Madhav Aggarwal and Tanvi Gadamsetti, the duo behind BRCĒ (Techstars Founder Catalyst 2024), a performance material startup, made their primetime debut on ABC’s Shark Tank this week.

The two Michigan State University seniors stepped into the Tank to pitch BRCĒ’s flagship product, “Shoelaces That Never Quit,” the first application of the company’s patented high-performance polymer-composite material.

As former competitive athletes, Madhav and Tanvi saw firsthand how inadequate equipment leads to career-ending injuries. They realized that while footwear has evolved, the materials used to secure them haven't, contributing to the 45% of sports injuries that involve the ankle.

The Solution: A Material Stronger Than Steel

BRCĒ isn’t just a shoelace company; it’s a material science powerhouse. They’ve developed a patented polymer-composite material that is:

• Stronger than steel and fire-resistant.

• Designed to provide superior grip and consistent tension.

• The first application of a technology that was granted a utility patent in just 62 days, the fastest in the history of material science.

“Both of our athletic careers ended because of preventable injury,” said Madhav, CEO of BRCĒ. “We have made it our life’s mission to apply innovative material science to dramatically reduce the risk of injury stemming from equipment failure. Our BRCĒ materials are patent-proven to ‘Never Quit,’ and shoelaces are just the start as we continue on our mission to improve performance, safety and recovery across industries.”

For more information about BRCĒ’s full lineup of patented, performance-based shoelaces supporting running, tennis, hockey, basketball, and football, visit https://www.brce.shop.

Watch BRCĒ on Shark Tank

Season 15 | Episode 19

Aired March 4, 2026

Check out the full pitch to see if the Sharks made a deal!

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