If you’ve ever wanted to bring a glass of wine with you on the go and avoid a spill, you may have heard of Goverre. Their stemless, spill-proof wine glasses caught people’s attention on Shark Tank back in 2017, and the company looked like it was about to take off. But just when things were looking promising, Goverre found itself facing a legal headache only a week after its big TV break.
Let’s break down what happened with Goverre after Shark Tank: the lawsuit, the stress, and how they managed to survive and keep growing.
From Shark Tank Stage to Instant Success
Regan Kelaher and Shannon Zappala, the founders of Goverre, walked into the Shark Tank looking for funding to help their business grow. Their pitch was all about portable, glass wine cups—a more thoughtful and fun solution for people who wanted to drink wine outdoors without worrying about a mess.
The Sharks liked what they saw. Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, and Robert Herjavec teamed up for a deal: $200,000 in exchange for 33.3% of Goverre. The moment the episode aired, sales exploded. In the week after their pitch hit TV, Goverre raked in $400,000 in sales. Their entire inventory was wiped out.
Airtime on Shark Tank can change the fate of a small business overnight, and for Goverre, it looked like this would be a dream come true. But success came with unexpected complications.
An Unexpected Legal Fight: Govino Steps In
Almost as soon as orders started coming in, Goverre got some very different news—one that threatened to sink the momentum. Just seven days after the Shark Tank episode aired, Goverre was served with a trademark infringement lawsuit from Govino.
Govino is a company that also makes portable, shatter-proof wine glasses, and they had been around since 2008. They believed Goverre’s product and branding stepped a little too close to what they’d already brought to market. Adding a twist, Govino pointed out that Shannon Zappala had visited their booth at a trade show back in 2010 and was aware of their designs.
Lawsuits in the consumer products world aren’t rare, but for a young company like Goverre, it was especially stressful.
The Financial Price of the Lawsuit
Fighting Govino’s legal claims meant big bills for Goverre. Pretty much all of that fresh Shark Tank investment—the $200,000 from the show—ended up going straight into legal fees, instead of fueling growth.
Most new businesses don’t have huge piles of spare cash, and when legal bills start arriving before you’ve had a chance to catch your breath, it can force tough decisions. Goverre’s founders have said the legal trouble was a “big blow.” They suddenly had to shift from celebrating orders to scrambling to defend the business itself.
The financial hit meant they were constantly prioritizing which issues had to be addressed just to survive. Marketing and expansion plans went out the window for a while.
Two Years of Stress, Then a Resolution
Lawsuits often move at a slow crawl, and this case was no exception. For two years, Goverre’s fate was hanging in the balance. Every startup expects ups and downs, but few are ready for this kind of roller coaster.
The lawsuit was finally settled in 2019—right before it was supposed to go to trial. Goverre came out on top, with the resolution leaning in their favor. The exact settlement details weren’t public, but the company kept its name and the right to sell its products.
Winning the legal battle was huge, but Goverre’s founders didn’t sugar-coat what they went through. They were open about the cost in both money and lost time. For a growing business, “winning” a lawsuit can still feel like years you’ll never get back.
But they did something smart: once the case was closed, they wasted no time getting back to what they loved.
Bouncing Back: New Products and Smarter Growth
Rather than dwell on the setbacks, Goverre looked for ways to stay relevant and keep people interested. They expanded their line steadily.
First up was a portable champagne flute in 2019, launched not long after the lawsuit ended. Customers liked the look and feel of Goverre’s original cup, so it made sense to offer something for sparkling wine lovers.
Next, in 2020, they released portable cocktail glasses. This came just as more people were spending time outdoors or taking drinks to picnics and friends’ backyards.
By 2021, they rolled out portable charcuterie plates—another item aimed at people who want to eat and drink more comfortably on the go. The new products not only gave their core fans more to choose from, but also helped attract new customers.
Getting through a big legal fight makes you cautious, but it also makes you focus. Goverre managed to keep things simple for shoppers and listened to what people wanted.
Financial Milestones and Where Things Stand in 2025
So, how are they doing now?
Things looked pretty solid by 2022. Goverre reached $1 million in annual sales, and since their launch, lifetime sales climbed to $4.6 million. For a company that started with just a couple of friends and an idea, those numbers are solid.
Today, Goverre’s valuation is estimated at over $2 million. You can still buy their products online, and they’re still putting out new colors and limited-edition options to keep things interesting.
That’s a far cry from 2017, when pretty much every penny from their big Shark Tank win went out the door to lawyers.
And while some Shark Tank brands fizzle out after their “as seen on TV” moment, Goverre clearly stuck around.
The People Side of the Story
Regan and Shannon didn’t shy away from what happened. From the stress of the lawsuit to those first rushes of big sales, they shared their story in interviews and on social media. That kind of transparency is rare, and customers often appreciate knowing what’s going on behind the scenes.
The fact is, lots of small-business owners will face something that threatens all the work they’ve put in—sometimes it’s a legal fight, sometimes it’s a manufacturing snafu or sudden competition. How you respond says a lot.
Goverre’s answer was to get creative, launch new products, and keep talking to their customers—no matter the setbacks.
What’s Next for Goverre? Some Grounded Context
The odds for small businesses aren’t great. Just getting national attention can seem like a fluke. Goverre got one of the bigger boosts out there, but they also hit one of the roughest patches a new brand can hit.
Even with the hard times, Goverre didn’t disappear. They’re still coming up with new ideas and have become an example of the kind of bumps most entrepreneurs are going to face, even after a big win.
For a lot of founders, it’s the ability to pivot and stick with it day after day that actually matters. Goverre tapped into a simple need (making wine more portable) and then doubled down on their strengths when other problems popped up.
And if you’re curious about the numbers, the company’s 2022 financials showed they turned their roughest moments into a real business. Lifetime sales over $4 million, a valuation north of $2 million, and a lineup that now includes more than just wine glasses. Judging by updates, you’ll still find Goverre products online and through select retail partners. For more stories about startups and how they adapt to change, you can always check out Aureo Business for detailed features.
The Takeaway: A Real-Life Business Roller Coaster
Goverre’s story isn’t about instant, lasting success or about everything working out without problems. It’s more about what usually happens after the cameras turn off. They hit it big and then hit a wall right away. But they found a way to keep going, to restart, and to stick with both their idea and their customers.
You won’t see dramatic headlines about Goverre every month, but they’re a solid example of how sticking around—even when it seems like everything’s going wrong—can eventually get you where you want to be.
So, if you still want a glass of wine by the pool, Goverre’s still out there—with more than just their original cups to pick from. And if you’re building something of your own, their path might feel a lot more familiar, and a little more encouraging, than what you’d expect from a reality TV pitch.
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