Ben Chestnut Never Raised a Dollar for Mailchimp. Intuit Paid $12 Billion for It.
Ben Chestnut started Mailchimp on a dot-com severance cheque, never took outside funding, and sold to Intuit for about $12 billion. The record, sourced.
1098 stories
The Archive
Every founder story, capital move, and dispatch we've published.
Jake Loosararian Turned Down a $500,000 Offer With $100 in the Bank. Gecko Robotics Is Now Valued at $1.25 Billion.
Jake Loosararian had about $100 left when a customer offered $500,000 for Gecko Robotics. He said no, passed on a $2M offer, and built a $1.25B company.
Lori Greiner's Shark Tank Deals: The 9 Companies on Her Website, Checked Against the Public Record (2026)
Lori Greiner's own site features nine Shark Tank companies. We checked each sales and sale claim against filings and reporting: some hold up, some are stale.
The Woobles on Shark Tank: A Crochet-Kit Bidding War, $450,000 From Cuban and Greiner, and a Deal the Founders Didn't Close
The Woobles on Shark Tank: a five-Shark bidding war ended at $450,000 for 6% from Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner in 2022. Why it didn't close, and what came next.
Wicked Good Cupcakes on Shark Tank: Kevin O'Leary's Cupcake Royalty, the Math Behind 'Over $1 Million', and the Sale to Hickory Farms
Wicked Good Cupcakes on Shark Tank: Kevin O'Leary took a $1-then-45-cent royalty per cupcake for $75,000 in 2013. The math, and the sale to Hickory Farms.
Red Dress Boutique on Shark Tank: A $1.2 Million Deal That Shrank to $600,000, and the Founder Who Bought Mark Cuban Out
Red Dress Boutique on Shark Tank: a $1.2 million deal from Cuban and Herjavec became $600,000 from Cuban alone. Then founder Diana Best bought his stake back.
Drop Stop on Shark Tank: Two Friends, a Car-Seat Gap, Lori Greiner's $300,000, and Sales Figures From $24 Million to $100 Million
Drop Stop on Shark Tank: Lori Greiner paid $300,000 for 20% of the car-seat gap filler in 2013. What happened next, and which of its sales figures add up.
GrooveBook on Shark Tank: A $2.99 Photo Book App, a Licensing Deal With Cuban and O'Leary, and Shutterfly's $13.7 Million Purchase
GrooveBook on Shark Tank: the photo-book app got a licensing deal from Mark Cuban and Kevin O'Leary in 2014. Shutterfly bought it that fall for $13.7 million.
How to Get on Shark Tank in 2026: The Application, the Odds, and What Founders Who Made It Did Differently
How to get on Shark Tank: where to apply, how open calls work, the odds (about 0.2% air), and what Scrub Daddy and Squatty Potty learned from casting.
The Most Successful Shark Tank Companies, Ranked by What's Actually Documented (2026)
The most successful Shark Tank companies ranked by documented sales prices, valuations and revenue, not net-worth guesses: Poppi, Everlywell, Ring and more.
Shark Tank Deals by the Numbers: What 33 Companies Show About Valuations, Equity and Deals That Close
Across 33 Shark Tank companies we profiled, deals valued founders at a median 56% of their ask, and 20 of 29 on-air deals are documented as closed.
Spikeball on Shark Tank: Chris Ruder Shook Hands With Daymond John for $500,000, Then Walked Away and Built a Sport Instead
Spikeball on Shark Tank: Chris Ruder accepted $500,000 for 20% from Daymond John, then the deal fell apart. By 2017 Spikeball did $15 million in sales a year.
Coffee Meets Bagel on Shark Tank: The Kang Sisters, Mark Cuban's $30 Million Buyout Talk, and the Dating App That Stayed Independent
Coffee Meets Bagel on Shark Tank: the Kang sisters turned down Mark Cuban's $30 million buyout talk in 2015. What the offer was, and where the app is now.
Dude Wipes on Shark Tank: Mark Cuban's Last-Second $300,000, a Kroger Order, and Sales Figures That Grew With Every Update
Dude Wipes on Shark Tank: Mark Cuban took 25% for $300,000 in 2015. What happened next, the $9 million flushability settlement, and how big it is now.
FlexScreen on Shark Tank: Joe Altieri's Bendable Window Screen, Lori Greiner's Matched Offer, and the 2025 Sale to RiteScreen
FlexScreen on Shark Tank: Joe Altieri took a cash-plus-credit deal from Lori Greiner in 2020. Sales grew past $30 million, and RiteScreen bought it in 2025.
Bantam Bagels on Shark Tank: Lori Greiner's Deal, a $34 Million Sale, and the Filing That Shows the Earnout Was Worth Zero
Bantam Bagels on Shark Tank: Lori Greiner backed the mini stuffed bagels in 2015 and they sold for $34M in 2018. The buyer's filings show how it ended in 2022.
Everlywell on Shark Tank: Julia Cheek's $20 Million Ask, Lori Greiner's Credit Line, and a $1.3 Billion Valuation Three Years Later
Everlywell on Shark Tank: Julia Cheek asked $1 million for 5% in 2017 and got a credit-line deal from Lori Greiner. By 2020 investors valued it at $1.3 billion.
Breathometer on Shark Tank: All Five Sharks Paid Four Times the Ask, Then the FTC Said the Breathalyzer Didn't Work
Breathometer on Shark Tank: all five Sharks put $1 million into the smartphone breathalyzer in 2013. Then the FTC case, the refunds and Mark Cuban's worst loss.
Plated on Shark Tank: The Mark Cuban Deal That Fell Apart, a $200 Million Sale to Albertsons, and a Shutdown Two Years Later
Plated on Shark Tank: the meal-kit startup's Mark Cuban deal never closed. Albertsons bought it for about $200 million in 2017, then ended its delivery in 2019.
Kodiak Cakes on Shark Tank: Joel Clark Turned Down Half His Company, Grew Revenue 50-Fold and Sold to L Catterton
Kodiak Cakes on Shark Tank: Joel Clark walked away from $500,000 for 50% in 2014. Then revenue grew over 50x and L Catterton bought a majority stake in 2021.
Tipsy Elves on Shark Tank: A Lawyer, a Dentist, Robert Herjavec's $100,000 and the Ugly Sweater Business That Learned to Sell All Year
Tipsy Elves on Shark Tank: Robert Herjavec paid $100,000 for 10% of the ugly Christmas sweater brand in 2013. What happened next, and how big is it now?
Ring on Shark Tank: Jamie Siminoff's DoorBot Got No Deal, Then Amazon Paid $839 Million. Here's What the Filing Says
Ring, then DoorBot, got no deal on Shark Tank in 2013. Amazon bought it in 2018. What the Sharks passed on, what Amazon actually paid, and where Ring is now.
Daisy Cakes on Shark Tank: Kim Nelson, Barbara Corcoran's $50,000, and a '10,000 Cakes a Week' Claim the Kitchen Couldn't Bake
Daisy Cakes on Shark Tank: Kim Nelson took $50,000 for 25% from Barbara Corcoran in 2011. Is it still in business, and which sales numbers add up?
The Pizza Cupcake on Shark Tank: Lori Greiner's 15%, a Walmart Rollout, and the Rebrand to Incredifulls
The Pizza Cupcake on Shark Tank: Lori Greiner took 12.5% plus 2.5% advisory shares for $125,000 in 2021. What happened next, and why it's now Incredifulls.
Cup Board Pro on Shark Tank: A 9/11 Firefighter's Cutting Board, All Five Sharks, and the Williams-Sonoma Deal That Followed
Cup Board Pro on Shark Tank: Keith Young's children took $100,000 for 20% from all five Sharks in 2018. What happened next, and where to buy it now.
Potato Parcel on Shark Tank: The Spud-Mail Joke Kevin O'Leary Turned Into a Royalty, and How Long It Would Take to Pay
Potato Parcel on Shark Tank: Kevin O'Leary paid $50,000 for 10% plus a royalty per potato in 2016. Who owns it, is it still in business, and the math.
Cupbop on Shark Tank: A $13,000 Food Truck, Five Offers, and the Mark Cuban Deal Nobody Has Confirmed Closed
Cupbop on Shark Tank: the Utah Korean BBQ chain got five offers and took $1M for 5% from Mark Cuban in 2022. Did it close, and how big is Cupbop now?
Boarderie on Shark Tank: The Cheese Boards That Sold Out in December, Lori Greiner's $300,000, and Sales Claims That Keep Growing
Boarderie on Shark Tank: the charcuterie-board company took $300,000 for 9% from Lori Greiner in 2022. Did the deal close, and how big is it now?
Pre-Money vs. Post-Money Valuation: What the Option Pool Shuffle Costs Founders
Pre-money vs. post-money valuation explained with worked math: how ownership is calculated, why a pre-money option pool lowers your real valuation, and what to negotiate.
Scholly on Shark Tank: Christopher Gray's $40,000 Deal, the Three-Shark Walkout, and a Sale to Sallie Mae That Ended in Court
Scholly on Shark Tank: Daymond John and Lori Greiner put in $40,000 for 15%. Then came a Sallie Mae sale in 2023 and Christopher Gray's 2026 lawsuit.
Cousins Maine Lobster Took $55,000 From Barbara Corcoran on Shark Tank. The 'Billion-Dollar Business' Is a Franchise System, and the Billion Is Lifetime Sales.
Cousins Maine Lobster got $55,000 for 15% from Barbara Corcoran on Shark Tank. How the food-truck franchise grew, what its $1B claim means, and who owns it.
Numilk Pitched a Grocery-Store Milk Kiosk on Shark Tank and Got $2 Million From Mark Cuban. The Business That Survived Is a Countertop Machine.
Numilk on Shark Tank won a $2M offer from Mark Cuban for its plant-milk kiosk. The real deal terms, the delayed home machine, and where Numilk stands in 2026.
Legacy Shave on Shark Tank: Mike Gutow Asked for $300,000 for 10% and Agreed to Sell Lori Greiner 95% of the Brush His Late Father Built
Legacy Shave on Shark Tank: Mike Gutow agreed to sell Lori Greiner 95% for $700K in 2022. What's documented about the deal, the patents and the company now.
Scrub Daddy on Shark Tank: The Sponge 3M Left Behind, Lori Greiner's $200,000 Bet, and the Sales Figures Worth Reading Twice
Scrub Daddy on Shark Tank: Aaron Krause took $200K for 20% from Lori Greiner in 2012. Did it close, who owns it now, and which sales figures hold up?
Neuro Gum on Shark Tank: Kent Yoshimura and Ryan Chen Turned Down Two Sharks, Got Sued, and Later Signed the Guest Shark Who Passed
Neuro gum (NeuroGum) on Shark Tank: the founders turned down Kevin O'Leary and Robert Herjavec in 2020. What came next, who owns it, and which numbers hold up.
Poppi on Shark Tank: How Mother Beverage Gave Rohan Oza a Quarter of the Company, Lost Its Name, and Sold to PepsiCo for $1.95 Billion
Poppi on Shark Tank: the Ellsworths gave Rohan Oza 25% as Mother Beverage. The rename, the $8.9M gut-health settlement and PepsiCo's $1.95B deal.
Better Bedder on Shark Tank: Lori Greiner's Equity Deal Became a Licensing Deal, and the Sheet Band Is Now Sold Only From Its Own Website
Better Bedder on Shark Tank: Nita Gassen and Judy Schott took $150K for 18% from Lori Greiner, then signed a licensing deal. Where the company stands now.
Hug Sleep on Shark Tank: All Five Sharks Bid on Matt Mundt's 'Adult Swaddle.' The Deal He Took Doubled the Money at the Same Valuation
Hug Sleep on Shark Tank: Matt Mundt and Angie Kupper took $300K for 20% from Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner. What happened to the Sleep Pod after the show.
Squatty Potty on Shark Tank: Lori Greiner's $350,000 Deal, a $500,000 Unicorn Ad, and a Brand Sold Twice in Five Years
Squatty Potty on Shark Tank: Lori Greiner paid $350,000 for 10%. Then came the unicorn ad, a 2021 sale to Aterian and a 2026 resale. Who owns it now.
Bombas on Shark Tank: Daymond John Took 17.5% for $200,000. Here Is What the Sock Company Has Disclosed Since, and Whose Numbers They Are
Bombas on Shark Tank: Daymond John paid $200,000 for 17.5%. What the company has disclosed since on sales, profit, donations and who runs it now.
Anti-Dilution Protection Explained: Full Ratchet vs. Weighted Average in a Down Round
How anti-dilution protection works in a down round: full ratchet vs. broad-based weighted average, the NVCA formula, and a worked cap table showing who pays.
Ashley Tyrner-Dolce Walked Away From Term Sheets, Skipped Her Own Salary and Sold FarmboxRx Without Outside Investors. The '$47.5M Exit' Headline Is Not Quite the Story.
Ashley Tyrner-Dolce turned down term sheets and a meal-kit pivot, stretched vendor terms and sold FarmboxRx to Pyx Health. What the $47.5M figure really is.
Liquidation Preference Explained: Who Gets Paid First When a Startup Sells
How liquidation preference works: 1x non-participating vs. participating vs. capped, seniority stacks, and worked exit math showing what founders actually take home.
Brendan Foody Built Mercor From a Hiring Marketplace Into a $10 Billion AI-Training Supplier. Then Came a Lawsuit, a Breach and a Fight Over What 'Revenue' Means.
Brendan Foody's Mercor went from a hiring platform to a $10 billion supplier of expert trainers for AI labs. What the numbers do and don't say, and the risks.
In One Week in 2023, RevenueCat's Bank, Series B Investor and Servers All Failed. Two Years Later, Jacob Eiting's Company Was Valued at $500 Million.
Jacob Eiting's RevenueCat hit a Series B 'fantasy' valuation, stalled growth, then lost its bank, investor and servers in one week. Here's the comeback.
SAFE vs. Convertible Note: How Startups Raise Money Before a Priced Round
How a post-money SAFE and a convertible note differ: valuation caps, discounts, interest and maturity, plus worked dilution math for stacking several rounds.
A $285 Billion AI Panic Hit Software Stocks in One Day. Six Days Later, Workday Called Its Billionaire Co-Founder Back as CEO.
Aneel Bhusri returned as Workday's CEO six days after a $285B AI-driven stock selloff, on a pay package worth $135M in stock tied to five-year targets.
Section 174 R&D Expensing: What Changed for Startups in 2026
Section 174 R&D expensing explained: the 2022 capitalization rule it reversed, the closed small-business amend window, and the Section 280C catch founders miss.