There is no shortage of great (and not-so-great) inventions that came out of Colorado. The Centennial State birthed things that became household names including OtterBox, Crocs, and even the dreaded tire boot.

Read More: New Colorado Invention Comes from a High School Student |

Now, following a recent appearance by a Colorado inventor on the popular TV show Shark Tank, it would appear that a new, fun invention from the Centennial State just may prove to be the next big thing.

Pepper Pong: Colorado's Next Big Invention?

One of the biggest phenomena in the world of paddle games to take off in recent years has undoubtedly been pickleball.

However, much like characters played by Colorado legends Trey Parker and Matt Stone in the film BASEketball, a Colorado man by the name of Tom Filippini has created his own game inspired by pickleball, ping pong, and tennis that he has named Pepper Pong.

Pepper Pong is a portable, racket sport that has been in the making since Filippini found himself in an alcohol treatment center in the early 2000s.

After spending countless hours playing table tennis at the facility, Tom Filippini came up with the idea for the new game and after showing it to the "sharks" on the popular TV show, secured an investment of $150,000 from Raisin' Cane's founder Todd Graves.

Time will tell if Filippini's creation will rise to the ranks of, say, pickleball, or even Crocs, but the significant investment secured from Shark Tank will certainly help.

10 Awesome Things Invented in Colorado

Life is a little bit sweeter and whole lot simpler thanks to these inventions from Colorado: 

Gallery Credit: Toni Gee, TSM

Things You Didn't Know Were Invented in Colorado

Colorado is known for its mountains and views, but our state is also home to some awesome man-made creations.

Go Behind the Scenes of “Gutted” Reality Show Filmed in Colorado

Take a peek behind the scenes of a reality show called “Gutted,” involving teams competing to renovate old vans, school buses, etc. that was filmed in Colorado.

Gallery Credit: Nate Wilde