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Hood on 'Shark Tank': What is the cost and how to buy custom Merino wool caps to represent your culture

Shark Tank's Hood offers stylish, classic headgear that is painstakingly made to have the best possible fit, feel, and quality
PUBLISHED APR 19, 2024
Max Nelson to pitch Merino wool baseball caps company, Hood in 'Shark Tank' Season 15 episode 21 (ABC/@christopherwillard)
Max Nelson to pitch Merino wool baseball caps company, Hood in 'Shark Tank' Season 15 episode 21 (ABC/@christopherwillard)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Have you always desired quality headgear with a better fit and feel? The wait is now over, thanks to Hood Hats.

Hood Hat, which focuses on the quality and fit of its ball caps, offers a range of luxury headgear that is exhibited in front of five investors in episode 21 of ABC's 'Shark Tank' Season 15. Whether or not a deal is reached with one of the sharks, appearing on the show will surely draw exposure and pique the interest of potential buyers of the brand.

"'Shark Tank' was a very enjoyable experience," Max said. "I would do it again in a heartbeat."

'Shark Tank's Hood was established in 2018 with the goal of not merely producing more hats but also establishing a new and distinct fashion category (ABC/ChristopherWillard)
'Shark Tank's Hood was established in 2018 with the goal of not merely producing more hats but also establishing a new and distinct fashion category (ABC/ChristopherWillard)

What is Hood on 'Shark Tank' Season 15?

In the hectic city of Los Angeles, Max, a real estate tycoon, discovered simplicity in the shape of a baseball cap. This path led him to launch Hood Hat, a business that has swiftly established a place for itself with its 100% Merino wool hats.

Max's tale began with a restoration job in Brentwood and a need for a sun-protective hat free of showy branding. His hunt concluded with a $6 hat from a local store, which he turned into a personalized Brentwood insignia using a small-scale factory.

This could have been the end of Max's hat-making journey, but a fortuitous encounter at a Sid Mashburn store pushed it ahead. An interaction with an admiring salesperson prompted the decision to replace the cap's synthetic blend with pure wool. Max's search for the ideal wool fabric took him to New York, where he created a new Brentwood cap that felt miles better than the original.

The combination of Max's real estate job with his developing hat company resulted in a unique synergy. His coworkers began purchasing the caps as unique closing gifts, offering a refreshing alternative to the traditional bottle of champagne.

The Hood Hat brand gained traction after Jay-Z, a rapper and business tycoon, was spotted wearing a Bel Air cap from the Hood Hat line. This celebrity endorsement enhanced the brand's attractiveness and link to Los Angeles culture. Hood Hat's first collection included 10 prominent neighborhoods, with each cap reflecting the tale of its own location.

Designer Max then returned to his New York roots, creating a collection that pays homage to the boroughs of his childhood. He was inspired by the nostalgic snapbacks of the early 1990s, and aimed to produce elegant ball hats that allowed people to boldly represent their favorite locales.

The brand's transformation proceeded as it addressed celebrity influence. Rapper YG wanted a "Bompton" cap, while Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon demanded a "Park Hill" style.

Hood Hat's collection is more than just fashion; each hat tells a story. Hood Hat also provides customizing services, offering a wide range of designs, materials, and colors, allowing clients to create their own unique hats. Furthermore, the firm offers pre-designed caps honoring many states and sports teams, appealing to a diverse variety of tastes and affiliations.

In essence, the Hood Hat is more than simply a cap; it's a statement item that represents personal experiences and community pride. Max's product has not only filled a market void, but has also brought together the threads of his professional life in an unexpected and harmonious manner.

'Shark Tank's Hood offers classic, refined headgear that is painstakingly made to have an unrivaled fit, feel, and quality (Facebook/hoodhatusa)
'Shark Tank's Hood offers classic, refined headgear that is painstakingly made to have an unrivaled fit, feel, and quality (Facebook/hoodhatusa)

Who is the founder of Hood on 'Shark Tank' Season 15?

Growing up on Staten Island inspired Max to create Hood Hat. It all started with his boyhood, when he spent a lot of time playing stickball in elementary school.

Before attending Davidson College, he attended Staten Island Academy. He lives in El Medio Bluffs with his wife, Carly, and their two children, Rivers and Violet.

Max Nelson was inspired to create 'Shark Tank's Hood by his upbringing on Staten Island (LinkedIn/max-nelson-2a2b67228)
Max Nelson was inspired to create 'Shark Tank's Hood by his upbringing on Staten Island (LinkedIn/max-nelson-2a2b67228)

What is the cost and how to buy Hood on 'Shark Tank' Season 15?

Regarding the hats, you may check to see if your city or town is included in the extensive inventory of Hood hats, or you can create one straight on the website. There are also state logo caps, sports logo hats (unlicensed), and "Swiftie" logo hats, among many more.

Hats cost $70 to $90 for a personalized hat. Typically, the price range is between $65 and $120 depending on the style of cap, although there are frequent discounts and deals, such as 40% off ten or more hats and Buy One, Get One 50% off. 

'Shark Tank's Hood is the schoolyard stickball games, the sunset runs on the blacktop, and the summertime mix cassettes on the front porch (Facebook/hoodhatusa)
'Shark Tank's Hood is the schoolyard stickball games, the sunset runs on the blacktop, and the summertime mix cassettes on the front porch (Facebook/hoodhatusa)

Where is Hood on on 'Shark Tank' Season 15 now?

Hood Hat, with its headquarters located in Los Angeles, California, is a symbol of the union of fashion, music, art, and sport.

Max said, "I self-funded the business, and two years in, we did a friends and family round, but to this day, we haven’t taken institutional money, and as glamorous as the VC thing sounds, we kind of pride ourselves on the fact that we’ve been able to figure that part out on our own," in response to a question regarding the capital he raised to launch his company in an interview with Canvas Rebel.

Hood Hat, which only sells high-quality, personalized luxury ball caps, is well-known for donating 5% of its proceeds to The Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), a group that works to stop mass imprisonment in California. Some of the greatest names in entertainment, including Jay-Z, Ryan Reynolds, Floyd Mayweather, Sophia Culpo, Ben Affleck, Rick Ross, Jake Paul, Zach Braff, Swizz Beatz, Nas, and many more, have worn Hood Hats since the brand's launch.

Hood has raised funds in one round. Its most recent fundraising round was a conventional debt round of $50,000 on July 31, 2023.

Jay-Z proudly dons 'Shark Tank's Hood Hats (Facebook/hoodhatusa)
Jay-Z proudly dons 'Shark Tank's Hood Hats (Facebook/hoodhatusa)

Who will steal the deal?

While Max has developed a successful firm, there is nothing proprietary about it. Michael Rubin is unlikely to make a bid because he is already heavily involved in the hat industry.

Kevin O'Leary may create a royalty offer. These hats cost $70 or more, so we're sure there are large profits.

Barbara Corcoran and Lori Greiner, we believe, will not make any offer. That leaves Mark Cuban, and we don't know what he will do.     

'Shark Tank's Hood uses fabrics like Japanese twill, gabardine, cashmere, and merino wool (Facebook/hoodhatusa)
'Shark Tank's Hood uses fabrics like Japanese twill, gabardine, cashmere, and merino wool (Facebook/hoodhatusa)

'Shark Tank' Season 15, Episode 21, airs on ABC on Friday, April 19, at 8 pm ET. Catch the latest episode featuring products like RoboBurger, Hood, HYPD, and K3.

For those who miss the episode, it will be available on demand the following day and on Hulu. Additionally, viewers can explore past seasons and episodes on Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.

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