Idaho families have a new reason to celebrate. Joe Burke, a Boise‑area dad and inventor, is heading to Shark Tank with his 11‑year‑old son, Jameson, to showcase Ollyball – a patented, sub‑ounce indoor ball designed so kids can play without breaking household items.
From Spaghetti Mishap to Patent‑Protected Toy
The idea began about ten years ago when Burke’s oldest daughter, then eight, tried to play ball inside the living room. After a plate of spaghetti was knocked over, Burke wondered why no safe indoor ball existed. He and his daughter experimented with roughly 100 prototypes before landing on the 12‑inch, shock‑absorbing KrunchCOR design that weighs less than an ounce.
Ollyball’s lightweight construction lets children kick, throw, and even color the surface with markers, all without the damage typical of traditional balls. The product earned the Rookie of the Year award at the Toy Association’s 2019 Toy of the Year Awards and has since collected a host of U.S. and international honors.
Why Shark Tank Now?
Burke says he turned down two earlier approaches from the show because the timing didn’t feel right. This year, however, his ten‑year roadmap called for a national partner to help fulfill his vision of “leaving the world a better place than we found it.” The opportunity aligned, and he added one condition: he and his son must appear together.
Father and son rehearsed their pitch everywhere – in airports, grocery stores, and even on flights – visualizing the questions the Sharks might ask. Burke reminded his son that, win or lose, the experience itself was a valuable memory.
Local Roots, National Ambitions
Ollyball is already an established product. It ships through major retailers, has expanded internationally, and launched the Full‑Force Indoor Sports line at DICK’S Sporting Goods in 2025. Yet Burke remains committed to local partners. When asked where Treasure Valley residents can buy Ollyball, he pointed to Toy Town in Meridian and the Leap Years child‑center, emphasizing his support for independent toy stores.
“Bring joy to parents and kids,” Burke says, summarizing the mission that drives his family business.
What’s Next?
The episode, slated for September 30 on ABC, will feature Ollyball as part of the “Favorite Daughters” themed show. While Burke is bound by a confidentiality agreement and cannot reveal the outcome, he describes the filming at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta as “incredible,” noting that the trip turned into a father‑son adventure complete with roller‑coaster rides.
Regardless of the deal, the exposure promises to boost Ollyball’s visibility and may open doors for further expansion, both for the product line and for Idaho‑based entrepreneurship.
Original reporting: 580 KIDO Talk Radio (Boise) — read the source article.
