A strange thing happens when someone hears hundreds of startup pitches. Eventually, an idea comes along that sounds ridiculous at first… right before it turns into a hit.

Entrepreneur and "Shark Tank" investor Mark Cuban shared one of those moments on the "Let Me Save You 25 Years" podcast with Lovesac founder Shawn Nelson last year. Nelson asked Cuban a simple question about the many businesses he has seen over the years.

"What's one of the dumbest ideas you've actually seen turn into a legitimate money-making business?" he asked.

Cuban paused for a moment before admitting there are plenty.

"Oh my goodness," he said. "There's so many, but most of the dumb ones go out of business at some point. They get hot, they catch fire, and then they're done."

But one example immediately came to mind.

The deal that got away

"I passed on Spikeball on "Shark Tank" and I regretted it because I just didn't think people are just going to slam a yellow ball against the net," Cuban said. "I'm like, come on."

At the time, the concept sounded almost too simple to work. Spikeball is a fast-paced game where teams bounce a small yellow ball off a circular trampoline-style net placed on the ground.

Cuban said the founders had ambitions that sounded even bigger than the backyard game itself.

"They wanted to create a league," he said.

What sounded unrealistic in the pitch room turned out to be exactly what happened.

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The game that took over the beach

Nelson said the sport is now nearly impossible to miss in certain places.

"I live my summers out in San Diego and it's just spikeballs everywhere," Nelson said.

Cuban admitted the sight still stings a little. "Yeah," he said. "It's just killing me."

The brand behind the game has grown significantly since its early days. Spikeball, founded in 2007, built a strong following through casual play, organized tournaments and college competitions.

The company continues expanding the sport of roundnet through new equipment, community leagues and structured competitions. Industry projections suggest the broader roundnet equipment market could grow from roughly $367 million in 2025 to more than $635 million by 2033.

Spikeball has also leaned into innovation, rolling out new gear and digital experiences while continuing to anchor the growing competitive scene around the sport.

Why investors still miss great ideas

For Cuban, the Spikeball story sits among the deals that prove how unpredictable entrepreneurship can be. The challenge is that many successful businesses look strange before they work.

Still, he keeps the miss in perspective.

"I'll be wrong a whole lot more," Cuban said. "That's all it takes. You only got to be right one time."

For investors, that philosophy is part of the job. Not every idea makes sense at first glance.

Sometimes it takes a beach full of people slamming a yellow ball to prove the point.

Image: Imagn

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This article Mark Cuban Says One Of The 'Dumbest Ideas' He Saw Turn Into A Hit Was Spikeball — 'Didn't Think People Are Just Going To Slam A Yellow Ball…' originally appeared on Benzinga.com

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