Many people find it tough to choose healthy food that not only tastes good but is also nutritious. Supermarkets are often filled with processed foods that contain preservatives, gluten, and artificial ingredients. This can make it especially challenging for individuals with dietary restrictions or gut health concerns to find suitable options. That’s where Uprising Food comes in.
Uprising Food was founded by Kristen and William Schumacher, a husband-and-wife team who aimed to offer healthier alternatives. They created superfood-rich bread and chips that were gluten-free, dairy-free, and friendly for gut health. Their goal was straightforward: to change how people eat by providing wholesome and tasty food options.
In Season 13 of Shark Tank, Kristen and William sought an investment to help expand their business. They requested $500,000 in exchange for 3% ownership of their company, which they valued at $16.6 million. Even though they had achieved impressive sales of $5.2 million throughout their business’s lifetime, sharks were worried about their profitability.
They pointed out that the company was actually losing money with each sale and that the cost to acquire new customers was too high. As a result, none of the sharks decided to invest.
Uprising Food Net Worth Shark Tank Update 2025
Kristen and William were looking for an investment of $500k in exchange for 3% equity in the company. At the time of the episode, they valued their company at $16.6 million. Kristen and William did not get a deal from any of the sharks. After the show was aired, Uprising Food saw a big increase in website traffic, sales, and social media exposure. As per my rough estimate, the current net worth of Uprising Food in 2025 is $0, as the company shut down in March 2023.
Shark(s) name
Offer & Demand
Counteroffer
Accepted?
Emma Grede
Out
N/A
N/A
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
Kristen and William Schumacher Backstory + Their Initial Pitch
Kristen and William Schumacher started a company called Uprising Food because William’s father got healthier after switching to their special type of bread. They wanted to make food that was both good for you and tasty, so they created healthy bread and chips that fit into popular eating styles like paleo and keto.
In the beginning, they had some tough challenges. Making their bread was costly because they used high-quality ingredients, and getting it delivered across the country was complicated. Nonetheless, they were successful enough to earn over a million dollars in sales in 2020 and continued to grow in 2021.
They pitched their company on Shark Tank and described their product as “straight out of heaven.” The sharks liked the taste, particularly noting its unique texture. However, when it came to discussing money, things became less favorable. Their company was valued at $16.6 million, which surprised the sharks because they weren’t making a profit.
Each half-loaf of bread cost them $5.25 to make, but they sold it online for $12, only making $3 per sale after shipping costs. Additionally, they spent $50 on advertising to bring in each customer, which meant they needed customers to make multiple purchases just to cover their expenses.
Queries + Shark’s Responses, and Final Deal
Kevin questioned the company’s value of $16.6 million. He calculated that to satisfy his investment goals, the company would need to grow to $166 million, which he thought was unrealistic based on its current financial situation.
Barbara was turned off by the company’s use of buzzwords like “superfood” and “keto-friendly.” She believed this made the business seem riskier and felt there wasn’t a clear plan for how the company would make money.
Lori noticed the growing interest in health foods but agreed that the company’s valuation was excessive. She also raised concerns about how expensive it would be to gain new customers.
Emma, who has a passion for food, liked the product but was let down because the founders didn’t present a solid strategy for how they planned to make a profit.
Mark was annoyed by the complex language used in the pitch and suggested that the team simplify their presentation. He pointed out that they were losing money on every product they sold, indicating that they needed to improve their pricing and cost structure before looking for investors.
In the end, none of the Sharks decided to invest in the business due to concerns about its financial viability, business jargon, and lack of a clear profit strategy.
What Went Wrong With Uprising Food On Shark Tank?
The main problem for the company was that it was losing money despite making a lot of sales, specifically, $5.2 million worth. Here’s a simpler breakdown of why they were struggling financially. The ingredients they used to make their products were very expensive. The costs associated with delivering their products were reducing their profits.
They didn’t have enough customers coming back to buy more, which meant they had to spend a lot of money on marketing to attract new customers instead. The company relied mainly on selling its products online, which came with its own costs and challenges. Even though the sharks liked the product itself, they couldn’t overlook how poorly the business was set up to actually make money.
Product Availability
Sure! Uprising Food appeared on Shark Tank, where entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to investors. After their appearance, they offered a special bundle of their products on their website as a promotion. However, by March 2023, the company went out of business. This meant they closed down, removed their website and social media accounts, and stopped selling their products altogether.
What Happened To The Uprising Food After Shark Tank?
Uprising Food was a company that started off well but eventually ran into trouble and had to shut down. This happened because it was too expensive to keep the business running, and it wasn’t making enough money to cover those costs.
After the company closed, William Schumacher changed his career and now specializes in helping businesses grow through digital marketing. We don’t know what Kristen, another person involved with Uprising Food, is doing now.
Conclusion
Uprising Food was a company that made a really good product, likely healthy bread or something similar. However, they faced big problems in making sure the business could make enough money to keep going. When they pitched their business to investors on Shark Tank, the sharks decided not to invest because the company had high expenses and didn’t have a clear way to make a profit.
Unfortunately, despite having a great product, Uprising Food ended up closing down in 2023. This situation shows that having a great product isn’t enough; it’s also crucial to have a solid financial plan to ensure the business can survive and thrive. Even though they got a lot of attention from being on the show, they couldn’t fix their main money-related problems, which ultimately led to their downfall.
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.
