
Nick Morton
Co‑Founder & CEO, Tipsy Elves
New Mentor
About
Nicklaus “Nick” Morton is a former endodontist turned entrepreneurial leader who co-founded Tipsy Elves in 2011, a now-iconic brand known for its festive apparel—from ugly Christmas sweaters to holiday-themed lifestyle wear. Launched originally as a side project with college friend Evan Mendelsohn, what began as 5,000 sweaters sold in the first year quickly snowballed into a business with over $500m in sales. Their appearance on ABC’s Shark Tank in late 2013, where they secured a $100,000 investment from Robert Herjavec for 10% equity, proved pivotal—sales surged, brand awareness skyrocketed, and the path was set for exponential growth. Before entrepreneurship, Morton earned his DDS from the University of the Pacific (2008), completed an endodontic residency at the University of Florida, and practiced clinically in San Francisco while teaching at his alma mater’s dental school. His shift from medicine to retail demonstrates adaptability and a flair for brand-building, all while maintaining a collaborative spirit—now channeled into growth-focused leadership of a full-fledged lifestyle brand valued in the tens of millions. Beyond business, Nick stays connected to the dental community—he co-organizes an alumni golf tournament in Reno that blends philanthropy, community-building, and whimsical Tipsy Elves spirit . How They Can Help: 1. Help rightsize your business for profitability 2. Vet 3PL's or other service providers 3. Navigate investor pitches and secure strategic partnerships (e.g., with Shark Tank) 4. Dive deep into your financials and improve operating costs, contribution margin, cash conversion cycle, etc 5. Put a structure in place that will build communication and strong culture within your company 6. Chat about the Shark Tank experience 7. Selling on Amazon 8. Anything that a COO, CFO or CEO for a consumer business should know