Founded by former Wall Street executive Melissa Butler, The Lip Bar is a budget-friendly makeup brand that appeared on Shark Tank seeking investment. Despite failing to secure a deal, Melissa told Rolling Out in an interview: "Shark Tank is really tough, and it made me realize I should focus on the consumers who truly understand the problem I'm solving."
Although without investment, The Lip Bar thrived and became profitable. Today, its products are sold in 44 stores nationwide, and actress Taraji P. Henson even used them at the 2018 Oscars.
Affordable Makeup Brand - The Lip BarXero Shoes was co-founded by Steven Sashen, who created the startup after experiencing recurring injuries while running. He switched to barefoot running and quickly became a fan of it. Motivated by his passion, Steve developed a minimalist running shoe to cater to others with similar interests or injury concerns.
In Shark Tank, Steve and his wife, Lena Phoenix, turned down a $400,000 offer for 50% of the company from Kevin O’Leary, believing the valuation of Xero Shoes wasn’t aligned with the offer.
However, their appearance on the show helped them raise $1 million through community support. By 2017, Xero Shoes had earned $5.1 million in revenue, and they projected $12.2 million for 2018.
Minimalist Running Shoe Startup - Xero ShoesThis startup has an unusual concept: they created a two-layer candy designed to help curb the cravings of sweet tooth enthusiasts. MealEnders presented a bold idea that intrigued the Sharks, but they were skeptical about its profitability, given that MealEnders' marketing strategy could prove to be extremely costly.
Although they left the show without an investment, MealEnders went on to sell a significant number of their two-layer candies, generating around $1.2 million in revenue in 2017. By 2018, their projected revenue was around $5 million, a remarkable growth trajectory.
Two-Layer Candy Startup - MealEndersEco Nuts is a beauty and cosmetics startup that uses dried berries as a natural cleaning agent. The company aims to address the concerns of people with sensitive skin who struggle with traditional cleaning products. Despite this groundbreaking idea, Eco Nuts left Shark Tank without any investment.
However, the exposure from the show helped Eco Nuts achieve over $1 million in revenue from their cleaning products. Today, the company has expanded into natural home cleaning products like surface sprays and floor cleaners.
Natural Cleaning Agent Made from Dried Berries - Eco NutsCopa Di Vino, a unique wine packaging startup, was founded by James Martin. While his concept gained fame, James' arrogant attitude made him one of the least popular contestants on Shark Tank. This attitude likely cost him an investment, despite the Sharks agreeing that Copa Di Vino was a brilliant idea.
After appearing on the show in 2017, Copa Di Vino experienced explosive growth, going from just $500,000 in revenue to more than $14 million in 2018.
Wine Packaging Startup - Copa Di VinoThe Bouqs, an online flower delivery startup, appeared on Shark Tank in 2014 but left without any investment. However, CEO John Tabis gained significant recognition and the company experienced impressive revenue growth after the show.
One of the Sharks, Robert Herjavec, took notice of the startup a few years later when planning his wedding. In 2017, he was shocked by the high cost of wedding flowers, so he reached out to The Bouqs. After witnessing their beautiful flower arrangements firsthand, Herjavec decided to invest in the company.
Today, The Bouqs generates about $1 million in daily revenue, and John Tabis' company is valued at approximately $43.1 million.
Online Flower Delivery Startup - The Bouqs Co.Ring, a video doorbell startup, was created to give homeowners peace of mind by allowing them to know who is at their door, whether they are home or not. CEO and Co-Founder Jamie Siminoff pitched the idea on Shark Tank, seeking an investment with a company valuation of $7 million. At that time, the company was called Doorbot, before it rebranded to Ring. Despite not securing funding, the company caught the attention of major investors like Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers, Qualcomm Ventures, Goldman Sachs, and billionaire Richard Branson. Eventually, Ring was acquired by Amazon for approximately $1 billion, proving the importance of home security in the future. With Alexa controlling the home and Ring securing it from the outside, Amazon is building a complete smart home ecosystem.
Video Doorbell Startup - RingKodiak Cakes, a natural food startup specializing in grain-based products, appeared on Shark Tank seeking a $500,000 investment for 10% of the company but failed to secure a deal. While investors were impressed by the taste and nutritional benefits of Kodiak Cakes, none agreed to the terms proposed by the company's co-founder and COO. Despite the setback, Kodiak Cakes grew significantly after the show. By 2018, it became the fastest-growing pancake brand in the U.S., reaching nearly $100 million in revenue, marking an 80% growth rate.
Natural Grain Pancake Startup - Kodiak Cakes
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