Home Business 11-yr Old Mikaila Ulmer Signs Deal w/ Whole Foods #SharkTank

11-yr Old Mikaila Ulmer Signs Deal w/ Whole Foods #SharkTank

by Syllabus Magazine - Mar 30, 2016

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At the age of 10, Mikaila Ulmer appeared on the show Shark Tank. Ulmer was interested in taking her lemonade business, BeeSweet Lemonade to the next level. After her presentation, she was able to ink a deal with FUBU Mogul, Daymond John. Now, just over a year later, John has helped the 11-yr old entrepreneur secure a major distribution deal with Whole Foods to carry her lemonade in 55 of their stores, throughout Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.

Mikaila Ulmer with her father on the TV show, "Shark Tank," where she secured $60,000 for her business. Michael Desmond / Michael Desmond — Mikaila Ulmer with her father on the TV show, “Shark Tank,” where she secured $60,000 for her business. Michael Desmond / Michael Desmond

Reading Mikaila’s story, she got started in business at the age of 4 after being stung by two bees in a week; via the brand’s website:

“I didn’t enjoy the bee stings at all. They scared me. But then something strange happened. I became fascinated with bees. I learned all about what they do for me and our ecosystem. So then I thought, what if I make something that helps honeybees and uses my Great Granny Helen’s recipe? That’s how BeeSweet Lemonade was born. It comes from my Great Granny Helen’s flaxseed recipe and my new love for bees. So that’s why we sweeten it with local honey. And today my little idea continues to grow.”

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Not only is Ulmer a successful entrepreneur, she also travels the country as a speaker educating other entrepreneurs and leading workshops about saving the Honeybee. Per her interview with NBC, her business is more than just about money; she donates a portion of her profits to organizations that work to save honeybees. Mikaila says:“Last year, beekeepers lost 40 percent of all their hives,” Ulmer said. “Bees are dying.” She also quoted Albert Einstein, who said, “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left.”