On April 22, Melody Stein, E-’96, and Russell Stein, ’95, appeared on the hit TV show Shark Tank alongside their children and business partners, Taysia and Rylan. With the final pitch of the season, the family reeled in iconic investor Lori Greiner, who invested $200,000 in pi00a, their frozen pizza company.
The Shark Tank appearance marks another milestone for Melody and Russ, who continue to embody the spirit of entrepreneurship and giving back. As a Gallaudet staff member, Russ has expanded the reach of the Gallaudet Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute (GIEI). The program now offers priceless mentorship opportunities with deaf business owners like Melody. Together, the duo hopes to inspire others to dream big.
Swimming with the Sharks
The Stein family had watched Shark Tank together for years before appearing on the show.
“It’s one of our favorite things to watch,” Melody says. “We’re a business-minded family. Honestly, I never dreamed we’d be on the show. I remember how hard my heart was pounding as we stood behind the iconic doors.”
“The moment that the doors opened and we walked down that hallway,” Russ says, “it became real.”
While Melody is the CEO of pi00a, the business is a family affair. When he’s not busy with his job as the Director of Gallaudet Opportunities for Advancement and Learning (GOAL), Russ oversees the company’s finances. Their daughter Taysia leads marketing and sales, while their son Rylan focuses on operations and compliance.
“My favorite part of working for pi00a is getting to work with our team,” Rylan says. “As a CODA, I have never gotten to work in a fully deaf environment so I am very grateful I get the opportunity to do so.”
Says Taysia, “We’ve learned so much over the past few years. And being able to build something alongside my family makes it even more meaningful.”
The family stood united in front of the Sharks. They expertly told the story of their business, which was founded in August 2023 as a fresh pizza delivery service. In June 2024, the company pivoted to manufacturing frozen pizzas and has been expanding ever since. pi00a’s frozen pies are now available for sale in over 200 stores around the United States.
Starting up
Melody and Russ met as Business Administration students at Gallaudet. Food has been a part of their story from the beginning. Their 12-hour first date started in an Italian restaurant and ended in a Greek diner. They got married, moved around the country, and eventually started a family.
Through it all, both held onto the dream of one day owning their own business. Russ admired his ambitious parents, who were deaf entrepreneurs, and Melody’s parents had operated restaurants her whole life. When it came time to go into business together, the food industry was a natural fit.
In 2011, Melody traveled to Italy and studied the art of pizza making. Soon after, the couple founded a Neapolitan pizzeria in San Francisco, which was later sold to a non-profit organization. During their time with the pizzeria, Melody and Russ became the first Deaf professional pizzamakers to be certified by the Vera Pizza Napoletana (VPN) organization.
The duo has brought the same craft to pi00a. The kitchen team is made up of deaf employees who have been trained to make the best quality Neapolitan pizza. Each pie is made carefully by hand.
On Shark Tank, the Sharks praised the quality and flavor of pi00a’s samples. They were also inspired by the Stein family’s story and commitment to uplifting the deaf community. After agreeing to the deal, Greiner left the family with a promising message. “I see you,” she said. “And the world’s going to see you, and they’re gonna know this pizza, and they’re going to love it.”
Breaking barriers
While the pi00a pitch had a happy ending on Shark Tank, the journey wasn’t easy. Perseverance and family unity gave them the edge they needed to get their products on shelves.
“The consumer packaged goods industry is different from the restaurant industry,” says Melody. “We didn’t have a textbook to help us. A lot of it was based on gut feeling.”
Melody and her family battled countless access barriers along the way. For example, they often attend industry events and have to fight for interpreters. Even if their request is fulfilled, there is still a glaring lack of interpreters with high-level business knowledge.
Despite the barriers, there are signs that things are improving. Melody remembers exhibiting at the Summer Fancy Food Show in 2024.
“It was our first time there, and that made it even more special seeing other deaf-owned CPG brands alongside us,” Melody says. “Watching three deaf-owned brands walking the show floor, each with their own interpreters, was such an unforgettable moment.”
Paying it forward
pi00a is about more than profit. The company intentionally hires deaf staff members for their team at every position. In the summer of 2025, pi00a welcomed Matteo Giansanti, an intern from Gallaudet. Under Melody’s supervision, he got real-life experience working for a growing brand.
Melody and Russ also spend time fostering other deaf entrepreneurs. Melody has given presentations to Business students at Gallaudet, and serves as a GIEI mentor. “I wish GIEI was around during my time at Gallaudet,” she says. “When I was in school, I wanted to start a business, but I wasn’t confident enough yet. I looked at other business owners, and it seemed like they were all hearing.”
GIEI Coordinator Lorenzo Lewis, ’19, sees the impact of Melody’s mentorship firsthand. “She shows up for our participants,” he says. “She goes beyond surface level advice and makes sure they walk away with something they can actually use. Our mentees are often surprised by how much value they get from one session with her.”
The GIEI program is a passion project for Russ. “The lack of accessible business information is frustrating,” he says. “I was lucky to have a father who taught me about business. I want to bring that type of mentorship to GIEI. This is the only entrepreneurship program of its kind for deaf and hard of hearing people.”
One of GIEI’s most popular programs is the BisonTank competition, inspired by Shark Tank. BisonTank gives Gallaudet students and alumni the chance to pitch their own business ideas to a panel of deaf entrepreneurs. The winners receive seed money for their projects. BisonTank also goes above and beyond with an accelerator program that pairs each contestant with a mentor like Melody. The contestants receive invaluable feedback from successful deaf business owners.
Coincidentally, the Stein family’s appearance on Shark Tank aired just one day before the 9th annual Student BisonTank. GIEI hosted a watch party on campus.
“Watching pi00a’s pitch on Shark Tank was a big moment,” Lewis says. “Seeing Gallaudet alumni present on a national platform and secure a deal speaks for itself. They came in prepared, confident, and clear in their vision. Moments like that matter because they shift perception and show what is possible for deaf entrepreneurs.”
Ready for more
Almost every business that appears on Shark Tank sees an immediate boost in sales. pi00a has been preparing for the increased attention.
“We made sure every part of our business was ready,” Taysia says. “We updated our website. We prepped a significant amount of inventory in advance so we could keep up with demand, especially for our frozen pizzas. We also reached out to our retail partners ahead of time so they could prepare for increased interest in stores.
“In addition, we created a limited run of merchandise specifically for the show in collaboration with Inkas Screen Printing, a deaf-owned company, which was really meaningful for us. Overall, it was about making sure we were maximizing the opportunity from a brand awareness and sales perspective.”
It’s a moment that feels long-overdue for the Stein family. Melody and Russ’ heritage, passion, and work ethic have carried them through their journey. They’re passing on those lessons to their children.
Says Rylan, “My parents taught me that anything is achievable as long as you do not stop trying. The ability to keep trying until you get the outcome you want or need is what creates successful people.“
Melody and Russ are grateful to Gallaudet for contributing to their growth.
“From the very first class I took at Gallaudet, I was amazed by how much access I had,” Russ says. “By getting involved with different student clubs, I got hands-on experience with budgets, negotiating, and marketing. That impacted everything about who I am today. My parents gave me business knowledge, but Gallaudet gave me my Deaf identity and confidence.”
Through their work with pi00a and GIEI, the Steins are paying it forward to future generations of deaf and hard of hearing entrepreneurs. They hope that their Shark Tank success encourages others to chase their dreams, even if it’s not easy.
“Keep your end goal in mind,” Melody says. “Sometimes it will feel impossible. You will experience a lot of hardship and barriers. Find a way to overcome it. When you reach your goal, you’ll look back and be proud of the bumps in the road. You’ll be amazed at what you accomplished.”
Ready to build your own business? Check out Gallaudet’s Business program page to see our degree offerings.
