Dietary restrictions may prevent us from enjoying snacks that look delicious. Thankfully, we now have healthy options like Funky Mello, a vegan marshmallow creme that's free of sugar, meat substances, and most allergens. Founders Delisa and Zach Harper recently pitched their product on Shark Tank and landed a deal with Daymond John. Today, Funky Mello is worth an estimated $500,000.
Founder
Delisa and Zach Harper are a couple who worked in different fields before becoming entrepreneurs. They met at a music festival and instantly connected over their shared passion for beats and food.
Prior to Funky Mello, Delisa was an event marketing specialist for companies such as HP, OpenText, and Search Engine Journal. Zach works in the pharmaceutical field primarily as a manager and sales representative.
Although the Harpers are die-hard foodies, their limitations prevent them from enjoying their favorite childhood candy. The pair tried healthy snacks but found them bland and lifeless.
Founding Funky Mello
Their disappointing experience inspired them to make marshmallow creme with chickpeas. It's considered the most underrated allergen-friendly ingredient, and according to the founder, the product is free of the top eight allergens.
They loved the results and started selling them at local farmers markets. The couple started the business six months into their relationship. The products have generated strong traction locally, but they hope to expand nationally.
In 2021, Delisa and Zach launched a Kickstarter campaign, raising over $10,500 from 168 backers. Production and shipping began in September 2021, and progress is lightning fast. 76% of pre-orders are placed within a month.
After Shark Tank
Even though the episode was filmed around September 2023, the couple only found out a few weeks later that it would happen! That didn't give them enough time to prepare for a significant increase in sales. The couple delivered powerful speeches that came across as genuine.
The deal with Diamond should be completed within six months. In March 2024, they should generate at least an additional $50,000 in additional sales through promotion. You can purchase Funky Mello on their website or Walmart's online store.
You can also purchase it at more than 100 Whole Foods stores. On special occasions, business partners work with Sprouts Farmers Markets. Regular bundles range in price from $20.97 to $33.96. However, currently all merchandise is sold on FunkyMello.com, where they sell merchandise such as shirts and mugs.
The company has a large following on Facebook and has a rating of 4.9 stars out of 24 reviews. It's a small number, but it's certainly going to be a big boost with their annual sales. The global healthy snack market will be worth US$74.6 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow by 6% in 2030.
Categories: Shark Tank
Source: svlsf.edu.vn