It’s not well known but sea moss contains essential minerals that offer various health benefits. After discovering this, Alexiou Gibson created The Transformation Factory and its flagship product, the Sea Moss Gel. The entrepreneur pitched his business on Shark Tank and scored a deal with Mark Cuban and Kevin Hart. As of 2024, The Transformation Factory is worth an estimated $3 million.
Alexiou Gibson’s Background
Alexiou Gibson was born in the Bahamas but now lives in Wellington, Florida. He studied pre-engineering at Palm Beach State College, where he was chosen by NASA to lead a research team. Gibson earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Florida Atlantic University.
While pursuing his associate’s degree, Gibson was recruited to be the assistant director of student activities. In 2013, he returned to NASA and became their Chief of Technology Intern.
After putting in the work in college and at NASA, he was hired as an implementation specialist at Breezer Mobile Cooling. Later he became a project manager at Assura and the CEO of Highly Ambitious Studios.
Founding the Company
The Florida man had a successful career, but neglected his physical health. At 21 years old he weighed more than 500 pounds. His doctor told him he might not reach 30 and as a result he changed his daily lifestyle.
Alexiou found out about the health benefits of sea moss. Also known as Irish moss, it’s a type of red algae that is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are especially important for a healthy heart. A business idea was soon formed and Alexiou created an edible, flavoured gel from sea moss.
In 2020, he launched a line of Sea Moss Gel under The Transformation Factory. Once the product gained traction, he doubled down on advertising. In 11 months, the business did over $3.5 million in revenue, purely through online sales.
Shark Tank Appearance
With growing sales, Alexiou viewed Shark Tank as the perfect platform to take his business to the next level. He appeared on season 13, seeking $500,000 for a 5% equity stake.
Alexiou came across as a humble guy and the Sharks were inspired about his weight loss journey. They were shocked when he revealed the business had $3.5 million in sales in less than a year. Despite this, the Sharks weren’t crazy about the valuation.
Guest Shark Kevin Hart was the first to make an offer, and teamed up with Barbara Corcoran. Alexiou countered but Barbara lost interest and Mark Cuban took her place. In the end, Mark Cuban and Kevin Hart invested $600,000 for 20%.
After Shark Tank
After the episode aired, The Transformation Factory experienced a huge surge in sales over the next three days. As expected the hype has slowed down from the show but the business is still thriving.
Shark Tank fans were eager to try the same gel flavours as shown on television. You can buy their products on Etsy, Amazon, and their website, SeaMossTransformation.com. The company has maintained their direct to consumer strategy and isn’t looking to expand into retail.
Currently, they average a 5-star rating from 7,355 reviews on their Etsy store. No recent sales figures have been released but the business should be on track to make at least $4 million in 2024. The Transformation Factory is worth an estimated $3 million.
