CowPots Biodegradable Pots Update | Shark Tank Season 16
On her family’s dairy farm in Connecticut, Amanda Freund had to deal with a major issue—each cow was producing more manure than they could safely use, and no one was coming to pick it up. To solve this, she created CowPots, plantable pots made from cow manure that give farmers a way to manage waste and give gardeners a plastic-free option. The pots break down in the soil, feeding plants and leaving nothing behind. Will the sharks get behind this brilliant idea? Let’s find out in our CowPots update and pitch recap.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of what happened to CowPots after
Amanda pitched her eco-friendly plantable pots on
In terms of a CowPots update, the company gained national attention after its
| Shark | Result |
| Kevin O’Leary | Accepted offer of $200,000 for 20% equity |
| Barbara Corcoran | No offer |
| Lori Greiner | No offer |
| Daniel Lubetzky | No offer |
| Mark Cuban | No offer |
Shark Tank CowPots Pitch
- Entrepreneur: Amanda Freund
- Business: Eco-friendly plantable pots
- Ask: $200,000 for 10% equity
- Result: $200,000 for 20% equity
- Shark: Kevin O’Leary
Amanda came to
The product is a biodegradable planting pot made entirely from cow manure. It replaces single-use plastic pots and helps gardeners grow healthier plants.
CowPots are available in 15 different styles. Amanda explained that the business serves two main types of customers: home gardeners and commercial growers.
Around 75% of sales come from bulk orders through distributors, while the remaining 25% comes from retail packages.
Customers can buy CowPots online or through distributors, plant them directly into the soil, and never remove them. The pots break down quickly and enrich the soil.
Guest shark Daniel Lubetzky asked about costs and industry competition. Amanda said it costs $1.30 to make a pot, which they sell wholesale for $2.60.
The main competitor uses peat, which is less sustainable. Amanda noted that peat pots take a century to regenerate.
However, Kevin O’Leary asked about the retail price. Amanda said it sells for $6.15. He also asked how long the business had been running. Amanda said they started in 2006.
Amanda reported $3.5 million in lifetime sales. In recent years, revenue has been steady between $300,000 and $400,000. The business is profitable, with about a 10% margin.
Mark Cuban asked how she planned to grow. Amanda said they’ve relied on grassroots marketing and need help expanding.
Barbara Corcoran asked about company ownership. Amanda explained that her father holds 98% of the business, while she owns the remaining 2%.
Daniel then asked whether the CowPots technology could be used outside of gardening.
Amanda confirmed it could and revealed a new prototype for wine packaging made from the same material. The packaging could be priced between $1 and $2, depending on the design.
Meanwhile, Daniel praised Amanda’s credibility and leadership but said he didn’t see a path where he could add value. For that reason, he decided to pass.
Mark also bowed out, saying he didn’t see how the business could break through its current revenue ceiling.
Lori Greiner and Barbara agreed Amanda was impressive, but felt the business wasn’t the right fit for them. They both stepped away from the deal.
Kevin remained interested. He offered $200,000 for 25% equity. Amanda countered with 20%, but Kevin held firm.
After some back and forth and a little pressure from the other sharks, Kevin agreed to close the deal at Amanda’s requested 20% equity.
With a deal in hand, let’s get a CowPots update to see how Amanda is doing.
Shark Tank CowPots Update
Our CowPots update found that the company received a big boost in sales after airing.
It’s unclear if the deal with Kevin closed after filming. However, Kevin posted a video after the episode aired promoting the product, so it seems that things are heading in the right direction.
Our CowPots update found that the team also began developing new products. They started working on biodegradable packaging for wine bottles, candles, and other glass items.
If you’re interested in learning more, you can find products on the CowPots website and on Amazon.
Once the dust settles, we will be back with another CowPots update.
For other company updates from
Before you go, be sure to check out our list of all the Shark Tank Season 16 products.
Marvin Uzor
Marvin Uzor is a content contributor for Shark Tank Recap. He specializes in crafting engaging, well-researched content that delve into the latest Shark Tank stories, keeping readers hooked. He has a soft spot for his favorite Shark Tank companies, Bombas and Doorbot, known for their innovation and impact.