Mark Cuban took a classic Shark exit on his way out the door last week from “Shark Tank.” He recently took a big stake in the startup culinary incubator, Deviled Egg Co. Former bar and lounge manager Raechel Van Buskirk started the company in 2017. What began as a small side gig in Omaha, Nebraska has grown into a national organization. Now, it’s grown into a booming restaurant concept. Today, it’s grown to two sit down locations and one grab-and-go storefront, all across the Dallas metropolitan area.
Crab Rangoon, Cheeseburger, Chicken Quesadilla are just a few of the creative and off-beat deviled egg flavors that the Deviled Egg Co serves. Van Buskirk first sold these unique wares out of her home as a caterer before teaming up with Alexi Wellman to take the operation to the next level. Jointly, they opened a full food trailer in 2020, cementing their role in the local food scene even more.
During last night’s episode of “Shark Tank,” Van Buskirk asked for investment to power her company’s expansion. Investor Barbara Corcoran, a veteran investor on the show, made an offer of $150,000 for a 15% stake in Deviled Egg Co. Then Kevin O’Leary came in and made a competing offer of $150,000 for 20%. Cuban was aggressive with his proposal, offering $250,000 for a 20% equity stake. He intends to partner with Corcoran on an even-dollar basis on the $1 billion investment.
This move marked Cuban’s final televised investment on the show, and he expressed confidence in Van Buskirk’s vision for the future of Deviled Egg Co.
“What I’d like to say is thanks to everybody who took a chance on me, all the entrepreneurs who said yes to me — who knows how many millionaires we’ve created — and their employees. How many people we’ve inspired,” – Mark Cuban
Cuban is a firm believer in the potential of Deviled Egg Co. …he equally appreciates the entrepreneurial heart that drives a company like his. Daymond John, the most successful investor on the show, called it a genius product. He declared, “This is definitely the greatest thing I’ve eaten in 16 years on this stage!”
Using the new funding, Van Buskirk plans to open two more grab-and-go locations. This play will increase the brand’s share in the much-coveted competitive food territory. Its smart expansion, both in size and global reach, is designed to serve a growing legion of customers who crave authentic culinary adventures.
Deviled Egg Co has carved out a niche in the food industry by reinventing a classic dish and introducing creative flavors that appeal to diverse palates. Its success is a testament to an increasing trend where fresh ideas are allowed to flourish in localized test markets. The company’s website, https://www.deviledeggco.com/, offers customers easy access to their menu and locations.
Van Buskirk and Wellman are still in the process of growing their business. They illustrate the power of entrepreneurial ambition, combined with creativity, to transform a modest concept into a booming business. Their story started in a home-based catering business. Now, they’ve graduated to national television, helping to illustrate the success that is possible in the food economy by those willing to take risks and create rather than destroy.