
4 minute read
Ship Alumni secure a major deal on Shark Tank
On January 17, ABC’s Shark Tank featured Bro Glo, a male-focused self-tanner founded by two Ship alumni, Tom Phillips ’07 and Jaron Nalewak ’08, and their business partner Joseph McDevitt. The three pitched their product to the panel of ‘sharks’ and secured a deal with Mark Cuban for $200,000 and 10 percent equity.
Bro Glo was created to solve a problem that men face—a lack of natural-looking self-tanners marketed specifically for their skin. While attending Ship, Phillips and Nalewak didn’t know one another but later became brothers-in-law. Nalewak met his wife at Ship. Nalewak noted that his wife was always able to achieve a tan but that he struggled to do so without catching a bad sunburn. Nalewak saw a gap in the self-tanning business for men, and through collaboration, Nalewak, Phillips, and McDevitt decided they wanted to fill that gap.
The founder’s water-based and streakfree formula dries quickly, feels lightweight, and offers men a way to boost their confidence. The founders’ clever marketing strategies and social media campaigns helped the brand take off. What started as a small investment to produce 200 units has become a successful business.
Phillips, Nalewak, and McDevitt were thrilled when Shark Tank contacted them about featuring Bro Glo. Their appearance was more than just an opportunity to pitch their product to some of the biggest investors; it was also an opportunity to show off their hard work, determination, and passion.
“We started this as a side hustle,” Tom said. “We were balancing full-time jobs, family commitments, and learning the ins and outs of entrepreneurship as we went. Now, to see it grow to this level is surreal.”
The development of Bro Glo wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. In the beginning, the founders had to do a lot of work to perfect their formula, maintain natural ingredients, build a reliable supply chain, and meet the demands of the business as it grew.
“We didn’t have all the answers in the beginning,” Nalewak admitted. “But what we did have was a passion for our idea and the willingness to learn from our mistakes.”

With time, their dedication paid off. Their strong connection and attention to their audience have fueled Bro Glo’s growth. “Our customers have been our biggest supporters,” Phillips said. “They’ve not only embraced the product but have also shared their stories, showing us how Bro Glo has made them feel more confident in their own skin.”
Beyond the great business opportunity, the founders hope that their Shark Tank appearance will inspire other business leaders and stand as a testament to what business innovators and entrepreneurs, such as those at Shippensburg University, can achieve when they put their minds toward attaining a goal. The founders all work full-time jobs: Phillips works in investing, Nalewak is an attorney, and McDevitt is a luthier for his company, Fegley Violin. In addition to this, they all have families, and they support a successful side business. “When we started this, we never imagined we’d be pitching on national TV,” Nalewak said. “But it just shows that big dreams are achievable, even when you’re starting small.”
Phillips and Nalewak reflected on their time at Ship as a period that helped them build a foundation for themselves. Phillips, who was a finance major, learned how to think analytically and apply financial concepts to running a business. Nalewak, who was a criminal justice major and a member of the football team, still holds the connections that he made at Ship, acknowledging that the university provided him with a strong support system. “I’m good friends with Wes, Becky, Coach Burke, and Coach Mac. And, every year, I show up to Ship to hire people at the hiring events for the company that I work for. The support system that I have has been amazing because they absolutely are like family.”
Following their deal on Shark Tank, Bro Glo launched a “Shark Tank Starter Bundle” featuring some of their most popular productions, available on their website, thebroglo.com. Their brand has reached thousands of people, and their business journey shows that success is possible with dedication and a clear vision.
We hope it shows others that taking risks and chasing your dreams is always worth it. (Tom Phillips ’07)