If you ever feel like you haven’t accomplished much, it might help to know that Trey Brown, the founder and CEO of the fashion brand SPERGO, didn’t reach $1 million in sales until he was 50 years old!
Hold on, that’s not right… he was actually 15. Apologies for that mistake.
For real, Brown’s pitch on “Shark Tank” is one of the most inspiring and impressive in recent years. It’s hard not to cheer for the teenager as he talks to the panel of celebrity investors, explaining how he turned less than $200 in birthday money into nearly $2 million in revenue.
This kind of determination could be overwhelming for anyone starting a new business, but Brown, who grew up in a tough environment in Philadelphia surrounded by violence and drugs, was set on inspiring young people everywhere to show them that there are different paths to success.
“I wanted to be the light and role model for, you know, not just youth in the city of Philadelphia, but all over … to show them that it’s possible,” he told the Sharks in 2021.
“That you can chase your dreams, and you don’t have to be violent or you don’t have to get into drugs to make money,” Brown said his interest in fashion came from his mother, Sharell Peterson, who was a seamstress and appeared with Brown on the show, as well as his family’s tradition of dressing up in their best clothes for church every Sunday.
There’s no doubt that Brown is one of the most successful teenagers in the country, but the Sharks are tough, even on the youngest entrepreneurs.
Trey Brown’s pitch on Shark Tank couldn’t have gone better
In Season 13, Episode 6 of Shark Tank, Trey Brown and Sherell Peterson present their clothing brand SPERGO, a name that combines “sport,” “hero,” and “go.” They value the company at $3 million and offer 10% of the business in exchange for an investment of $300,000.
This was a reasonable request, and with Brown’s clear and strong pitch, his time on Shark Tank was very successful. Throughout his presentation, the teenage entrepreneur answered questions directly and impressively, winning the sharks over.
They were amazed by the detailed embroidery of the products, how Brown consistently reinvested profits back into the business, and the steady increase in profits year after year (by the time Brown and Peterson paid themselves salaries, SPERGO’s net revenue had already exceeded $300,000).
They were also impressed to learn that Brown received a $25,000 grant from Sean “Diddy” Combs to open a retail store. The sharks were so impressed with how stable and successful the business was that they weren’t sure what value they could add.
This was especially true for Lori Greiner and Kevin O’Leary, who felt they didn’t have the fashion experience needed to help SPERGO. Robert Herjavec admitted he wasn’t sure how to grow a clothing business that wasn’t based online. Just when things seemed quiet, fashion expert Daymond John made an offer.
Even though Mark Cuban made a competing offer, Brown accepted a counter from John. In the end, John took 20% of SPERGO, and the mother-son team got the $300,000 investment they were looking for, along with a perfect partner in John.
SPERGO’s story grabbed attention
After SPERGO’s episode aired in 2021, Trey Brown and Sherell Peterson received a huge number of orders, experiencing what’s known as the “Shark Tank Effect.”
In the days after their appearance, SPERGO saw a rise in orders by over 2,000%. Along with being featured on the popular ABC show, the unique and inspiring nature of Brown’s story drew the attention of many news outlets, including CNBC and the Philadelphia Business Journal.
In the Philadelphia Business Journal, Brown and Peterson expressed their amazement at their success after the show and thanked Daymond John for believing in SPERGO. There’s no official public information about whether the deal with John was closed immediately after the show, as there is usually some time needed for due diligence. However, John seemed hopeful about their future together when the episode aired.
He tweeted, “So proud of my newest business partners @OfficialSPERGO!! You’ve already accomplished so much and I can’t wait to see what more you’ll achieve.”
Is SPERGO’s deal with Daymond John finalized?
Since SPERGO’s successful pitch on Shark Tank, it’s unclear if Daymond John is still involved with the clothing company. The website Shark Tank Blog, which keeps track of the show’s deals, claims without providing evidence that the deal with Trey Brown and Sherell Peterson was officially closed. However, there is no mention of Daymond John or SPERGO’s Shark Tank appearance on the company’s website. This is unusual for a fashion company, as most startups highlight any celebrity involvement to help build trust with customers. Of the many celebrities listed in SPERGO’s About Us section, John is not included.
The company is still operating, and it seems to release new designs regularly, based on their somewhat quiet social media presence. For example, a recent Instagram post only received 200 likes, despite having more than 100,000 followers, and their Twitter account is not much more active.
SPERGO has an average rating of 3.6 stars on Facebook and 3.9 stars on Google Reviews. However, there are several one-star reviews complaining about issues like poor customer service and items that either don’t arrive or arrive much later than expected.
What’s next for SPERGO?
SPERGO faces two major challenges as Trey Brown works towards his goal of becoming a 21-year-old billionaire. The first challenge is ensuring the quality product SPERGO offers gets the backing of a global brand, including reliable fulfillment and customer service.
In terms of style and cool factor, SPERGO is on par with brands like Champion, Supreme, and Off-White, depending on personal preference.
SPERGO is also a more affordable option. However, the real challenge Brown faces is improving the behind-the-scenes operations, not the products themselves.
Improving these operations will require a significant investment of time and money, which brings SPERGO to its second challenge: Brown is about to reach college age.
He may decide to skip school to focus on his business, and given his success, it would be understandable. But if he chooses to attend college, whether for business or another program, it will take up time, money, and energy.
We’re not here to suggest what Brown should do — we’re still amazed by his 2021 pitch. However, as Brown and his family continue to chase his dream of becoming a billionaire, they’ll have to make some tough decisions.
Trey Brown started SPERGO using $178 he received for his birthday
Trey Brown started SPERGO with $178 in birthday money. He used the money to buy, customize, and sell 16 t-shirts. When his mother, Sherell Peterson, asked him what he planned to do with the $280 he earned, Brown knew he wanted to put it back into his business.
In an interview with the Washington Post, Brown shared that he got inspiration from Nehemiah Davis, a Philadelphia philanthropist who had a YouTube course about starting a t-shirt business. Brown named his company SPERGO, combining the words “sports,” “heroes,” and “go-getters.” His mother played a key role in helping him get the business started.
In 2019, Brown appeared in an Invesco advertising campaign that aired on CNN, and his company even had a billboard in Times Square.
Celebrities like Sean “Diddy” Combs helped bring attention to the SPERGO brand. Brown worked hard to get his merchandise into the hands of influencers, meeting with concert promoters in his area. He said, “I made sure I was always there. I would sneak in and have a bag of SPERGO with me,” referring to the events he attended.
In 2020, Brown had the chance to meet with Sean “Diddy” Combs at his mansion. Combs was impressed by Brown’s drive and gave him the first-ever Black Excellence Entrepreneurial grant of $25,000. That money helped open the first SPERGO store in Philadelphia.
SPERGO was also one of only two businesses selected for the “Buy Black Program” by the Philadelphia 76ers. According to the company website, other celebrities seen wearing SPERGO apparel include Meek Mill, Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Grant Hill.
[Updated: 04/04/2025]
