EZ VIP
DealEntertainment
EZ VIP, the entertainment, landed on the national radar after pitching the sharks in Season 3, and convinced Mark Cuban and Daymond John to invest.
As an Amazon Associate, Shark Tank Index earns from qualifying purchases.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Shark Tank products move fast. Names change, packaging changes, and some sell out or get discontinued. The Amazon button checks live price and availability for EZ VIP.
From the show
The Shark Tank pitch
- $150K
- Asked for
- 15%
- Offered equity
- $1M
- Sought valuation
- $150K
- Deal amount
- 30%
- Deal equity
- $500K
- Deal valuation
Alashe Nelson faced the sharks in Season 3, Episode 1 in the episode that aired January 20, 2012, bringing their Miami, FL business with them. EZ VIP, the entertainment, pitched in the Media & Entertainment category, one of 29 media & entertainment businesses to brave the Tank across all 17 seasons.
They came in asking $150,000 in exchange for 15% equity, putting a $1M valuation on the business.
Mark Cuban and Daymond John teamed up at $150,000 for 30% equity. That priced the company at $500K, a haircut from the $1M the founders walked in asking for, which is how negotiations in the Tank usually go.
Across Season 3, 28 of 60 pitches ended in a handshake. In the Media & Entertainment category overall, roughly 66% of pitches have landed a shark across the show's history.
The full story
Everything to know about EZ VIP
EZ VIP was an online platform built to sell guaranteed nightlife access before you ever reached the door, letting users reserve tables, book bottle service, and lock in club entry in advance instead of relying on promoters and guest lists. Founder Alashe Nelson, based in Miami, had worked the club scene and saw how chaotic and relationship driven the booking process was for both venues and partygoers, so he tried to turn it into a clean digital marketplace.
Nelson came into the Tank seeking 150,000 dollars for 15 percent, pitching a young, fast moving business in a flashy industry the sharks understood. Mark Cuban and Daymond John saw the appeal but also the risk, and rather than meet his terms they teamed up and offered 150,000 dollars for 30 percent, double the equity he wanted. Nelson took the joint deal, betting that two sharks with nightlife connections were worth giving up more of the company.
What made the pitch memorable was the entertainment angle. Through Daymond John, the rapper Pitbull came on as a brand ambassador, giving EZ VIP instant credibility in markets like Miami, New York, and Las Vegas. For a moment it looked like a celebrity backed startup that could finally bring order to a cash and contacts business.
Where EZ VIP is now
The early buzz was real, with Pitbull's involvement and shark backing pushing EZ VIP into major nightlife cities. But the underlying economics were stubborn. Clubs run on personal trust between promoters, doormen, and managers, and that informal network made it hard for an app to reliably guarantee the access it was selling. The model never locked into a repeatable, profitable groove.
By around 2015 the business had effectively wound down. The ezvip.com site went offline and the social accounts stopped posting, and as of 2026 there is no active EZ VIP operating. Alashe Nelson moved on to other ventures in later years, including trucking related businesses, and the original nightlife platform is no longer running.
Where to buy EZ VIP
There is nothing to buy here today. EZ VIP stopped operating around 2015, the website is down, and its social channels are inactive, so the original guaranteed access service no longer exists. If you are searching for table reservations or bottle service now, you would need to book directly with venues or use newer nightlife booking platforms. EZ VIP itself is best remembered as a Season 3 deal that started with celebrity buzz but could not survive the realities of the club industry.
Is EZ VIP still in business?
Read our 2026 update on where the company is now.
Sold on EZ VIP?
Check today's price and availability before it swims away.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy EZ VIP?
Check current price and availability on Amazon. Note that some Shark Tank products are discontinued or sold under a new name. The company's official website is another option.
Did EZ VIP get a deal on Shark Tank?
Yes. EZ VIP closed a deal for $150,000 in exchange for 30% equity, with Mark Cuban and Daymond John.
Which shark invested in EZ VIP?
Mark Cuban and Daymond John invested in EZ VIP ($150,000 total as aired).
What season of Shark Tank was EZ VIP on?
EZ VIP appeared in Season 3, Episode 1, which aired January 20, 2012.
How much was EZ VIP asking for on Shark Tank?
The founders asked for $150,000 for 15% of the company, a $1M valuation.
Is EZ VIP still in business?
No. EZ VIP wound down around 2015. The website is offline and its social media accounts are inactive, and there is no active version of the service operating in 2026.
What was the EZ VIP Shark Tank deal?
Alashe Nelson asked for 150,000 dollars for 15 percent. Mark Cuban and Daymond John instead made a joint offer of 150,000 dollars for 30 percent, and Nelson accepted.
Did Pitbull really work with EZ VIP?
Yes. Through Daymond John, the musician Pitbull joined as a brand ambassador after the show, which gave EZ VIP early visibility in major nightlife markets before the company eventually shut down.
Shark Tank Index may earn a commission on purchases made through links on this page. Deal figures reflect what aired; terms sometimes change after the show.
