Novel Effect

Novel Effect is a read-aloud app that listens as you read a children's book out loud and plays synced music and sound effects in real time, following along with your voice rather than a fixed timer. The result turns ordinary story time into something more immersive without changing how a parent or teacher reads. It was created by Matt and Melissa Hammersley, a husband-and-wife team who wanted to make shared reading more engaging and pull kids back toward physical books.

The Hammersleys came into Season 9 asking for 500,000 dollars for 10 percent. The live demo was the centerpiece: a shark read from a book while the app responded with sound, which made the technology instantly clear. Lori Greiner, the shark most drawn to consumer products with broad family appeal, made the deal, investing the full amount for a 15 percent stake, above the founders' original equity offer.

The pitch was memorable because the product had to be heard to be understood, and the in-room demonstration delivered exactly that aha moment. Voice-following technology synced to real picture books was genuinely novel, and pairing it with an educational, screen-light use of phones gave it a story that resonated with parents and teachers alike.

After the episode Novel Effect kept building out its library and its technology, expanding the catalog of supported books well into the hundreds and forming content partnerships, including work tied to recognized children's brands. It also drew earlier backing from Amazon's Alexa Fund, reflecting interest in its voice-first approach beyond the show itself.

As of 2026 Novel Effect is still operating and has leaned further into classrooms, adding Chromebook support and working with school systems on reading outcomes. The founders have stayed publicly active, including releasing a book about read-aloud practice. It stands as a Season 9 deal that grew into a continuing education-focused company rather than fading after the broadcast.