Michigan State University College of Engineering student entrepreneurs Madhav Aggarwal and Tanvi Gadamsetti, co-founders of BRCĒ, secured a $300,000 investment during their appearance on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” which aired on March 4, 2026, bringing their student-built venture from campus to one of the largest stages for entrepreneurship.
The deal came after the founders pitched their venture to the panel of investors, seeking funding and strategic guidance to help grow their company.
BRCĒ, pronounced “brace,” is a performance materials technology company built by Aggarwal and Gadamsetti while studying at MSU. Their patented product, “shoelaces that NEVER QUIT,” is designed to help prevent sports-related ankle injuries by reducing untied laces — a concept the founders began developing while actively leveraging entrepreneurship resources and opportunities across MSU’s campus.
Appearing on “Shark Tank” gave the student founders the opportunity to present their business to millions of viewers and a panel of high-profile investors known as the “sharks,” who evaluate entrepreneurs in hopes of backing the next breakout company.
After several rounds of questions and negotiations, guest shark Fawn Weaver, CEO of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, and Daniel Lubetzky, founder of KIND Snacks, teamed up to offer $300,000 for 20% equity, a deal the founders accepted.
“‘Shark Tank’ has been a full-circle moment for us,” said Aggarwal. “It allows us to accelerate what we’ve been building from day one — bringing our material technology to more products, more athletes and launching exciting brand collaborations that push performance innovation forward.”
Their appearance on “Shark Tank” highlights the growing momentum of student entrepreneurship at MSU and the ambition of Spartans building companies while still in college.
“This moment shows just how much momentum student entrepreneurship has at MSU. Our students aren’t waiting until after graduation to start companies — they’re building real ventures now, solving real problems and taking those ideas to national platforms like ‘Shark Tank,’” said Paul Jaques, managing director of venture creation at the MSU Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
While building BRCĒ, the founders connected with MSU’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, including the Burgess Institute, where students from across campus are equipped with the mindset, community and real-world experiences needed to turn ideas into action.
Through programs, mentorship and hands-on experiences, the Burgess Institute supports students as they test ideas, launch ventures and develop the skills that drive innovation across industries.
The institute also connects student founders with opportunities to pitch their ventures at competitions across the country, where they gain national exposure, compete for early-stage funding, and receive feedback from experienced entrepreneurs and investors.
Before appearing on “Shark Tank,” the founders earned recognition in several local and national pitch competitions. BRCĒ was a finalist in the 2025 Burgess New Venture Challenge, won the top prize at the 2025 Collegiate Great Brands Competition and was named runner-up in the 2025 Schulze Entrepreneurship Challenge at the annual e-Fest Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Competition. The team was also a finalist in the 2025 Collegiate Inventors Competition, an alternate in the student category for the 2025 SXSW Pitch, and will compete as a finalist in the upcoming 2026 Rice Business Plan Competition.
The founders join a growing community of Spartan entrepreneurs who have taken ventures from campus classrooms and student programs to national stages and high-growth startup opportunities.
With new investment and national exposure, Aggarwal and Gadamsetti are looking ahead to the next phase of BRCĒ’s growth — scaling the company, expanding its reach and continuing to build the business they first imagined as students at MSU.
“This moment propels BRCĒ into its next chapter. The exposure from ‘Shark Tank’ introduces our technology to millions of people and opens the door for new product launches and partnerships with global brands,” said Gadamsetti. “We’re incredibly excited about what comes next and how far this platform can take the mission we started as students.”
For Spartan entrepreneurs, Gadamsetti and Aggarwal’s appearance on “Shark Tank” demonstrates what is possible when students and their ideas meet the resources, mentorship and community that help them grow.
From a student startup in East Lansing to securing investment on national television, BRCĒ’s journey reflects the ambition, creativity and drive of the next generation of Spartan entrepreneurs.
The full episode is available to watch on ABC’s “Shark Tank” web page.
Story by Aubrey Haase and courtesy of MSUToday.
MSU College of Engineering Media and Public Relations page