Where Is Cropsticks From Shark Tank Today?
Chopsticks are go-to utensils in many Asian countries, per Viet World Kitchen. In fact, chopsticks were created in China around 1200 BC, according to History. Today, chopsticks are used globally and are useful tools to slurp noodles and nosh on sushi, among other things.
However, as practical and accessible as chopsticks are, they can be quite detrimental to Mother Nature. After all, the most commonly used chopsticks in the world are wooden. Approximately 3.8 million trees are killed annually to produce approximately 57 million wooden chopsticks — which comprises about 47% of all disposable chopsticks, according to The New York Times.
Mylen Yamamoto, the inventor of Cropsticks, also took note of this problem. In response, she came up with Cropsticks while on a long flight to Singapore. Her chopsticks kept rolling off her table (via Youtube). Although a nuisance, that incident was also her a-ha moment to create Cropsticks.
Cropsticks claims to be the first disposable wooden chopsticks with a built-in rest. Cropsticks are made from bamboo, which is eco-friendly and grows back faster than trees, according to its website. Yamamoto created a Kickstarter campaign in 2016, raising $21,816 from 284 people. It seemed many people were intrigued by the idea. Could the same be said for the Sharks on ABC's "Shark Tank"?
Cropsticks didn't pick up deals
Mylen Yamamoto appeared on "Shark Tank" Season 8, Episode 20, where she sought $75,000 from the Sharks in return for a 12.5% stake in her company. Her husband, Ron, gave the Sharks sushi in order to demonstrate Cropsticks' usage. Although the Sharks were seemingly enjoying the sushi, they immediately questioned the product's profitability.
Yamamoto said the company sold 21,800 Cropsticks from her Kickstarter campaign. At the time of the pitch, she also received 190,000 conditional purchase orders, totaling $125,000 in sales. Yamamoto also told Sharks that Cropsticks had received two conditional purchase orders from a large hotel chain and a large Asian distribution company. Despite the business's promising sales and the entrepreneur's bubbly enthusiasm, none of the Sharks saw a viable future with the company.
Kevin "Mr. Wonderful" O'Leary quickly deduced that restaurants wouldn't buy Cropsticks over more affordable and widely accepted chopsticks, so he dropped out. Similarly, Mark Cuban said he thought the business felt too much like a class project, so he also dropped out. Sadly, Daymond John, Robert Herjavec, and Lori Greiner also seemed to be in agreement. Although Greiner admitted to being impressed with the functionality of the Cropsticks, she dropped out last. With no deal from the sharks, Yamamoto left the tank empty-handed. Was the company able to stay afloat?
Cropsticks are here to stay
Since appearing on "Shark Tank," things have been looking up for Cropsticks. In addition to the classic Cropsticks that Mylen Yamamoto showed off on the show, the company has now expanded its product line. Today, the company also sells bamboo straws, reusable chopsticks, and sustainable planters (which include a ceramic pot and a bamboo hexagonal tile), per the website's product page.
Cropsticks were emphasized to be a sustainable alternative to disposable wooden chopsticks in "Shark Tank," and Yamamoto made sure that value extended to the company's operations. Cropsticks is now a certified B Corp company, meaning the company has met the highest standards for social and environmental performance. Cropsticks also partnered with Chop Value to implement a pilot upcycling program in Los Angeles to create products from used chopsticks (via YouTube).
Just two companies were interested in distributing Cropsticks when Yamamoto was on "Shark Tank." Although we don't have an exact figure for the companies that do business with Cropsticks today, it seems safe to say that the business has seen success. The company website currently touts deals with such notable brands as Four Seasons, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, and Panda Inn.