Hydroviv

Hydroviv makes under-sink and other home water filters that are customized to the specific contaminants in your local water supply, targeting things like lead, PFAS, and arsenic rather than using a generic cartridge. Founder Eric Roy, a scientist with a background in water chemistry, started the company after the Flint water crisis drew attention to how varied and serious tap water problems can be from one city to the next.

Roy pitched in Season 10 asking for $400,000 for 10 percent, leaning hard into the science and the public-health angle. Mark Cuban engaged with the data-driven approach and offered $400,000 but for 20 percent, double the equity Roy had floated. Roy accepted Cuban's offer on air, drawn to the credibility and reach a shark of that profile could bring to a technical, trust-dependent product.

Hydroviv stood out by treating water filtration as a chemistry problem rather than a commodity. The idea that a filter should be matched to your zip code's actual contaminants felt smarter than the one-size-fits-all options on store shelves, and Roy's expert, no-hype delivery gave the brand a credibility that is hard to fake in the wellness space.

The handshake with Mark Cuban was not finalized after filming, with both sides deciding it was not the right fit. Hydroviv still got a major sales lift from the episode and raised outside funding shortly after, letting Roy keep control while expanding the lineup to shower filters, refrigerator filters, and bundles, alongside donation programs aimed at communities with poor water quality.

Hydroviv was later acquired by Culligan International, a large global water treatment company, and Eric Roy stayed on as Chief Scientist to keep guiding product development. The brand remains active in 2026, selling customized filtration systems online under continued corporate backing, which gives it more stability and distribution than it had as an independent startup.