New London Native Lands Deal For Swimwear Company On Shark Tank

NEW LONDON, CT — A New London native appeared on the ABC show "Shark Tank" last week to pitch her swimwear company and ended up scoring a deal.

Hayley Segar, 29, a Milford resident, was asking the show's group of wealthy investors for $200,000 for a 5 percent stake in her business, onewith. The company specializes in "patent-pending swimsuits that fit like underwear."

"Shark Tank" involves entrepreneurs pitching their companies to a group of wealthy investors. The show averages over 3 million viewers, according to TV Series Finale.

Onewith has sold $2.3 million since Segar founded the business in 2021. Even Kevin O'Leary, who typically plays the villain on the show, was impressed by Segar's pitch.

"I usually find something to rip you to pieces on, but not here," he said. "You did a great job."

Segar ended up signing on with two "sharks." Barbara Corcoran and Jamie Kern Lima offered her $200,000 for a 20 percent stake of the company.

Segar graduated from University of Connecticut in 2017 where she studied English language and literature at the university's Avery Point campus and went on to work in the bridal industry, according to UConn Today.

Segar started as a YouTube content creator while in middle school doing "fun beauty content," she said on the show. She used funds from that venture to start her company.

She said she came up with the idea for onewith after looking for a swimsuit to wear on a vacation to Miami. Her search was futile, finding the existing options uncomfortable and unflattering.

Segar said she wanted something that "felt one" with her body and offered a seamless design that fit like underwear. She said that onewith's swimsuits "allow women to feel comfortable and confident."

Ultimately, Lima and Corcoran agreed with her vision. Though both opposed the idea of onewith going retail, preferring to keep the business direct-to-consumer.

The appearance on "Shark Tank" has already generated significant interest in the brand. Segar told UConn Today that following the broadcast, onewith's website had 20,000 simultaneous visitors.