XTorch Net Worth Shark Tank Update 2025 

 frustrating when you need light in places without reliable power. Maybe you are camping, facing a blackout, or in a remote area where electricity is scarce. Regular flashlights can fail, batteries die, and you are left in the dark. That is a real problem. Most portable lights depend on disposable batteries, and cheap models break quickly.

What if there were a light that could last for days, float on water, and even charge your phone in an emergency? Enter XTorch, created by Gene and Keidy Palusky. Their solar-powered flashlight, lantern, and emergency charger address that problem in a simple and practical way. 

In Season 12 of Shark Tank, this husband-and-wife duo asked for help to grow their direct sales and spread their mission of donating 25% of profits to communities in need. They sought $150,000 for 10% equity, but no Shark invested. Still, their journey did not stop there; they received over 2,000 orders following the episode and continued growing their business in the years that followed.

XTorch Net Worth Shark Tank Update 2025 

Gene and Keidy were looking for an investment of $150k in exchange for 10% equity in the company. At the time of the episode, they valued their company at $1.5 million. Gene and Keidy did not secure a deal with any of the Sharks. The investment did not go through, so the company’s net worth remained at around $1.5 million. After the show was aired, the company experienced a good boost in exposure. As per my rough estimate, the current net worth of XTorch is around $1.1 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	$400,000 for 100% equity$500,000 for 100% equity	$1M for 100% equity $750 for 100% equity	No
Mark Cuban	Out	N/A	N/A

Gene and Keidy Palusky Backstory + Their Initial Pitch 

Gene and Keidy Palusky are a couple from Minnesota with a shared history of missionary and humanitarian work. They met in 2001 while helping in the Dominican Republic, where they saw firsthand how unreliable electricity affected families and children. Later, in Equatorial Guinea, they delivered food and medical aid, often by flashlight, during emergencies when power failed. One night, Gene helped Keidy treat an illness by candlelight.

They realized existing portable lights were inadequate: the batteries died fast, solar panels were weak, and none combined rugged durability with emergency phone charging. 

Gene, who had a background in real estate and property development and had invested about $300,000 of his own money, collaborated with Keidy to create XTorch. They spent years testing ruggedness, drop resistance, floating ability, and charging times.

When they entered Shark Tank, they carried the XTorch frozen in ice to demonstrate its toughness. They explained that it takes about one hour to recharge via plug and 22 hours via solar. A full charge could light a lantern for 48 hours. Their pitch emphasized that they had already donated 1,500 units to nonprofits, sold 1,200 at cost, and sold 200 commercially at full price. They asked for $150,000 in exchange for 10% equity,a valuation of $1.5 million.

Queries + Shark’s Responses, and Final Deal

Within the Tank, each Shark explored a different angle.

Kevin O’Leary immediately questioned the price. He said a consumer won’t pay $55.95 for a torch. He suggested a direct-to-consumer strategy selling units at $29.95. But he was out before making a counteroffer, seeing the price as too steep.

Mark Cuban followed. He liked the product, but pointed out that $90,000 in annual sales is modest. He doubted whether they could scale quickly enough and passed.

Daniel Lubetzky asked about patents and proprietary protection. Gene admitted they had none, and Daniel said that without IP, larger companies could easily copy them. He withdrew.

Lori Greiner looked at margins and business models. She saw no fundamental flaw in the product but said she wasn’t confident in their direct-to-customer strategy. She opted out.

Robert Herjavec was the only Shark to make an offer. He said he loved the idea but was concerned they were “in the middle” of the market, not premium enough and not cheap enough to compete. He offered $400,000 to buy the entire company. Gene countered with a $1 million valuation. Herjavec raised $500,000, but when Gene asked for $750,000, he walked away. That ended negotiations.

In the end, no deal was made. Gene and Keidy maintained their independence and control, but left without a Shark partner.

What Went Wrong With XTorch On Shark Tank?

By all accounts, the product was solid: durable, solar or USB rechargeable, floats in water, lights for 48 hours, and charges phones. Yet, the deal fell apart. Sharks repeatedly pointed to a lack of patent or trademark protections. Without patents, larger competitors could offer similar devices cheaply. This lack of defensibility created risk.

Price was another issue. At nearly $56 retail, the product sat in an uncertain middle ground, neither luxury nor budget. Kevin O’Leary believed it should be sold for under $30 to attract consumers. Sales volume also concerned them. By filming time, they had done a bit over $100,000 in sales, not low, but not impressive enough to win Sharks who saw scaling challenges.

Finally, their direct-to-customer strategy appeared underdeveloped. They had sold online and to NGOs, but had no large retail relationships or marketing channels. Sharks felt they needed help with distribution and marketing strategy. Even Robert’s offer to buy out the company indicated he believed he could execute better. But since Gene and Keidy wanted to keep the mission-driven business alive under their direction, they declined.

Product Availability

XTorch was available through their website and on Amazon. The product is a rugged, handheld flashlight that flips into a lantern. It includes solar panels, USB output for charging phones, LiFePO₄ battery, and IP water resistance. Its key features are 48 hours of light, up to three years of storage with minimal self-discharge, floater capability, and fast one-hour USB recharging.

Once sold for $55.95 retail, the manufacturing cost was $18.50 per unit. They aimed to reduce the cost soon to $14. On Amazon, XTorch held a strong 4.5-star rating from over 200 reviews. Positive reviews praised its durability, versatility, and reliability. Some minor negatives mentioned the USB port being wide for some older cables and occasional higher-than-expected weight.

XTorch.org still showed the product in its catalog, boasting rugged engineering and a humanitarian mission. However, inventory was inconsistent after 2021, partly due to global supply chain issues.

What Happened To The XTorch After Shark Tank?

The immediate aftermath was powerful: XTorch sold out their first batch of about 1,400 units within 24 hours of the episode airing. They received over 2,000 orders soon after. Amazon sales surged, reaching approximately $113,000 for the year. Online reviews grew, many praising the product’s reliability and value.

In subsequent years, they continued selling online through Amazon and their website, adjusting prices, now often between $35 and $50, depending on sales and promotions. They maintained the 4.5-star average. Despite supply chain challenges and fluctuating inventory, the business appeared to stay alive.

By April 2025, SharkTankInsights estimated their net worth at around $1.1 million with annual growth near 10%. Revenues and cash flow improved, but the product line stayed the same; no new models were introduced. Their charitable donations also continued; for example, they had donated about 4,000 units to developing nations by 2022.

However, according to SlashGear, XTorch is no longer listed on Amazon, and the website states they have closed due to health reasons, manufacturing base changes, and family priorities. They left customers with a farewell note: they “are saying goodbye, closing up shop, ending our business.” They highlighted reasons like health issues, switching away from China manufacturing, and family needs.

But they emphasized pride in results, the hundreds of thousands of donated light units, and the lives impacted. 

Conclusion 

XTorch began as a heartfelt idea born out of real need: reliable, durable light and power in places without electricity. Gene and Keidy built a smart product that could shine, float, recharge, and support phone charging, all while donating 25% of profits. In Shark Tank, they sought investment to scale and sharpen their mission.

The Sharks respected them but worried about a lack of IP, pricing strategy, and sales scale. Although Robert Herjavec offered to buy the whole company, Gene and Keidy declined.

The result was no deal, but that didn’t dim their light. They sold out immediately after airing, built a fan base online, and continued growing through direct and Amazon sales. But by around 2023 or 2024, they chose to wind down operations due to personal and production challenges. Despite closing the business, they celebrated that they reached thousands of people and donated widely.

XTorch’s story is one of purpose-driven entrepreneurship: identifying a genuine problem, building a solution, and persisting with a mission. Even without Shark money, they reignited lives through light, and that legacy still glows.