A Twist in the Tale: The Pandemic and Shark Tank
Summer 2019 marked a turning point when Paul left his cozy VC job to focus on Aura Bora full-time. Armed with determination and a zest for life, they went door-to-door convincing health food stores to stock Aura Bora. Then the pandemic hit. But that didn't deter their spirit.
In summer 2020, an email arrived like a bolt from the blue. A producer invited them to be on Shark Tank! Imagine the excitement! And guess what? Robert Herjavec, the Shark Tank titan, loved their pitch and invested $200,000 in their dream.
Fizz, Flavors, and Fun!
Aura Bora is more than just seltzer. They recently teamed up with Graza to create a nonalcoholic olive oil martini cocktail. Imagine sipping on that while basking in the unique flavors Aura Bora offers.
Paul believes Aura Bora has something for everyone. Whether you're like him and Maddie, sipping seltzer all day, or looking for a soda alternative, or even a mixer for mocktails and cocktails, Aura Bora's got your back.
They're known for their Limited Edition Flavors, a monthly treat for their dedicated fans. They put out 12 ideas, fans pick 2 or 3, and boom, those flavors are up for grabs.
Paul's wife, the copywriter and designer extraordinaire, is the creative brain behind Aura Bora. She's the one making it look as good as it tastes.
Numbers and Notable Names
Here's the behind-the-scenes scoop. It costs them $0.57 to make one sparkling Aura Bora can, and they sell it to retailers for $1.15, enjoying a sweet 50% margin.
They've got some pretty cool celebrity investors, too. Musician Marley Williams and actor Scott Eastwood are on board.
Aura Bora isn't your average seltzer. They skip the citric acid, a common ingredient in other brands, and proudly claim the title of "weird water" with their tagline. It's all about embracing the quirks, after all. They've raised over $10 million in capital, and according to the Shark Tank update, they're set to wrap up 2023 with $500,000 in sales and anticipate crossing the $2 million mark next year. Talk about a sparkling success story! Aura Bora is valued at $20 million.
