Hiccup Net Worth Shark Tank Update 2025

Every year, marathons and other running events create a lot of trash, mainly from single-use cups. When runners take a drink of water, they often just throw the cups on the ground, leading to a big mess that harms the environment. Kristina Smithe observed this problem at a marathon in California and decided to take action.

She created Hiccup, a service that provides reusable silicone cups for runners to use instead of disposable ones. Runners drink from these cups during the race, and afterward, Hiccup collects them, cleans them, and gets them ready for future events. This helps reduce waste and makes it easier for race organizers to clean up.

Kristina wanted to share her idea and get funding for Hiccup, so she appeared on the TV show Shark Tank in Season 16. She was looking for $200,000 in exchange for 10% of her business. 

Hiccup Net Worth Shark Tank Update 2025

Kristina was looking for an investment of $200k in exchange for 10% equity in the company. At the time of the episode, she valued her company at $2 million. Kristina did not secure a deal on Shark Tank. After the show aired, Hiccup saw a big increase in website traffic, sales, and social media exposure. As per my rough estimate, the current net worth of Hiccup in 2025 is around $2.5 million.

Shark(s) name	Offer & Demand	Counteroffer	Accepted?
Daniel Lubetzky	Out	N/A	N/A
Lori Greiner	Out	N/A	N/A
Kevin O’Leary	Out	N/A	N/A
Robert Herjavec	Out	N/A	N/A
Mark Cuban	Out	N/A	N/A

Kristina Smithe Backstory + Their Initial Pitch 

Kristina Smithe started a company called Hiccup because she noticed a big problem: marathons create a lot of waste with single-use plastic cups that usually just end up in landfills or recycling centers. She wanted to help reduce that waste and make race events cleaner. Her solution was to create reusable silicone cups. These cups are strong, easy to clean, and can be used multiple times.

Kristina began by testing her idea at local races and quickly realized there was a bigger opportunity to grow her service for larger events.

However, getting Hiccup off the ground came with its own set of challenges. Kristina had to manage the delivery and collection of thousands of cups, as well as figure out an efficient way to clean them. In the beginning, she did everything herself, from washing the cups to delivering them to races. When Kristina appeared on the TV show Shark Tank, she explained how Hiccup works.

She provides reusable cups for races, and after the event, her team collects the cups, cleans them, and gets them ready to use again. This not only cuts down on waste but also makes cleanup easier for the race organizers.

Kristina mentioned that each Hiccup cup costs $0.15 to rent, but if a race orders 10,000 cups or more, the cost drops to $0.10 each. In contrast, disposable paper cups cost about $0.07 each. She highlighted that Hiccup had already been used at big races, such as the Chicago Marathon, and noted that large events like the Boston Marathon can use up to 2 million cups in a single race, showing how much of a difference Hiccup could make.

Queries + Shark’s Responses, and Final Deal

Sharks asked the entrepreneur questions to understand if her business could grow and succeed.

Robert Was concerned about how Kristina could expand her business since it seemed like a lot for one person. Kristina assured him that she was working on ways to automate part of the process and build a team to help. He Kristina’s enthusiasm but didn’t believe the business could grow significantly.

Kevin asked why race organizers would pay more for her reusable cups instead of cheaper paper cups. Kristina explained that reusable cups are better for the environment and could save money in the long run. Kevin thought the business model required too much effort for not enough payoff and decided not to invest.

Mark wanted to know how big the market was for her business. Kristina mentioned that there are many races globally that are looking to be more environmentally friendly. Mark saw the value in the concept but felt the market wasn’t large enough for a good investment. 

Daniel inquired if Kristina had talked to any big brands about sponsoring her business. Kristina admitted she hadn’t landed any big sponsors yet but thought there was potential to partner with brands that sell drinks or snacks. Daniel was inspired by Kristina’s story but thought the business wouldn’t scale well.

Lori asked about the dishwasher Kristina mentioned that cleans the cups. Kristina shared that it could clean 1,500 cups at a time using only 30 gallons of water. Lori respected her hard work but also felt it wasn’t the right fit for her investment goals.

Ultimately, none of the sharks chose to offer Kristina a deal, so she left without any investment.

What Went Wrong With Hiccup On Shark Tank?

The sharks (who are investors) decided not to invest in Hiccup because they thought the business wasn’t going to grow enough to make it worth their while. They believed that running the business would take a lot of hard work but wouldn’t bring in enough money in return. They were worried about the complicated process of delivering, picking up, and cleaning a lot of cups, which seemed like too much to handle.

Another concern was the price difference between using reusable cups and disposable paper cups. Although reusable cups are better for the environment, they cost more money. The sharks weren’t sure that event organizers would be willing to spend that extra money on reusable cups instead of cheaper disposable ones.

Product Availability

Hiccup provides reusable silicone cups designed for races and events. These cups are strong, easy to wash, and can be used over and over again. You can rent each cup for just **$0.15**, and if you need a lot of cups, you can get a discount.

Hiccup has teamed up with various races in the U.S., like the St. Pete Run Fest and the Publix Half Marathon. They are also looking to offer their cups at even more events in the future.

What Happened To The Hiccup After Shark Tank?

Kristina created a company called Hiccup, which focuses on reducing waste by keeping hundreds of thousands of disposable cups out of landfills. Even though she didn’t get any investors when she appeared on Shark Tank. She continued to grow her business. Hiccup has expanded to several states and has collaborated with major events, like races, to promote more environmentally friendly practices.

One of Kristina’s innovative developments is a new type of dishwasher that can clean a large number of cups up to 1,500 at a time, using very little water (just 30 gallons). This makes cleaning the cups faster and cheaper, which is important for running a successful operation.

Today, Hiccup is still operational and continues to make a positive difference by promoting sustainability at racing events and beyond. Kristina’s perseverance and dedication have led to the ongoing success of Hiccup.

Conclusion 

Kristina Smithe’s story with her company, Hiccup, is about her strong desire to succeed and her ability to keep going despite challenges. Even though she didn’t get a deal when she appeared on the TV show Shark Tank, she didn’t give up. Instead, she focused on growing her business and making a positive impact.

Hiccup has helped reduce waste at various races and has collaborated with large events throughout the country. Kristina’s creative ideas and commitment to being environmentally friendly have led to Hiccup becoming successful. While the investors on *Shark Tank* didn’t recognize its potential, Kristina showed that with determination and effort, you can achieve your goals.