Mush Oatmeal Update | Shark Tank Season 9

Ashley Thompson and Kat Thomas are healthy food enthusiasts who sought a convenient and nutritious breakfast option. Dissatisfied with existing choices, they developed Mush, a delicious and natural cold-processed oatmeal free from unwanted additives. Their success at farmers markets and Whole Foods highlights the demand for such a product, leading them to seek investment to expand distribution. In this Mush update and pitch recap, let’s find out which of the sharks will be interested in investing in this company.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of what happened to Mush after Shark Tank.

Ashley Thompson and Kat Thomas entered Shark Tank Season 9, seeking $300,000 for 10% equity in their ready-made oatmeal business. After an impressive pitch, they landed a deal with Mark Cuban for $300,000 for 10% equity.

In terms of a Mush update, the company is still operational and thriving. They have established a new production line and are now available at major retailers such as Whole Foods, 7-Eleven, and Amazon. Mush is now a multi-million dollar company with annual sales revenue exceeding $5 million.

Shark	Result
Mark Cuban	Accepted offer of $300,000 for 10% equity
Rohan Oza	$400,000 in exchange for 20%
Lori Greiner	No offer
Robert Herjavec	No offer
Barbara Corcoran	No offer

Shark Tank Mush Pitch

• Entrepreneurs: Ashley Thompson and Kat Thomas
• Business: Ready-made oatmeal
• Ask: $300,000 for 10% equity
• Result: $300,000 for 10% equity
• Sharks: Mark Cuban

Entrepreneurs Ashley Thompson and Kat Thomas brought Mush, their innovative take on ready-to-eat oatmeal, to Shark Tank. 

Their pitch highlighted the convenience and health benefits of this grab-and-go breakfast option, piquing the sharks’ interest, particularly Mark Cuban’s.

Mush is targeted at health-conscious consumers with busy lifestyles. The product is pre-soaked in plant-based milk (like coconut milk) and requires no cooking. 

There are several flavors available, including the original flavor, vanilla bean, as well as blueberry and cold brew. All of the sharks agreed that the taste of the oatmeal was very good.

Positioning itself as a nutritious alternative to traditional oatmeal, Mush highlights the cold-soaking process that improves nutrient absorption. 

Further, each serving is designed to be high in protein and fiber, promoting feelings of fullness and supporting digestion.

Mush aims to be a grab-and-go breakfast or snack option with its convenient, single-serve packaging and shelf-stable design. It offers the consistency and satisfaction of oatmeal without requiring any preparation time.

Next, after praising the taste of the ready-to-eat oatmeal products, the entrepreneurs shared their company’s history with the sharks. They originally started selling Mush at farmers markets, making $72,000 in sales their first year.

In 2017, they nearly doubled their sales, reaching $120,000. Now, they have entered Whole Foods and project sales of $900,000 for 2018.

Retailing at $3.99 per unit, they make $0.70 to $0.80 per unit. Rohan thinks their pricing is “out of whack,” but Mark disagrees, citing the convenience and quality they offer.

As negotiations intensified, guest shark Rohan Oza decided to offer $400,000 in exchange for 20% equity.

On the flip side, Lori Greiner decided to drop out because she didn’t believe she could provide as much value as Rohan.

Mark Cuban was also interested, offering $300,000 in exchange for 10% equity and an unlimited credit line.

Barbara Corcoran made the same offer as Mark Cuban. After considering the offers, Ashley and Kat decided to accept Mark Cuban’s offer.

Was this the best decision for the entrepreneurs? Let’s find out in our Mush update.

Shark Tank Mush Update

Our Mush update found that  Mark Cuban finalized the deal with the company. After airing, Ashley and Kat were immediately swamped with orders, depleting their entire stock of packaging.

With Mark’s support, they quickly found a new supplier and established a new production line within 48 hours, showcasing their impressive hustle.

Today, Mush is a national brand, available at Whole Foods, select CVS and 7-Eleven stores, and on Amazon.

Since their Shark Tank debut, their annual sales have soared to over $2 million.

Their success story led to a follow-up segment in Season 11.

Sadly, Kat had to step down as COO in 2019 due to health reasons. However, Mush continued to thrive.

In June 2021, they secured a $5 million venture capital investment, bringing their total funding, including Mark’s initial investment, to $23 million.

In November 2021, our Mush update found that the company landed a spot at Costco. By September 2022, Mush had expanded its availability to over 3,800 stores nationwide, including Publix, Wegmans, ShopRite, Target, Costco, and Walmart.

Lastly, with this impressive expansion, Mush has become a multi-million dollar company, generating over $5 million in annual revenue.

The future seems bright for our next Mush update.

You can find the other company updates from Season 9 Episode 12 here:

• Coco Taps Update
• EverlyWell Update
• Hater Update

Before you go, be sure to visit our Shark Tank Season 9 page for more updates!