Smooth seas don’t make a good sailor. Similarly, successful entrepreneurs are not forged in the absence of struggle. After being rejected from popular TV Show, ‘Shark Tank’, here are some startups that still fought their way to success –
The Bouqs Co.
Nearly 3 years after leaving Shark Tank without any investment, The Bouqs Co. were reapproached by Robert Herjavec regarding the flower decoration for his wedding; followed by his investment. In 2017, The Bouqs Co. sold over $1 Million worth of flowers per day various days in a row, and is valued at $43.1 million today.
Ring
Homesecurity can never be overvalued – and Ring’s founder Jamie Siminoff understood that. After leaving the show, the company received investments from several big boys such as Goldman Sachs and Richard Branson, and was recently acquired by Amazon for over $1 billion.
Kodiak Cakes
Despite liking the taste, the high protein value and the organic, nutritional content, the judges at Shark Tank were unable to value Kodiak Cakes justly. Today, the company makes over $100 million in revenue, and is growing at a rapid rate of 80%.
Nerdwax
Ever get annoyed by your glasses slipping down your nose? Nerdwax founder, Don Hejny, sure did. So he produced a natural, non-irritating wax balm that can help prop up the glasses. In the most hardcore nerd sense, after being rejected off Shark Tank, Nerdswax has earned over $1 million in sales through Amazon.
The Lip Bar
Ever heard about someone on Wall street leaving Wall Street to go vegan, cruelty-free and price-affordable? Not only did Melissa Butler do that, but she also used her rejection at the show to spring forward with her diverse beauty brand. Today, her product sells across 44 Target Stores.
Xero Shoes
Their love of running barefoot inspired Xero Shoes co-founders and life-partners Stevan Sashen and Lena Phoenix to invent a thin running slipper sandal that allows for ultimate running freedom. After turning down the investment offer from Shark Tank, they managed to raise $1 million through crowdfunding.
MealEnders
Does anybody want a cinnamon, lemon or a mint flavored post-meal candy that helps you prevent overeating? The judges clearly didn’t, however the show provided MealEnders significant exposure which helped them reach a modest $1.2 billion in sales in 2017.
Eco Nuts
Did you know that dried berries can be used as a natural laundry detergent? Eco Nuts bought this product pitch to the show in 2016. Although they didn’t receive an investment, the company has since grown to make over $1 million in sales revenue. They are now also launching organic surface cleaners as part of an expanded product range.
Copa Di Vino
Copa Di Vino founder, James Martin, infamously walked away from the show’s offer not once, but twice! His single serving wine containers started with a revenue of $500,000 but through the exposure on the show, have now reached over $14 million.
