Four Years After Shark Tank: How SUNFLOW Redefined The Beach Chair

When Leslie Hsu and Greg Besner showed up on Shark Tank back in March 2022, their pitch was simple: beach chairs hadn’t really changed since the last century, and SUNFLOW had spent three years dreaming up something better.

Leslie brought her background in fashion design and entrepreneurial chops, while Greg had a whole resume of building businesses (plus ten years teaching business at NYU Stern). Rather than walking into the Tank with some half-baked prototype, the pair had already sold 11,000 chairs in just over a year, and if you count the accessories, that number jumps to 44,000.

Kevin O’Leary threw $1 million on the table for 5% of the company, plus a $5 royalty on every chair. Leslie and Greg said yes on TV, but the deal fizzled out once the cameras stopped rolling.

The failed deal did little to slow the company. After the episode aired, orders increased tenfold, giving SUNFLOW a level of exposure that would have been difficult to purchase through conventional advertising.

They later raised $3.5 million from outside investors, which helped turn that first chair into the jumping-off point for a whole lineup of luxurious beach equipment.

We Couldn’t Stop At Just One Chair

The original SUNFLOW chair proved you could have a beach chair that’s both sturdy and easy to tote. 

Even better, it showed there were plenty of people out there ready to ditch the cheap, throwaway chairs if they could actually see and feel the difference. SUNFLOW didn’t just crank out new stuff for the sake of it. They listened to what people actually wanted, meaning lighter chairs, different seat heights, and options for how you’d use your chair from sunrise to sunset.

Enter the Shore Thing Chair: the answer for anyone who’s tired of lugging heavy gear. At just 8 pounds and with backpack straps, it’s the easiest one to haul from your trunk to your spot on the sand.

The lower seat keeps you in that classic, toes-in-the-sand lounging position. And with three recline settings, you can shift from upright snacking to full-on nap mode, no extra bulk required.

Then there’s the Tall Sand Dune Chair for everyone who wanted SUNFLOW’s signature style and portability, but also craved a seat that felt more like real-deal furniture. With a seat 17 inches off the sand and four ways to recline, it’s perfect for anyone who likes a little extra legroom. You can stand up without a struggle.

From Simple Chair To Full Sun-Soaking Platform

As the chair family grew, SUNFLOW started tackling all those little beach annoyances with accessories. The goal wasn’t to just toss in random extras, but to make your chair the heart of your whole beach setup.

The Sun Shade was the top request and emerged as the first major quality-of-life accessory. It clips right onto your chair, gives you UPF 50+ coverage, and actually stays put when you move your seat to chase the sun (or the shade).

Once the shade situation was sorted, SUNFLOW started knocking out all those little annoyances that pop up during a long day on the sand. Next up was the Drink Holder, which finally solves the classic beach problem: where do you put your drink? Now you’ve got a spot for your beverage so you don’t have to juggle or dig through your bag every time you get thirsty.

The Dry Bag keeps your phone, keys, and other little essentials safe and sand-free, right by your chair, which means no more frantic digging or sandy surprises. They even came up with towel straps and contour pillows, all designed to solve real beach problems instead of just slapping the SUNFLOW name on random stuff.

The Move Into Fashion And Lifestyle

SUNFLOW’s post-Shark Tank growth also showed itself in the fashion-forward brands they started partnering with. Their collab with Shoshanna paired beach chairs with matching swimwear, putting SUNFLOW right in the middle of the resort and fashion scene.

The LoveShackFancy collab took things even further. The collab is three years running, and every edition has sold out within a few weeks, indicating that people really love a little extra flair with their beach gear.

In 2026, SUNFLOW rolled out personalization for select chair models and colors. You can add your name, initials, or even a little icon, making your chair feel more like yours without messing with the design you already love.

Personalizing something really only makes sense if you plan to keep it around for a while. That’s what makes SUNFLOW chairs so different: our chairs are built to last, rather than just for one summer season.

How SUNFLOW Changed The Beach Chair

Before SUNFLOW, the portable beach-chair market left little room between two extremes. Buyers could choose inexpensive chairs designed for a season or two of use, or they could purchase heavier, resort-style furniture that wasn’t built for portability.

SUNFLOW proved there’s a sweet spot in the middle. People want something easy to carry, but they’re over the flimsy materials and constant replacements. They also showed that buying a beach chair can be like buying good luggage: you’ll pay more upfront if you know it’ll last and make your life easier.

Turns out, beach chairs were treated as disposable mostly because nobody had offered a better option. Once something better came along, people were more than happy to rethink how they buy their beach gear.

Four Years Of Customer-Driven Expansion

The popularity of the Tall Sand Dune Chair confirmed that seat height could be treated as a design preference rather than an accommodation. Customers who wanted a more typical chair format didn’t want to give up portability or appearance in the exchange.

SUNFLOW just took their same great materials and easy-carry design and made it taller. That way, more people got what they wanted, and the brand stayed true to itself. Personalization is the same idea: it’s about making your chair feel more like yours, not just adding more stuff to the lineup.

That approach has defined the company’s development since Shark Tank. SUNFLOW has used feedback to identify where the original design could support a new use case, then built around that need without lowering the core standard.

Moving Beyond The Deal

The Shark Tank deal didn’t happen, but the idea behind SUNFLOW was solid. People were clamoring for luxury beach chairs, but just hadn’t been given a good option to buy one before.

Four years later, SUNFLOW has gone from one clever chair to a whole outdoor system you’ll spot on beaches everywhere. The Shore Thing and Tall Sand Dune chairs cover different tastes, and the Sun Shade plus all those accessories take your setup way beyond just sitting.

SUNFLOW’s story is all about steady improvement based on real customer feedback rather than just cranking out new stuff for the sake of it. They’ve stuck to the same question since day one: what if we treated the humble beach chair like it actually deserved some real engineering and design love?

Frequently Asked Questions

Did SUNFLOW get a deal on Shark Tank?

SUNFLOW appeared on Shark Tank Season 13, Episode 16 in March 2022. Founders Leslie Hsu and Greg Besner reached a deal with Kevin O'Leary on camera for $1 million in exchange for 5% equity and a $5 per chair royalty. The deal fell through during post-show negotiations, which is common. SUNFLOW went on to raise $3.5 million from outside investors.

What products does SUNFLOW make?

SUNFLOW's lineup includes three chair models — the Shore Thing Chair (8 pounds, low-profile, three recline positions) and the Tall Sand Dune Chair (17-inch seat height, three recline positions). Accessories include the Sun Shade (UPF 50+ coverage that clips to the chair), Drink Holder, Dry Bag, towel straps, and contour pillows. In 2026, SUNFLOW introduced personalization on select chair models and colors.

What makes SUNFLOW chairs different from regular beach chairs?

SUNFLOW chairs are built with rust-resistant powder-coated aluminum frames and marine-grade fabric designed for repeated exposure to salt, sand, and UV. The patented frame designs fold smaller than traditional chairs while maintaining comfort and stability. Unlike most beach chairs that are designed around a single-season lifespan, SUNFLOW chairs are engineered for multi-year durability with an accessory system that turns the chair into a complete beach setup.