13 Most Successful Vegan Deals To Come Out Of Shark Tank

Many successful ideas have come out of ABC's American reality television series "Shark Tank." The premise? Established and budding entrepreneurs get to pitch their ideas to a revolving team of big-time entrepreneurs and business moguls otherwise known as "sharks." The most frequently appearing business giants on this show are Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner, Daymond John, Kevin O'Leary, Robert Herjavec, and Mark Cuban.

Some people go vegan for the health benefits. According to HealthLine, there are advantages to following a plant-based diet. Avoiding meat and dairy can be beneficial to maintaining a healthy body weight, lower blood sugar levels, and can lower the risk of diabetes, cancers, and heart disease.

Cuban, known for investing in the most vegan food deals on the show, and though not vegan himself, he is a proud vegetarian. While not every deal impresses all of the judges, it only takes one to turn an already existing business into a huge profit. Here are the most successful vegan deals to come out of "Shark Tank."

Plant-based milks have been all the buzz for some time now, with many ingredients like almonds and oats replacing cows for those who prefer to avoid dairy. According to Engineering, Numilk is a plant-based milk company that serves it a little differently. Based out of Westchester, New York, the brand made an appearance on Shark Tank in 2021, when entrepreneurs Ari Tolwin and Joe Savino pitched their product made from real ingredients but available in a self-service machine, according to CNBC.

Noting the number of people who no longer consume cow's milk but prefer alternative options such as almond, oat, or hemp, Tolwin and Savino made their nut milk-producing kiosks for shoppers at grocery stores to be able to get fresh dairy-free milk in 60 seconds, boasting a seven- to 10-day shelf life, GMO and gum-free. For just $2 per bottle, consumers can refill their bottles when they come back for more without paying an additional fee for a new bottle.

Numilk struck a $2 million deal with Mark Cuban for a 10% share, despite their original pitch of wanting $1 million for a five percent stake in the company, as seen on their Shark Tank pitch on season 12, episode 18 of the show, via Sony Pictures Television.

Just when you thought Mark Cuban might be running out of money because he's invested in most vegan deals on this list (spoiler alert: he's got the money to spare), he found confidence in Pan's Mushroom Jerky, a vegan meat company producing jerky from shiitake mushrooms. Flavors include zesty Thai, applewood barbecue, and salt and pepper, and are all soy- and gluten-free, according to the company's website. Boasting a meaty texture and umami taste, founder Michael Pan launched the business in 2018, modeled after a family recipe. Produced in Portland, Oregon the jerky is now available in over 3,500 stores in the United States including Walmart, Kroger, Whole Foods, and Amazon.

Founder of TOMS Shoes and guest shark Blake Mycoskie and entrepreneur and multi-millionaire Lori Greiner offered Pan a deal together, according to his "Shark Tank" pitch via YouTube. Offering $300,000 for a 15% stake each, Pan wasn't so sure about giving away 30% of his company. Mark Cuban swooped in and offered $300,000 for an 18% stake and Pan happily took it, despite his ask of $300,000 for 10%.

Within 24 hours of the agreement, the company sold $650,000 worth of jerky and hit $1 million in sales in just four days, we learn from Yen News. In March of 2020, the company increased production to meet demand by moving the business to a new facility with more space, reaching $620,000 in sales, according to Food Business News.

Founders of vegan cinnamon roll company Cinnaholic Shannon and Florian Radke appeared in the tank on season 5, episode 28. In their pitch via YouTube, the potential investors were very impressed with the product, audibly saying "wow" as they gave it a bite. Seeking a fund of $200,000 for 20% of their company, they agreed on a deal with shark Robert Herjavec but in exchange for a 40% stake instead, according to QSR. Together, they agreed that the money would be used to invest in nationwide shipping of the vegan cinnamon rolls.

However, Cinnaholic's story comes with a plot twist. After the episode aired, the Radkes pulled out of the deal to focus on their company's storefronts instead. The reason? The founders believed their cinnamon rolls are generally better quality when eaten the day they are made, and they don't do terrifically well when shipped across the U.S. As they are custom-made, it's also more difficult to present them if they ship.

Despite the decision some might question, especially in the wake of 2020 when the company had to open its services to meet the to-go lifestyle despite their "Shark Tank" deal's outcome, the company has grown a lot from its television appearance. In 2020, the company opened 14 locations and franchises later controlled all 50 of their locations. It plans to grow internationally, and Cinnaholic now boasts five locations in Canada.

You might have seen MUSH at your local health food store or even grocery store, and wondered what it was. Founders Ashley Thompson and Kat Thomas, who are based out of San Diego, California, created a portable way to snack on oatmeal with a small plastic spoon included in the lid, appearing on season 9, episode 12 of "Shark Tank," as seen via their pitch on YouTube.

Seeking $300,000 for a 10% stake in their company, their product is nutrient-dense and high in protein and fiber, with low amounts of sugar. Impressing the sharks with the array of flavors offered, including their original vanilla bean, dark cocoa, blueberry, and cold brew, guest shark and businessman Rohan Oza made the first offer of $400,000 for 20%. Mark Cuban swooped in and Barbara Corcoran followed suit with a cash offer, and the two founders decided on Cuban's offer which matched their original ask, according to Bizz Bucket.

That same year, MUSH made $120,000 in sales. That's nearly double what they made their first year in business selling their product at farmers' markets and Whole Foods. After a year and a half, the company drew in $5 million dollars in sales.

Entrepreneur Sabeena Ladha started her vegan and gluten-free cookie dough company on her Instagram in 2020, according to Shark Tank Talks. After an increase in demand for her products, she created Deux Foods Inc. Her dough is made from oats, nut butter, vanilla, maple syrup, coconut sugar, water, and flaxseed. Advertised as "enhanced cookie-dough," it contains amino acids, pea protein, mushrooms, vitamin D, and elderberry. She asked for $300,000 for a 10% stake in the company.

Here's the plot twist – no deal came from her television appearance on "Shark Tank" on season 13, episode 6, as seen via her pitch on YouTube. A deal was originally offered by Robert Herjavec of $300,000 for 15% of her company, but he took it back when Ladha appeared unsure about what she wanted and made a counteroffer, despite him noting that he didn't want to negotiate further.

According to the company's website, Deux comes in 11 flavors including s'mores, birthday cake, and brownie batter, for $16 a jar. The company has now been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, and Today, and reached a million-dollar value in just one year.

Think plant-based foods are just for humans? Think again. Your dog has the option to skip out on the meat, too. Wild Earth, a pet food brand founded by Ryan Bethencourt is here to help your dog consume healthy food, addressing problems with pet obesity, as seen on his pitch on "Shark Tank" on season 10, episode 16 via Youtube. His biotech company's mission is also to provide an eco-friendly option, though it is only showing a prototype of his product.

Though the sharks weren't originally too impressed with Bethencourt, Mark Cuban (whose vegan food investments have now extended past the human realm) gave Wild Earth a chance by investing $550,000 in the company for a 10% stake. Bethencourt's original ask of $550,000 for 5% of his company just wasn't realistic for the sharks, according to Shark Tank Recap. They even asked to try the pet food, and Lori Greiner noted its oatmeal flavor. The company is now pulling in several millions of dollars per year since the television appearance, according to Shark Tank Recap, and has raised even more money since.