Liberate: The Brand’s Journey Post-Shark Tank

Liv Bowser of Liberate appeared on “Shark Tank” Season 13 to pitch her business to the moguls as a “mental fitness studio.” She stated, “Our method blends mindful movement with journaling, conversation, and meditation for a dynamic workout for your mind.” Bowser’s goal was $200,000 for 10% equity into her company, but the “Shark Tank” judges were immediately skeptical. “How the h— do I make money with any of this c—?” Kevin O’Leary asked. The other business honchos wanted to know what Bowser provided, to which she responded that Liberate hosts online classes priced at $19 to $49 per month.

Getting into the nitty gritty details of the business model, the judges naturally wanted to know how much revenue Bowser had made so far. When she replied, “$50,000 lifetime,” they visibly winced. Mark Cuban told her that she wasn’t charging enough to scale the business and told her he wasn’t interested in investing. Robert Herjavec thought Bowser was too much in the early stages without enough tangible results, so he bowed out, and for that same reason, Daymond John and Lori Greiner did as well. O’Leary’s parting shot was that Liberate would never make it and told Bowser, “Take it behind the barn and shoot it and do something else.” Still, the hopeful entrepreneur smiled and thanked the judges before leaving the set.

Liv Bowser had a mission when she appeared on “Shark Tank” and even though she didn’t get a deal, she remained positive. “I knew that the odds were stacked against me but still, I was confident. I knew Liberate would resonate with both the Sharks and with the people watching ‘Shark Tank’ because we all deal with mental challenges in some way, and seek support,” she shared with Authority Magazine. Bowser revealed that she was nervous during her pitch but used mindful exercises to help calm herself down. Despite not getting any deals, she added, “I am very pleased with the outcome of my ‘Shark Tank’ pitch. I went in there and did my best, represented our mental fitness movement at Liberate to the best of my ability, and gave a good show!”

In June 2022, Bowser shared pics of herself making healthy choices and wrote on Instagram, “In honor of our Shark Tank episode re-airing tonight (!!!) @liberatestudio photoshoots represent new energy and enthusiasm toward ‘my purpose on earth.’ We move, we journal, we meditate, we breathe … “

Kevin O’Leary was skeptical about Liv Bowser’s business model, but it looks like Liberate was thriving by 2024. After getting rejected by the “Shark Tank” cast, Bowser was able to get Techstars and Angel Investors to fund her company, per F6S. In 2024, she was named in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, which stated that her company built its worth to six figures at the time by expanding Liberate’s offerings, such as yearly subscriptions and merchandise.

In an interview with FEMpreneur, Bowser revealed just how well her company was doing following the show: “Our virtual community is growing solidly. Liberate has grown by 250% since launch and helped over 1,000 human beings strengthen their mental well-being and expand their relationship with themselves and others.” She added, “Our strong online presence has allowed us to form positive brand partnerships with other mission-driven companies, connect with a global community, and expand into not just virtual classes but also virtual programs as well.” Bowser may have left “Shark Tank” empty-handed, but at least she left with some good advice that helped her build upon what was once a shaky foundation that became a booming business.

According to Liberate’s website, folks can book one-time events that they can do from home, such as chair yoga and a gratitude workshop. While the entrepreneur built her brand by herself, Liberate now has a team of fitness and mental-health experts who, along with Liv Bowser, host the online classes, which run from 30 to 60 minutes. Individuals can also become members for $19 per month, at the time of writing, which gets them unlimited mental fitness and meditation classes.

Bowser mentioned on “Shark Tank” that she wanted to focus more on B2B services and she tailored her brand to do just that. Companies can plan team-building exercises through the site or they can request custom content to become a better provider for their clients.

For curious folks who want to dip their toes into Liberate without any commitment, they can try a free two-week trial membership or download free eBooks that highlight the mental health benefits of high self-esteem, practicing self-care, maintaining a positive outlook on life, and more. Bowser also made sure to provide merchandise like journals, T-shirts, and tote bags with the Liberate logo, which are available for sale on the site.

Appearing on “Shark Tank” definitely helped with Liv Bowser’s popularity and she used the momentum to make an even bigger name for herself. In May 2024, she launched her podcast “Mentally Fit,” which is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Episodes are dropped once a week, and there is a mix of Bowser giving mental wellness advice solo and having guests give their expert advice. Some are only 15 minutes long, while others can go for over 40 minutes, so there are lots of options for people on the go.

Bowser also regularly posts advice on Liberate’s Instagram page, which boasts over 19,000 followers. In one November 2024 post, she wrote, “With Thanksgiving a few weeks away, here are a few affirmations to repeat to yourself. ⁠And you can always send them to someone who could use a little more positivity in their day!” For those who’d like to see what the fuss is about for themselves, some affirmations that can bring positivity to your day include, “My people get me,” and “I receive with open arms.” Fans can also follow Liberate’s Facebook and TikTok pages for helpful mindfulness and meditation tips: two practices that helped launch Bowser’s now-successful business.