Where Is KidsLuv From Shark Tank Today?
In addition to the healthy snacks to pack in your kid's backpack, what can you give your kiddo to drink besides water that doesn't contain a hefty amount of sugar? That was exactly Ashi Jelinek's thought when she created KidsLuv, a zero-sugar juice-infused drink for kids. The business thrived at first, but it appears to have shuttered in 2022.
Jelinek, a mom of two, told Staff Street that she started her business in 2017 after feeling disgruntled with the drink options for kids. Most of them were loaded with sugar and not very nutritionally sound, so she began her development of KidsLuv right in her home kitchen and slowly began debuting her new product to friends and local businesses in 2018. According to this creative mompreneur's Facebook page, her juice-infused water, KidsLuv, contains 12 essential vitamins and minerals and the added benefit of zero sugar.
While Jelinek was able to kickstart her growing company with a hefty investment from friends and family and even fueled her business with $200,000 of her own money, Jelinek took her growing company to "Shark Tank" in hopes of a deal. Fans might remember the ABC investors' dramatic responses when they discovered Jelinek had initially raised $1 million for her product. But at the time of her television debut in 2020, the company only had $50,000 in the bank.
What happened to KidsLuv on Shark Tank?
Among the healthiest and unhealthiest juice boxes for kids, Ashi Jelinek's new product, KidsLuv, was on its way to becoming one of the most nutritious kid-friendly drinks. Jelinek told Entrepenista that her fun, nutritious, kid-approved beverage came in a straw-free container that was both resealable and recyclable. Armed with her environmentally sound packaging and zero-sugar beverage, Jelinek made her debut on "Shark Tank" in Season 11, Episode 15 in 2020. She was seeking $200,000 for 8% ownership of the KidsLuv business.
With the help of her young son, Jelinek delivered a lively presentation showcasing the amount of sugar kids indirectly consume when drinking regular fruit juice. Yet, this dedicated businesswoman received mixed reception after passing out samples of her kid-friendly vitamin drink. While Jelinek's product does include coconut water, this healthy juice alternative also contains stevia, which negatively stood out to investors Mark Cuban and Barbara Cocoran.
Ultimately, after discussing the financial breakdown of the KidsLuv business since its inception, the "Shark Tank" judges believed Jelinek spent all of her money on licensing and distribution before truly knowing if she had enough customers willing to buy her product. Not one of the investors believed Jelinek had made sound business decisions with KidsLuv, and Jelinek left "Shark Tank" with no deal.
The KidsLuv business post-Shark Tank
While west coast entrepreneur Ashi Jelinek didn't get the deal she hoped for on "Shark Tank," she did learn from the experience and was able to grow her business. Jelinek told Staff Street that her experience on the popular ABC show awarded her product positive exposure. She also believes if she were to return to "Shark Tank" now, she would be able to score a deal.
Jelinek had her sights set to expand her growing business to major retailers, including Target and the Texas-based H-E-B supermarkets, in 2022. The businesswoman had plans of building the KidsLuv online retail presence as well.
According to Kona Equity, KidsLuv has a current annual revenue of more than $5 million. In 2022, the brand added a new flavor to its current lineup of flavors including flying fla-mango, starstruck coconut, and peach me I'm orange. BevNet states that beary berry, with the addition of immune-supporting zinc and vitamin D, was added to the company's list of flavors in May 2022. While the KidsLuv business appeared to have been in a solid place for the majority of 2022, the company fell off the map later that year.
What happened to KidsLuv?
Sadly, you can no longer add KidsLuv electrolyte beverages to your kids' go-to list of the best things to eat and drink to recover on a hot day. One day, this steadfast eco-friendly company seemed to be in every major retailer. And then, just like that, those brightly colored tetra packs were suddenly nowhere to be found. Based on KidsLuv's social media presence, the company had been active on Instagram up until September 2022, when it last posted a giveaway with a few healthy food companies.
While a Google search for "buy KidsLuv drinks" cites major retailers including Target and Walmart, most websites list KidsLuv products as "sold out." A simple click on the KidsLuv website shows that the company is currently unavailable. You can also no longer buy the KidsLuv beverages on Amazon. Even though founder Ashi Jelinek had been doing her part to expand her brand's retail footprint, she seemed to run into a few financial hiccups, given the fact that KidsLuv is no longer a widely available product.
Why did KidsLuv go out of business?
Unfortunately, no one knows the exact reason KidsLuv products disappeared from major retailers. Based on Ashi Jelinek's financial history in the early years of running her company, she invested thousands of dollars in securing a patent, as well as distribution-related costs, before streamlining a steady base of sales. The shocking responses from the "Shark Tank" investors in 2020 showcase the severity of Jelinek's decision-making regarding KidsLuv-related expenses.
Even though Jelinek had been gaining space in major retailers, she was still busy on the sidelines drumming up additional investment money. In late 2020, KidsLuv partnered with StartEngine via Lustro to create a crowdfunding platform to interact more directly with the brand's customers and raised more than $37,000. While Jelinek's LinkedIn profile still shows her as the CEO of KidsLuv, in 2021, she was tagged in an appreciation post from investor Garrett Gilbertson from SUM Ventures, a company dedicated to investing money to help propel company growth. The last post on the KidsLuv LinkedIn page took place in October 2022, showcasing Jelinek's participation in an inspirational women's panel for building and maintaining entrepreneurial goals.
In the end, Jelinek may have run out of funds to support her grassroots company. Whether or not KidsLuv will return to the retail marketplace is unknown. In the meantime, fans may need to return to choosing an option from the long list of the best and worst drinks for kids.