In Eastern Europe there is a type of soft-serve ice cream that’s unique to the rest of the world. Instead of traditional ice cream cones, they have rotisserie-grilled dough cones with various toppings. Jeremy and Kaitlyn Carlson brought this concept to the United States and started Crispy Cones. The founders pitched their unique product on Shark Tank and got a deal with Barbara Corcoran. As of 2023, Crispy Cones is worth an estimated $2 million.
About the Founders
Jeremy and Kaitlyn Carlson are a married couple who reside in Rexburg, Idaho. They both went to Brigham Young University – Idaho, but Jeremy later transferred to Utah State University and finished his education there.
Both of them are members of the Mormon Church, and Jeremy once served as a missionary for their sect. On the other hand, Kaitlyn spent her early career as a housekeeper, media relations specialist, and photographer.
Founding the Company
Jeremy was once sent on a two-year mission to the Czech Republic. One of the things he fell in love with there was their traditional ice cream served in crispy dough cones. He wanted to bring this ingenious delicacy back home.
When he returned to America and continued his studies, he started planning his business in his dorm room. His then-girlfriend Kaitlyn wanted to help him with social media marketing. So, they became business partners.
The duo launched Crispy Cones with their ice cream truck in 2019. They struggled at first and sold gourmet pastries along with their main product. But eventually, their Czech-inspired frozen dessert became a crowd favorite in Rexburg.
Getting on Shark Tank
In 2021, the entrepreneurs opened their second location in Logan, Utah. Local investors then shared their interest in the startup, which led Jeremy and Kaitlyn to start franchising and now have 11 franchisees.
After seeing the benefits of franchising, the founders decided to focus their business efforts on it as they planned on going international. This requires capital, so the husband-and-wife team signed up to be on Shark Tank.
The overall application process took eight months, but Jeremy and Kaitlyn Carlson were thrilled they made the cut. The Carlsons shared their story of applying for Shark Tank on social media. Kaitlyn later recalled “it was surreal being in front of well-known personalities”.
After Shark Tank
Although the episode has recently aired, Crispy Cones are expecting to see a huge increase in franchise applications over the next month. Jeremy and Kaitlyn came across as very authentic and fans of the show will be keen to support them. The deal with Barbara should close within a few months, she tweeted after the show hailing them rockstars.
They already have a strong online following and will soon surpass 10,000 followers on Instagram. Crispy Cones currently have 11 franchises across Arizona and Utah and two corporate offices. The company will be opening up a headquarters and warehouse in Idaho.
If you want to try their special treat you can visit their stores in Rexburg, Idaho, and Logan, Utah. Crispy Cones has a 4.5 star rating from 43 users on Yelp. This is why the product has quickly become a local favorite! The business is worth an estimated $2 million.
