Every parent wants their child to be healthy and happy. But when it comes to food and drinks, it can be hard to balance what kids want and what’s actually good for them. Many children love sugary drinks like juices or sodas. These drinks are colorful, tasty, and sweet. But they also come with a serious problem. Drinking these sugary drinks every day can lead to many health issues for kids.
It can cause weight gain, tooth decay, and even increase the risk of diabetes later in life. Many parents feel trapped because they know sugary drinks are unhealthy, but struggle to get their kids to drink water or healthier options.
This problem bothered Ashi Kelinek, a mom who cared deeply about what her children consumed. She decided to create a drink that kids would love, but without all the harmful sugar. Ashi came up with Kids Luv, a vitamin-infused drink that is completely sugar-free. This drink was designed to taste great while being good for children’s health. Ashi believed she could make a difference by offering parents a better option for their kids.
She brought her idea to Shark Tank in Season 11, hoping to get the help she needed to grow her business and reach more families. She asked the sharks for $200,000 in exchange for 8% of her company. But as she shared her story, the sharks had tough questions and concerns about the business. Let’s look at how Ashi pitched Kids Luv, what happened in the tank, and what became of the company after the show.
Kids Luz Net Worth Shark Tank Update
Ashi was looking for an investment of $200k in exchange for 8% equity in the company. At the time of the episode, she valued her company at $2.5 million. Ashi did not secure a deal with any of the sharks, so the company’s net worth remained around $2.5 million at the time of the show. After the show was aired, the company experienced a boost in exposure and later expanded into major retailers, but the business appears to have shut down after its last reported growth phase. As per my rough estimate, the current net worth of Kids Luv is $0.
Shark(s) name
Offer & Demand
Counteroffer
Accepted?
Lori Greiner
Out
N/A
N/A
Kevin O’Leary
Out
N/A
N/A
Barbara Corcoran
Out
N/A
N/A
Mark Cuban
Out
N/A
N/A
Robert Herjavec
Out
N/A
N/A
Ashi Kelinek Backstory + Their Initial Pitch
Ashi Kelinek was a devoted mom who worried about how much sugar was in her child’s drinks. Every time she looked at labels on popular kids’ juices, she was shocked at how much sugar they contained. She realized that if her child drank just one glass of these juices every day, they could end up consuming up to 25 pounds of sugar each year.
That idea scared her. She wanted her kids and other children to be able to enjoy a tasty drink without putting their health at risk. So Ashi set out to create Kids Luv. It was a drink that had vitamins and minerals but no sugar. She began working on her idea right from her kitchen.
After experimenting with flavors, Ashi found that adding a tiny bit of stevia helped hide the taste of vitamins, making the drink sweet without using sugar. But she knew she needed professional help. She teamed up with a professional formulator to make sure the drinks were safe, tasty, and ready for the market. They developed two flavors to start with: coconut and mango. Ashi was proud of her product.
She wanted to help parents give their children something delicious that was also good for them. She put in $200,000 of her own money to get Kids Luv off the ground. She spent money on product development, trademarks, licensing, and meeting the strict regulations needed for food and drink products.
She was determined to make her idea a success, but she needed more funds to grow. That’s why she came to Shark Tank asking for $200,000 for 8% equity in her business.
Queries + Shark’s Responses, and Final Deal
The first thing the sharks wanted to know was what made Kids Luv different from other drinks already on the market. Ashi explained that most kids’ drinks had a lot of sugar, which was harmful. Kids Luv had zero sugar, plus vitamins and minerals. She showed them how much sugar a child could consume in a year from just one glass of juice per day by dumping a huge bucket of sugar in front of them. This dramatic moment helped the sharks understand the seriousness of the problem.
But then the sharks wanted to know how the drink tasted. Ashi gave them samples, and most of the sharks said it tasted pretty good. Mark Cuban, however, could taste the slight bitterness from the stevia and asked about it. Ashi explained that only a very small amount of stevia was used to mask the vitamin flavors. Mark admitted he could still taste it, which worried him about kids liking it.
Next, the sharks asked about sales numbers. Ashi shared that since February 2018, Kids Luv had made only $55,000 in sales. The sharks were shocked. They wanted to know what she had done with all the money she raised. Ashi said she had raised $1 million on a convertible note from friends and family, plus invested $200,000 of her own savings.
Most of the money had gone to licensing, trademarking, and regulatory costs. The sharks did not like hearing this.
Barbara Corcoran spoke up first. She told Ashi that spending so much money on things like licensing before proving the product with sales was a mistake. Barbara said she had seen other entrepreneurs do the same thing and end up with nothing. She dropped out and even encouraged the other sharks to do the same.
Mark Cuban agreed with Barbara. He said Ashi had not tested the product enough to prove there was a demand. Without proof that kids would actually drink and enjoy it, he didn’t see a path forward, and also dropped out.
Kevin O’Leary looked at the low sales and the big spending. He said there was no evidence yet that Kids Luv would work as a business. Without strong sales numbers, he couldn’t invest and went out as well.
Robert Herjavec listened carefully to Ashi’s story but was concerned about how quickly the money had been spent. He thought it was too early to put in more money without knowing if the product could succeed. He decided to go out. Lori Greiner was Ashi’s last hope.
Lori shared that she had made similar mistakes in her own businesses before. But she explained she wasn’t willing to risk repeating those mistakes. She didn’t want to invest and was the last shark to drop out.
In the end, Ashi left Shark Tank without a deal.
What Went Wrong With Kids Luv On Shark Tank?
There were a few big reasons why Ashi couldn’t get a deal. The most obvious was the sales numbers. The company had only made $55,000 in sales even after launching months before. For the sharks, sales are a key way to know if customers like a product enough to buy it. Without strong sales, they worried there was no real proof the product would succeed in the market.
Another problem was how Ashi spent her money. She had already raised $1 million from friends and family, but spent most of it on things like licensing and legal costs instead of marketing or getting the product in front of customers. The sharks thought this showed poor money management. They wanted to see that an entrepreneur could make smart decisions with the money they had. They also worried about the taste.
Mark Cuban, in particular, did not like the stevia aftertaste. Even if the drink was healthy, kids wouldn’t drink it if it didn’t taste good to them. Without strong proof that kids liked the taste, the sharks didn’t want to take a chance. All these issues added up, making it too risky for any shark to invest. That’s why Ashi had to leave the tank without a deal.
Product Availability
Kids Luv was designed to be a unique product. The drink had zero sugar, was infused with essential vitamins, and came in fun flavors like coconut and mango. Each bottle was made to appeal to kids with bright, playful packaging. Ashi worked hard to make sure the product met strict safety and nutrition standards. She wanted parents to feel confident that they were giving their children something healthy.
Kids Luv drinks were sold online through the company’s website. They were also available on Amazon, making them easy for parents to order from home.
Ashi worked hard to get the drinks into big stores like Walmart, Target, and Thrive Market. By being in these stores, Kids Luv could reach more families across the country. The drinks were sold in packs of multiple bottles, with prices usually around $25 for an 8-pack. The packaging made it easy to grab a bottle for a school lunch or after-school snack.
Each bottle had a spill-proof cap, perfect for kids on the go. Parents liked the idea of a drink that was fun for kids but also supported their health.
Even though Ashi didn’t get a deal on Shark Tank, she didn’t give up. After the show aired, many people became curious about Kids Luv. Sales grew quickly thanks to the exposure from Shark Tank. The company’s drinks were sold on major online platforms and in big retail stores. Kids Luv reached a point where it was making around $5 million a year in sales. This was a big success for a drink that started in a mom’s kitchen.
Kids Luv got attention from parents looking for healthier options and from schools trying to offer better drinks for kids. However, running a business is never easy. It’s not clear exactly what happened, but reports say that Kids Luv went out of business in 2022. Some people think the company ran out of money or couldn’t keep up with bigger competitors. It’s also possible that supply chain issues or rising costs hurt the company.
Despite the success Kids Luv had, the challenges of the beverage industry can be tough for small brands. As of today, Kids Luv is no longer in business. Their website and social media have not been updated, and their drinks are no longer available online or in stores.
Conclusion
Kids Luv started with a big dream: to give kids a healthy, tasty drink without sugar. Ashi Kelinek came up with the idea because she wanted something better for her own children. She worked hard to create a product that was good for kids and tasted great. She spent time and money making sure the drink met safety standards and looked appealing. Ashi took her idea to Shark Tank asking for $200,000 for 8% of her company.
The sharks liked her mission but worried about the low sales numbers and how quickly she spent her money. None of the sharks made an offer. Even though she left Shark Tank without a deal, Ashi kept pushing forward. Kids Luv grew to $5 million in sales and was sold at major retailers. But in the end, the company closed in 2022. Kids Luv’s journey is a reminder of how tough the business world can be, even with a great idea and passion.
Hey, I’m Amna Habib, an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. Shark Tank has always been one of my favorite TV shows because it offers a unique glimpse into the world of entrepreneurship. The way entrepreneurs present innovative solutions to everyday problems aligns with my academic interests and fuels my curiosity about business strategies. Each pitch showcases creativity and strategic decision-making, which I find both insightful and inspiring. Watching the show has deepened my passion for business and motivated me to explore the world of entrepreneurship even further. Beyond business and writing, I love food, shopping, and spending time with my friends and family.
