Here's What Went Down With HelloPrenup After Shark Tank

Julia Rodgers and Sarabeth Jaffe pitched HelloPrenup on "Shark Tank" in season 13, episode 6. Rodgers was a family law attorney, while Jaffe was a software developer. The two women joined forces after noticing how difficult it was for couples to get prenuptial agreements; they were either incredibly complicated to obtain or very expensive. The women created HelloPrenup, a simple online procedure for couples to use before their weddings that's likened to the TurboTax of prenups.

The wedding market is huge for "Shark Tank." Inventors have appeared on the ABC reality show with all kinds of amazing ideas for brides, grooms, and everything to do with weddings. Wedding Wagon, a portable wedding package, didn't land a shark but went on to succeed anyway. Meanwhile, Bridal Babes, an online shop for affordable bridesmaid dresses, snatched a shark and has gone on to thrive. Then there was Nearly Newlywed, a resale company for wedding dresses that didn't wow the sharks but has thrived nonetheless. HelloPrenup was one of the major success stories on "Shark Tank" and has totally changed the prenup landscape.

Julia Rodgers and Sarabeth Jaffe appeared on "Shark Tank" asking for $150,000 in exchange for 10% of HelloPrenup. The founders explained that their business was the first digital platform to allow couples to create prenuptial agreements in a matter of hours and for a fraction of the cost of traditional routes. Rodgers and Jaffe also admitted that the older route of getting a prenup was considered taboo, whereas an online method makes it less stressful.

The two women explained that they partnered in March 2021, combining their legal and software skills to create the company. As for their "Shark Tank" pitch, they had only written 25 prenups and had $20,000 in lifetime sales, which made the potential investors pause. While the sharks were getting cold feet, the founders explained that one of their prenups costs $599, while the average prenup costs over $5,000.

Kevin O'Leary was the first shark to pull out, followed by Lori Greiner. Mark Cuban pulled out next, and then Robert Herjavec said it wasn't for him. Guest shark Nirav Tolia, founder of Nextdoor, was the first to bite. He offered them $150,000 for 30%. The sharks countered, and Jaffe asked O'Leary if he'd come back in, considering his expertise in the wedding industry. O'Leary and Tolia came in together, offering $150,000 for 30%. Rodgers and Jaffe accepted, and they had a deal.

Things blew up for HelloPrenup after their "Shark Tank" appearance. The deal with Kevin O'Leary and Nirav Tolia went through, and the combination of strengths was a boon for the business. According to NewsWire, HelloPrenup had a 14,000% increase in sales. By March 2024, their lifetime sales were at $3 million, and the company was valued at $22 million.

The company has made a few very strategic partnerships too, since teaming up with O'Leary and Tolia. A big thing for HelloPrenup was their partnership with Proof, which used to be called Notarize. This allows HelloPrenup clients to notarize their prenups online. Brian Liu, founder of Legal Zoom, became an advisor and investor. They also partnered with Suffolk University, which is Julia Rodgers's alma mater. The university is famous for its use of legal technology, and the collaboration between the university and HelloPrenup made perfect sense. In fact, O'Leary and Tolia visited the campus with Rodgers and Sarabeth Jaffe to talk about both the brand and the collaboration. Having the backing of the two sharks was major for HelloPrenup, and the founders were well aware of this. "With the sharks by our side, the sky is the limit," Rodgers said, according to the university's website. "We know that we can take prenups from being a taboo to a marriage to-do." Everything is moving forward nicely.

HelloPrenup continues to grow and expand. The press surrounding the brand is impressive, and full of accolades for Julia Rodgers and Sarabeth Jaffe. Forbes included Jaffe in its 30 Under 30 list for Seattle, praising the company's ability to grow. Meanwhile, Rodgers was included in vLex's 2023 honorees for being among the most innovative in law. The company got a shoutout in The New Yorker in an article aptly called: "Prenups Aren't Just for Rich People Anymore." News about HelloPrenup's successful innovation is spreading fast.

On Instagram, HelloPrenup is full of success stories. Couples share how they were able to easily get a prenuptial agreement before their wedding thanks to the smart technology. And even the demise of some marriages has led to positive reviews for HelloPrenup. One user, Hank, shared a story that HelloPrenup saved him $95,000 after he and his ex-wife got divorced. Their social media is also full of legal advice, so for anyone about to get married, it's worth perusing.

It looks like HelloPrenup is going to continue growing and expanding. Based on her LinkedIn account, Julia Rodgers has been immersed in HelloPrenup full-time since September 2020. As for Sarabeth Jaffe, she has been full-time with HelloPrenup since March 2021, according to her LinkedIn page. For both founders, this is their sole project.

The brand has expanded further with a HelloPrenup podcast that's full of relationship and legal advice for couples, as well as those seeking divorce. There are all sorts of guest lawyers on the podcast, so the wealth of information is worth the time! Between the website, social media presence, and podcast, HelloPrenup encourages individuals to advocate for themselves and make choices with their eyes wide open. The brand encourages couples to speak frankly about money so that finances don't become a destructive force in a marriage. It's a smart way to prepare for the future.