|
Read audio
|
The inspiration behind Ehime Eigbe launching her brand was a health scare.
Now, Eigbe has inked a “Shark Tank” deal as she continues to encourage Black women to take back control of their lives, while still being able to enjoy sweet treats.
The post Nigerian-American Founder Scores $250K Deal On ‘Shark Tank’ For Her $2.4M Frozen Yogurt Startup appeared first on AfroTech.
According to a press release shared with AfroTech, Eigbe launched Sweetkiwi, the award-winning frozen greek yogurt brand, in Nigeria in 2011 after her own personal struggle with uterine fibroids.
The Inspiration Behind Sweetkiwi
“All disease starts in the gut so at Sweetkiwi we continue to work purposefully in our mission to utilize the nutritional power of food to create healthier guts, good health, and wellness,” said Eigbe in an official statement.
Age 22 at the time, the Nigerian-American founder was told that she would need surgery for her uterine fibroids.
Instead, she requested a one-year timeline from her doctor to try and find an alternative, holistic way to address what was going on. It was then that she began a strict diet. However, because she still craved sweet treats, Eigbe got to work in her own kitchen, and the rest is history.
After indulging in the delicious desserts that she concocted at home, friends and co-workers encouraged Eigbe to share her healthy dessert alternative with more people who may be experiencing something similar.
Now, Sweetkiwi is not only a successful dessert company, but she has managed to ink a deal with “Shark Tank” for $250,000 for a 16% stake in the company thanks to shark Robert Herjavec.
According to “CNBC Make It,” Eigbe’s company, which has now launched in the U.S., is worth $2.4 million.
“I don’t have a lot of investment in this space, but I love this space and I want to learn,” Herjavec said on “Shark Tank.” “There are no two better people that I’m going to put my money into than the two of you.”
Despite the heavy competition, Eigbe has always believed in what she has built with Sweetkiwi because it offers a healthier alternative with less sugar than other leading frozen yogurt brands.
“It’s made from real milk sourced from smallholder family-owned farms, and each pint boasts 22 grams of protein, prebiotic fiber, gut-healthy probiotics, and a unique blend of immunity-boosting superfoods, all of which are better together,” said Eigbe, alongside her husband and business partner, Michael Akindele.
The journey for Sweetkiwi doesn’t just stop at “Shark Tank.” The delicious dessert can be found online via the company’s website and in select Whole Foods Markets, Kroger, Ralphs, and more.
