The Game That Started in a Garage and Sparked a Movement
We'd sold dozens of sets. Most of them to Tom's mom. Then Shark Tank called.
Not Just Mullets and Foam. A Comeback Story.
For years, it was just "The Game"—no name, no plan, just scrap parts and foam balls that somehow made everyone equal. Rookies hung with ringers. Underdogs became legends. Rallies stretched 40, 50, 60 shots because the foam balls forgave mistakes and rewarded flow.
People didn't just play—they stayed. It became the centerpiece of every gathering, the magnet that pulled everyone back to the table.
In 2016, founder Tom Filippini faced his hardest rally: getting sober. Recovery taught him something powerful—isolation is the real opponent. Connection is the cure.
That's when the garage game became a mission. If connection could help one person, maybe it could help others too.
Inside the Mission | ABC News
By 2024, after 100+ prototypes and thousands of garage rallies, Pepper Pong formally launched. Then Shark Tank called—not because Tom applied, but because they'd heard the story.
On the show, Tom didn't pitch capital. He pitched a crisis: "The world doesn't need another product. It needs people facing each other again."
Guest Shark Todd Graves, founder of Raising Cane's and a master of mission-driven brands, beat out the other Sharks to make the deal. The connection movement took hold.
Season 16 • Episode 6
November 22, 2024
When Tom stepped into the Tank, he wasn't pitching a product—he was sharing his story. And a message.
The Rally Nobody Saw Coming
From garage prototype to global headlines—the underdog story that's barely two years in the making.
"The can't-miss gift. For anyone."
"The perfect gift for anyone on your list this year."
"Why do you charge so little?"
"We thought we'd play ten minutes. Two hours later we were renaming each other."
"My 8-year-old beat my 68-year-old dad. They're still talking trash."
"Ping Pong feels like homework now."
The Rally's Making Headlines
Rally for Recovery: Giving Connection Back
Every Full Set sold helps fund donated sets for recovery centers, community organizations, and any place where people could use a connection boost. A little foam and a lot of laughter can change the world, one rally at a time.