Where Is ENERGYbits From Shark Tank Season 8 Today?

ENERGYbits founder Catharine Arnston became interested in the healing power of algae after her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. When her sister’s oncologist recommended eating more alkaline foods, Arnston discovered that algae is not only alkaline but also 64% protein and packed with over 40 vitamins and minerals. She founded her company in 2006 and later brought ENERGYbits to “Shark Tank” in 2016 to support its growth and reach.

Arnston handed three varieties of her ENERGYbits to the Sharks, and Daymond John was turned off by the taste. Arnston added to her pitch that more than 100,000 studies show the health benefits of algae. When Mark Cuban asked Arnston to describe one of the studies, she couldn’t cite any details. Although it cost Arnston $40 to produce a bag of ENERGYbits that sold for $115, she struggled to make a profit.

Arnston asked for $500,000 for a 5% stake in the company. The Sharks were unimpressed with the $1.5 million in sales over six years, and some were dubious about the $10 million valuation of the company. None of the Sharks offered Arnston a deal, but Lori Greiner offered Arnston some advice: Don’t mislead customers in the branding of SKINNYbits, one of the product’s variants.

When ENERGYbits was pitched to the Sharks, Arnston had three varieties of ENERGYbits — the signature ENERGYbits, RECOVERYbits, and SKINNYbits. Arnston took Greiner’s advice and pulled SKINNYbits off the website and now offers BEAUTYbits and VITALITYbits. BEAUTYbits claims to help reduce blemishes, nourish hair, reduce wrinkles, and keep a healthy weight. The antioxidants, chlorophyll, vitamins, and fiber in VITALITYbits are said to boost energy, improve longevity, strengthen the immune system, and aid in your gut health.

(Find out why astronauts take spirulina supplements.)

ENERGYbits may help with energy, focus, and workout performance, while RECOVERYbits claim to strengthen the immune system, detox the body, and replace the need for greens and veggies. A large bag of any of these algae tablets has 1,000 tablets and sells for $130. However, a daily serving size is 30 tablets. Although the website claims these algae tablets have three times the protein of a steak, a 30-tablet serving only has 5 grams of protein. One ounce of a cooked steak has 8 grams of protein. All varieties of ENERGYbits have 1 gram of fiber per 30-tablet serving.

Arnston still sells all four varieties of the algae tablets on the ENERGYbits website in large and small bags and canisters. There’s also a sample pack and tote bags available. Amazon also sells large bags of these algae tablets. Arnston has featured ENERGYbits on various wellness podcasts.

About 75% of customers on Amazon gave BEAUTYbits five stars, saying they’re easy to swallow and have seen improvements in their skin. ENERGYbits users who gave the product five stars also said it gave them more energy and reduced brain fog. One-star users complained of the taste and the price for no health benefit. Other people suggest trying a sample of the product to see how your body responds to it. Some people complained of allergies and stomach upset (here are some of spirulina’s side effects). 

ENERGYbits has 132,000 followers on Instagram and a little more than 6,000 followers on TikTok. Arnston still promotes the concentrated benefit of spirulina algae tablets compared to a plate of vegetables, but some TikTok users are dubious about the price and the claims.

In 2019, the National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Better Business Bureau had problems with the health claims of ENERGYbits. NAD said ENERGYbits needed to stop claiming its products “reduce brain fog,” “improve mood,” and other health claims unless it provided scientific evidence substantiating these claims. Just like on Shark Tank, Arnston couldn’t identify specific studies that would verify the health claims of algae or ENERGYbits.

A 2025 meta-analysis in Nutrients found that spirulina may have a small effect on reducing your diastolic (the bottom number) blood pressure, but more research is needed. The 12 studies on chlorella and 9 studies on spirulina showed no significant effect on cholesterol, blood sugar, and weight. A small 2025 study in Food Science and Nutrition showed that taking 2 grams of spirulina improved sleep quality after eight weeks. Supplementing with chlorella or spirulina may improve exercise performance, but many studies have been mixed or unreliable, according to a 2021 study in Frontiers in Nutrition.