MEET THE MASTERMINDS
BEHIND PRANK-O

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Prank-O founders Ryan Walther and Arik Nordby got their start working in the Sutter's Mill mines during the California Gold Rush. Or at least that’s what they tell people at parties. Ryan actually was an early partner at The Onion, where he helped develop the satirical publication into the household name it is today.

It was there that he crossed paths with Arik, who was then designing best-selling “Gotcha Boxes” for the site’s online merch store. Over a beer (or, more likely, several beers) they came up with the idea for Prank-O.

Now based in Minneapolis, the company has evolved into the preeminent brand in comedic gift-giving.

PRANK THE TANK🦈

In 2018, Prank-O was invited to pitch our prank gift boxes on a holiday episode of ABC’s Shark Tank. Ryan Walther and Arik Nordby subverted the show’s famous format by pretending to be representing a retail brand called RynArik, who’s biggest product was a magnetic tray that allows your kids to eat snacks off your head as you give them a piggy back ride.

As the sharks unwrapped gifts for more outlandish products, Ryan and Arik pulled off their windbreakers to reveal they were wearing Prank-O shirts underneath, and the sharks had in fact been pranked. Watch it below!