Hella Awkward - Shark Tank Update

Late-night candor becomes a card game empire when Brittane Rowe channels the kind of raw, honest conversations that only seem to happen at 2 a.m. into Hella Awkward, the flagship product of her New York City-based company Awkward Games. A Black/AAPI/Family/Women-owned business, Awkward Games was built on the premise that the best human connections start when people finally drop the small talk and get into territory that is a little uncomfortable.

Hella Awkward features four categories of cards - ranging from lighthearted icebreakers to deeply personal prompts - designed to spark the conversations most people avoid but secretly want to have. Cosmopolitan described it as the game that can 'banish small talk forever.' The line has expanded well beyond the original deck and now includes Real Talk Expansion Packs, Dating Expansion Packs, and the Build-A-Bae companion product.

By the time Brittane entered the Tank, the brand had already achieved meaningful retail placement at Walmart, Target, and Urban Outfitters, proving mainstream demand for authentic social connection games. She pitched with an ask of $200,000 for 10% equity at a $2 million valuation, looking for a partner who could help Awkward Games grow from a beloved niche brand into a household name.

The card game built around honest discomfort found a believer on Shark Tank Season 16 Episode 13 when Brittane Rowe closed a deal with Robert Herjavec for $200,000 at 10% equity - exactly what she walked in asking for. Brittane's pitch emphasized the cultural authenticity at the core of Awkward Games - a Black/AAPI/Family/Women-owned brand from New York City whose products are built around genuine human connection rather than competition or trivia.

Robert was drawn to the brand's clear retail traction at Walmart, Target, and Urban Outfitters, the passionate community built around the game's premise, and Brittane's sharp understanding of what made her product different from every other card game on store shelves. The deal gives Brittane access to Herjavec's operational expertise and investor network to take what is already a culturally resonant brand and scale its retail footprint.

Since the Shark Tank appearance, Awkward Games has continued expanding its presence in major retail chains while building out the product family with expansion packs and new titles. The brand remains a uniquely positioned player in the social card game market, defined by its commitment to authenticity, inclusive ownership, and the belief that the most meaningful conversations are always a little bit awkward.