10-Year-Old Lemonade Maven Makes It on ‘Shark Tank’

By Qimmah Saafir Mar 26, 2015

Mikaila Ulmer, a 10-year-old from Austin and founder of BeeSweet Lemonade, is on her way to expanding her business thanks to her appearance on popular reality show "Shark Tank." Budding entrepreneurs appear on the show to present their business ideas for financial backing and partnership.   

According to a statement on her company’s web site, Ulmer’s path to founding her southern lemonade company started when she was 4. Her parents encouraged her to enter a children’s business contest and as she came up with ideas, she was stung by a bee. Her parents encouraged her to research honeybees and their effect on the ecosystem. And around the same time her great grandmother sent her a 1940s cookbook containing her flaxseed lemonade recipe. Joining her new interest in bees and the vintage recipe, Ulmer decided to start BeeSweet. 

"Shark Tank" investor and FUBU CEO Daymond John invested $60,000 for a 25 percent stake in the beverage company. John plans to mentor the young entrepreneur and push her brand through his professional network.

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