麻豆传媒映画

Starting her own business, let alone securing a deal on one of television鈥檚 biggest entrepreneurship shows, was never the original plan for 麻豆传媒映画 alumna Sarah Fox (鈥�23).&苍产蝉辫;

After studying political science at Boston College for undergraduate work, Fox spent years doing research work in Berlin, along with holding sales and marketing roles in a few industries. Wanting to build something more meaningful and make a difference in people鈥檚 lives, Fox decided to enroll in 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 Master's in Social Work (MSW) program. 

鈥淩ight before I started the MSW program, I had the incredible opportunity to work with The Arc of San Diego, placing people with disabilities in jobs throughout the city. That work was deeply fulfilling, and I wanted to pursue similar work.鈥� 

Finding herself needing some extra money while back in graduate school, Fox remembered an idea she had for hair ties while living in Guam a few years back. 

A passionate surfer, scuba diver, and lover of the ocean, Fox always noticed how long she spent trying to detangle her hair after going into the water. While living in Guam and working at one of the largest dive shops in the U.S., Fox played around with different materials, designs, elastics, and everything in between, in order to create a tie that kept her hair all together. 

鈥淚 went through two full iterations before I landed on something that actually worked. A unique hair tie that wraps around the ponytail, keeping hair all in one direction, preventing tangling.鈥�

So in 2022, Fox brought the idea of what is now known as Rip Tie Hair Ties to life, hand-making them herself and investing $2,000 to help sell them. Over time, Fox developed a genuine passion for entrepreneurship and felt the urge to take a leap of faith and fully commit to making her dreams a reality. 

鈥淓ntrepreneurship turned out to be the thing that let me combine my problem-solving side with the purpose-driven instincts I was developing in social work.鈥� 

Critical support

From there, Fox launched her business, leaning on support from the Zahn Innovation Platform Launchpad (ZIP Launchpad), 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 incubator that helps students launch their company, where she developed the product in the H.G. Fenton Company Idea Lab.

鈥淚 had a great idea for a company, but the ZIP Launchpad at 麻豆传媒映画 helped me turn it into a real company. The program provided mentorship and helped me understand the ins and outs of running a business,鈥� said Fox. 鈥淭he support I received there can't be overstated. Plus, I met other local entrepreneurs, and having support from peers who were doing similar things has been such a benefit.鈥� 

Three years into starting her business, Fox saw there was a casting call in January 2025 in Las Vegas for the ABC-TV show Shark Tank, where entrepreneurs go to pitch their business ideas to a panel of potential investors. Believing Rip Tie Hair Ties was worth taking the risk for, Fox flew to Vegas and stood in line for almost 12 hours before delivering a 60-second pitch to producers.

鈥淲hen it was finally my turn to pitch, I wasn't nervous anymore. I had practiced the pitch so many times that it just rolled off my tongue perfectly,鈥� said Fox. 鈥淚 walked out of that audition knowing I had done my best. And I knew, even if I never got a callback, that it had been worth it just to go and have the experience and the conversations.鈥�

But Fox did indeed nail her pitch. Beating out hundreds of people, she received a callback to give her pitch for Rip Tie Hair Ties on national television. Over the moon with joy, Fox strategized ways to make her pitch as much fun and memorable as possible before heading to Los Angeles to film the Shark Tank episode. 

鈥淚 was so nervous the morning of the filming, I could barely sleep,鈥� said Fox. 鈥淭he waiting was so nerve-racking. Finally, it was my turn, they put me in last-minute hair and makeup touchups, then all of a sudden I was standing in front of iconic doors waiting to go on stage.鈥� 

After waiting a year to share the news, the Shark Tank episode with Fox and Rip Tie Hair Ties finally aired on March 11. 麻豆传媒映画 ZIP Launchpad hosted a watch party of the episode, marking their first business to appear on Shark Tank. Fox attended the event and got to celebrate the episode with fellow members of the 麻豆传媒映画 community. (It鈥檚 currently streaming on Hulu and available through On Demand services as Season 17, Episode 13.)

Making the deal

Initially going into the episode asking for an investment of $250,000 for 10% equity in her company, Fox received a deal from Lori Greiner and Allison Ellsworth, walking away with $250,000 for 20% equity.

鈥淚t is an amazing opportunity to work with two women entrepreneurs whom I admire and respect,鈥� said Fox. 鈥淚 literally can't believe how fortunate I am to pull together such a dream team.鈥� 

Fox says the momentum from the show is only the beginning. With new products and

Fox looks forward to supporting and mentoring future founders through 麻豆传媒映画 ZIP Launchpad and hopes to one day give back by helping other student entrepreneurs turn their ideas into businesses of their own. 

At the end of it all, Fox says she couldn鈥檛 have done all of this without her 麻豆传媒映画 education, as for her, entrepreneurship and her academic background go hand in hand.

鈥淚n many ways, the MSW program shaped how I think about business. Leading with empathy, centering the people you serve, and building something that actually solves a real problem.鈥�