Dietary restrictions can stop us from enjoying tasty-looking snacks. Thankfully, we now have healthy treats like Funky Mello, a vegan marshmallow creme that is free of sugar, meat substances, and most allergens. Founders Delisa and Zach Harper, recently pitched their product on Shark Tank and got a deal with Daymond John. Today, Funky Mello is worth an estimated $500,000. About the Founders Delisa and Zach Harper are a husband-and-wife team that worked in separate fields before becoming entrepreneurs. They met at a music festival and instantly made a connection due to their shared passion for beats and good food. Before…
Author: Daniel Rugunya
Daniel Rugunya
Daniel Rugunya is a freelance entertainment writer who mainly covers celebrity, reality TV and movies. He is also a scriptwriter with a handful TV episodes and indie short film credits to his name.
A digital analytics tool that identifies the technology stack of websites, is a prime example of how a solo venture can achieve remarkable success. Founded by Gary Brewer in 2007, BuiltWith has evolved from a side project into a powerhouse, generating over $14 million in annual recurring revenue with just one full-time employee at its helm. How BuiltWith Started The birth of BuiltWith stemmed from Brewer’s curiosity about the technologies powering various startup websites. Realizing the absence of an easy way to uncover this information, he created BuiltWith, a platform that simplifies the process for users to discover what tools…
As a search engine that champions privacy, DuckDuckGo has done well to survive in a market dominated by giants. Founded in 2008 by Gabriel Weinberg, it has steadily grown into a formidable player, challenging the status quo with its user-centric approach. Business Model and Revenue DuckDuckGo’s revenue model is straightforward, relying on advertising and affiliate marketing. Unlike its competitors, it doesn’t track users to target ads. Instead, ads are based on the search terms entered, ensuring privacy. Affiliate revenue comes from partnerships with Amazon and eBay, earning DuckDuckGo a commission on sales initiated through its search results. This approach has…
In 2017, Dentacoin burst onto the cryptocurrency scene with ambitious plans to revolutionize the global dental industry. With dreams of becoming the Bitcoin of dentistry, Dentacoin’s initial journey was marked by optimism. However, as 2024 unfolds, the reality paints a different picture. Today, Dentacoin finds itself teetering on the brink of oblivion, with a market cap of $1 million, down over 99% from its peak in 2018. The Meteoric Rise Dentacoin was designed as a blockchain-based solution to transform the dental industry by providing an efficient payment system for dental services. It garnered significant attention early on, leading to a…
With Modern Picnic, lunchboxes have never looked so luxurious. The company sells a line of fancy food containers disguised as handbags and backpacks. Looking from the outside, you’ll never guess it’s meant for grubs and bevies. Founder Ali Kaminetsky recently appeared on Shark Tank but didn’t get a deal. After Shark Tank, Modern Picnic is worth $6 million. Ali Kaminetsky’s Story Ali came up with these stylish lunch boxes after graduating college and interning at Macy’s buying program. The bubbly brunette thrived and was promoted to omni-assistant buyer. Every day she brought lunch to work to save money and stay…
Once a digital media sensation valued at $1.5 billion, BuzzFeed now faces a starkly different reality with a valuation of around $35 million. This dramatic shift in fortune is a tale of rapid rise, ambitious expansion, and a challenging adaptation to the ever-evolving digital world. The Beginning Founded in 2006 by Jonah Peretti and John S. Johnson III, BuzzFeed quickly became synonymous with viral content, pioneering the use of listicles and quizzes. Its early success was driven by a deep understanding of social media dynamics and an ability to produce content that resonated with a young, internet-savvy audience. By 2014,…
Poplight, a brand that has quickly become a favorite on TikTok, is transforming the way we think about home lighting. The viral wall light can be installed in a mere 20 seconds, offering a blend of convenience and style. Founders Caroline Matthes and Rose Fierman recently showcased their product on Shark Tank and got with deal with Kevin O’Leary. After Shark Tank, Poplight is worth an estimated $2 million. Caroline and Rose Poplight is designed to be convenient for small spaces, rental homes, and old buildings. Installing it only involves peeling the base sticker, using the built-in level, and putting…
Founded in 2016 by brothers Alex and Anthony Zaccaria and their friend Nick Humphreys, Linktree has emerged as a popular but simple tool. Initially created to address the limitations of Instagram’s single bio link, Linktree allows users to house multiple links on a single, customizable landing page. This innovation has not only simplified online presence management but also changed the way people connect with their audience. The Birth of Linktree The idea for Linktree stemmed from the founders’ own frustrations while running their digital agency, Bolster. They needed a solution to efficiently manage multiple links for clients’ Instagram profiles. The…
In the mid-1960s, a revolutionary idea brewed within the walls of the University of Florida, leading to the creation of Gatorade. The sports drink would redefine athletic hydration and become a global phenomenon. The Birth of Gatorade The start of Gatorade traces back to Dr. Robert Cade, a nephrologist at the University of Florida. Cade. Along with his colleagues Dr. Dana Shires, Dr. Alejandro de Quesada, and Dr. Jim Free, they embarked on a quest to solve a perplexing problem: Why didn’t football players urinate after games? The prevailing belief at the time was that consuming fluids during sports led…
There’s always more than meets the eye when it comes to the backstories of successful entrepreneurs. Origin stories are much deeper than the shallow version you often hear in the media. This is especially true with Elon as many people aren’t aware of what he achieved before PayPal, Tesla and SpaceX. In 1989 Elon Musk moved to Canada from South Africa to avoid military service. He studied at Queen’s University in Ontario for two years and later transferred to the University of Pennsylvania. In the summer of 1994, he worked for two different startups as he was extremely interested in…