Ready Set Food Shark Tank Update – Shark Tank Season 11
Ready Set Food secured a Shark Tank deal with Mark to become a mission-driven business that now helps thousands of families prevent food allergies early. The brand continues to expand with over 25,000 regular users and a growing product line.
Katie Marks-Cogan, Daniel Zakowski, and Andrew Leitner introduce the Sharks to Ready Set Food, their baby food business that helps parents prevent their kids from contracting food allergies, in Shark Tank Season 11 Episode 12. Marks-Cogan and Leitner, both medical doctors, founded the company in 2018. Zakowski is the CEO.
Check out other Shark Tank Season 11 Episodes.
About Ready Set Food!
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Business Name | Ready Set Food! |
| Founders | Daniel Zakowski, Dr. Katie Marks-Cogan, and Dr. Andy Leitner |
| Industry | Health and Wellness |
| Product | Additives to prevent food allergies in infants |
| Deal Status | Deal secured with Mark Cuban |
| Investment Asked | $350,000 for 7% equity |
| Deal Outcome | $350,000 for 10% equity + 2% advisory shares |
The idea began when Cogan (an allergist) introduced her child to allergenic foods at a young age. Measuring things was a hassle, and her son sometimes wouldn’t eat everything. Leitner did not teach his son to avoid allergenic foods at a young age, and he developed food allergies. They thought that making a supplement to put in a baby bottle could make introducing the most allergenic foods easy and safe.
People aren’t born with food allergies; they develop them. Ready Set Food uses a powdered add-in for baby formula that gently introduces peanut, egg, and milk to your baby. They recommend starting at four months.
The packets contain organic, non-GMO, and all-natural milk, eggs, and peanuts with added sugar, additives, or preservatives. There is a stage 1 packet for a two-week introduction period, and the stage 2 packet they suggest using for at least six months or until the baby can eat their own eggs, milk, and peanuts.
A six-month supply costs $29 monthly when you commit to six monthly payments. Buying a one-month supply “a la carte” costs $47. Ready Set Go is available on Amazon, too.
The company has a lot of doctors on its board and a boatload of studies to back up their claims. They’ve raised $2.2 million in venture capital and have roughly $3.7M in estimated revenue annually. They likely want a Shark to help them expand distribution. Will a Shark be ready and set to invest?
Video
Ready Set Food Shark Tank Pitch
Katie, Daniel, and Andrew enter the Tank seeking $350,000 for 7% of their business. After explaining the business and the science behind it, they tell the Sharks they’ve already raised $2.4 million at the same valuation they’re offering the Sharks. They also expect 2019 sales to be around $450,000.
Did Ready Set Food Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
The Sharks like the lack of competition in the marketplace and the 70% margins. After fielding offers from Mark, Kevin, and Lori, they decided to do a deal with Mark.
Mark offers $350,000 for 10% plus 2% advisory shares. He also wants to set up a mechanism to provide the product to low-income families free of charge.
Ready Set Food Shark Tank Update
The Shark Tank Blog constantly provides updates and follow-ups about entrepreneurs who have appeared on the Shark Tank TV show. This deal closed, and the company is doing well with its partnership with Mark. It continues to expand its network of physicians who provide the products for its patients and sell on Amazon. In a press release announcing the final deal with Mark, Daniel Zakowski called Cuban’s investment “a validating moment for our company.”
In June 2021, Cuban led another round of investors to raise $3 million. Cuban said, “As a parent of a child with a severe peanut allergy, I know firsthand the impact it has on families across the country. Together with Ready, Set, Food! We will work on making sure every parent knows about early allergen introduction and has the ability to protect their children from food allergies.”
They also introduced organic oatmeal and Stage 3 to the line. Stage three introduces peanut, egg, milk, cashew, almond, walnut, sesame, soy, and wheat to kids who have transitioned to solid foods. As of November 2022, the company has over 25,000 regular users of their products, and they’re doing $3.5 million in annual revenue.
Update Segment
The company gets an update segment in Shark Tank Season 14 Episode 9. In the update, they say they’ve added a third-tier product for infants over 6 months old to expose them to 7 of the most allergenic foods. They also added organic baby oatmeal in 6 flavors.
They continue to do research into ways to introduce allergens in the most effective way possible. The products are available in pediatrician’s offices, Walmart, Target, Meijer, and many other places.
As of June 2024, annual revenue is estimated to be somewhere between $3 million and $5 million. The estimated net worth of Ready Set Food is approximately between $15 million and $20 million.
Posts about Ready Set Food on Shark Tank Blog
Food Allergy Prevention for Babies
Where Can You Buy It?
Ready Set Food products are available for purchase on their official website and on Amazon. Check out their social media pages for more updates: Facebook and Twitter.
Quick Summary
- Ready Set Food secured a deal with Mark Cuban on Shark Tank Season 11. The product helps prevent infant food allergies by using a powder added to bottles.
- The company raised millions in venture capital and expanded its offerings to include multiple stages and organic oatmeal.
- As of June 2024, annual revenue is estimated at $3–5 million. The company has 25,000+ regular users and a growing presence in retail and medical networks.
Curious to know about the other businesses that appeared on the same episode? Check out their business updates!
