Watch Pi00a on Shark Tank | Deaf & CODA Family Owned Frozen Napolitan Pizzas

Why It Matters

Paola’s Shark Tank debut offers massive brand exposure while spotlighting deaf‑inclusive hiring, setting a precedent for socially conscious CPGs to scale through mainstream media.

Key Takeaways

• Paola’s frozen Neapolitan pizza landed on Shark Tank season finale.
• Family-owned brand employs deaf community, expanding to 250 retail doors.
• Application involved email, interviews, video submission, and Zoom with ASL interpreters.
• Founders prepared months, studied past pitches, and rehearsed numbers intensively.
• Anticipating post‑show sales surge, they’re pre‑ordering DTC to manage demand.

Summary

The video spotlights Paola, a family‑owned frozen Neapolitan pizza brand that employs deaf and CODA individuals, as it prepares for a season‑finale appearance on Shark Tank. Founders Melody and Ryland share how the brand, now in roughly 250 retail doors including Whole Foods, uses its platform to create jobs for the deaf community while scaling a premium CPG product. Key insights include a detailed look at the Shark Tank application: an initial email, multiple Zoom interviews, a lengthy submission video, and the integration of ASL interpreters throughout the process. The founders emphasized months of rehearsal, dissecting past pitches, and mastering their financial metrics to anticipate the sharks’ rapid questioning. Notable moments feature Melody recalling watching Shark Tank as a child, the palpable anxiety before filming, and the practical use of Zoom‑based interpreters that allowed both founders to participate seamlessly. Their advice to fellow entrepreneurs centers on knowing your numbers, embracing your brand story, and persisting through repeated applications. The exposure promises a significant sales bump, prompting Paola to launch pre‑orders and tighten operations ahead of the broadcast. Beyond revenue, the appearance underscores the market potential of inclusive brands and signals to other early‑stage CPG founders that high‑visibility platforms like Shark Tank can accelerate growth and champion diversity.

Original Description

Startup CPG's Patricia Menegoto sat down with Melody and Rylan Stein, two of the four co-founders of pi00a — Deaf & CODA family-owned frozen pizza brand bringing globally inspired Neapolitan pizzas to the mainstream.

Their road to the Tank wasn't just a business story. It was deeply personal. In this episode, Melody and Rylan walk through the full journey: the application, Zoom interviews (with accessibility front and center), and what it was actually like to stand in front of the Sharks.

They also get practical about what comes after filming — how to prepare for the "Shark Tank bump," what to have in place before air date, and why the real work starts the moment cameras stop rolling. Their advice to any founder considering applying? Do it, even if you think it's too early. And know your numbers.

In this episode:

- pi00a's mission and who they're building for

- Milestones before Shark Tank came calling

- What the application and interview process actually looks like

- Accessibility throughout the Zoom interview process

- Filming day and the family experience

- Building and refining their pitch

- Handling tough questions from the Sharks

- Preparing for the post-air sales surge

- Encouragement for founders on the fence about applying

Watch pi00a on Shark Tank

Wednesday, April 22nd at 10pm PT/ET on ABC | Stream next day on Hulu

Find pi00a:

Website: https://pi00a.com

Instagram: @pi00ala

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pi00a/

Connect with the founders:

Melody Stein: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melody-stein-11a4a719/

Rylan Stein: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rylan-stein-95bb58220/

Resources:

Startup CPG Community: https://startupcpg.com

Shark Tank on ABC: https://abc.com/shows/shark-tank