business. Will Koelliker led the relaunch on social media, building the brand’s presence through TikTok and TikTok Shop, where Kore Baseball’s videos have generated more than 36 million views and drawn fans including MLB players and content creators. That growth brought the family to the Shark Tank stage, where they pitched the business their father started.

“When Dave passed, we didn’t know if we could keep Kore Baseball going, but we knew how much this company meant to him and how passionate he was about its growth,” said co-founder, Susan Koelliker. After his passing, Susan returned to school at age fifty to earn her MBA, at a time when all of her children were also pursuing their education. “Every ball we make carries his love of the game, and standing together as a family in front of the Sharks feels like we’re sharing his dream with the country. I know he would be so proud of our family and his boys for making it this far.”

During the episode, Lubetzky and Williams teamed up on the offer, and the Koelliker family accepted the deal.

“Kore Baseball is an amazing innovation. It’s soft enough that kids aren’t afraid of it, but it feels and flies like the real thing. What matters to me most, though, is the story behind it,” said Daniel Lubetzky, Founder of KIND Snacks and Camino Partner. “After the founder, David, lost his ten-year fight with brain cancer, his family chose to build on his legacy with so much love, and now they’re bringing joy to kids everywhere. That’s the American Dream.”

With Lubetzky and Williams’ investment and support, the Koelliker family plans to continue new product launches, expand distribution, and more — all while continuing to honor David’s love of the game and help families create lasting memories.

To learn more about Kore Baseball and to shop the products, visit KoreBaseball.com and @KoreBaseball on TikTok and Instagram. To stream the episode of Shark Tank visit Hulu.

About Kore Baseball

Kore Baseball is a family-owned company based in Salt Lake City that makes soft, hand-stitched baseballs and custom bats for kids to play. Founded in 2014 by David Koelliker, a father who wanted kids to learn the game without the fear of getting hit by a hardball, the brand is now led by his wife Susan, and their sons, Will and Charlie. Kore Baseball appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank, where the family secured an investment from Daniel Lubetzky and Rashaun Williams. To learn more, visit KoreBaseball.com.

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