If you’re a fan of Shark Tank, then you’re probably familiar with the Minus Cal business. This company created a unique way to create protein bars with choleve, which is made from a blend of whey, egg whites, and coconut oil. In their episode on the show, they failed to get an investment from the Sharks and now, we will take a look at what happened to Minus Cal after Shark Tank. Did they succeed? Did they fail? In this article, we will answer all of your questions and provide some useful tips on what you can learn from their experience!
The Popularity of Protein Bars
Protein bars are becoming increasingly popular as a snack, meal replacement, and health supplement. Many people turn to them for quick and convenient ways to meet their dietary needs without having to prepare meals or snacks from scratch.
There are a variety of protein bars on the market, many of which contain high levels of proteins and other nutrients. Protein bars can be a great source of energy and nutrition for people who are active or have busy schedules.
Minus Cal is one such protein bar that was featured on Shark Tank in 2019. The company’s main product is a low-calorie, nutrient-packed protein bar that contains only natural ingredients and no added sugar.
It was created by Barrett Jacques and Crom Carmichael. They decided to make their protein bars truly like nothing else on the market by adding Choleve there.
But the main assumed characteristic of Minus Cal bars is their ability to block LDL cholesterol and improve cholesterol levels. This makes the bar an ideal snack for those trying to keep their cholesterol in check and prevent weight gain.
Yes, while first assumed to lower cholesterol levels only in those with already high cholesterol levels, a study conducted by the University of Wisconsin found that regular consumption of Choleve bars can help to reduce fat absorption, and thus reduce weight gain. At least this was Minus Cal’s founder’s claim.
Some people may wonder whether Choleve is actually safe to consume. The answer is yes, Choleve is completely natural and has been found to be non-toxic in many studies. There are no known side effects associated with the use of this extract, either. However because it does reduce your weight gain, it is advised to take it in moderation.
The team behind Minus Cal has dedicated themselves to creating a protein bar that is truly unlike any other. However, these do come at a price. You would need to pay $ 30 for a box of 8.
And so Barret and Crom have decided to make an appearance on Shark Tank to get the attention of potential investors. How did it go for them? [1] [2] [3]
Minus Cal at Shark Tank Pitch
And so Barret and Crom went to Shark Tank to pitch their product: Minus Cal. They were seeking an investment of $ 500,000 in exchange for 20% equity. This put them at a valuation of $ 2.5 million.
They started their pitch by turning some music on and starting, handing samples an explanation of their product and its benefits. They spoke about the Choleve extract, how it blocks LDL cholesterol, and how it is a great snack for those trying to keep their cholesterol in check and prevent weight gain.
The only similar product on the market was Orlistat, which is a prescription drug. But Orlistat had one major disadvantage: it caused nasty side effects like diarrhea, oily stools, and other problems. Barret and Crom promised that their product had no such side effects.
To back up their claims, they provided they took that info from JAMA and other research documents. However, sharks were skeptical about it. The duo marketed the product to the sharks as a nutritional bar and not a weight loss product. However, sharks quickly caught on that this wasn’t the case at all. In fact, even the packaging of the bars painted them as “weight loss bars”.
After much debate, the sharks decided not to invest in Minus Cal. They felt that it wasn’t a good fit for them and that the valuation was too high.
Mark Cuban doesn’t buy the validity of the studies the duo was basing their claims on and also believes that the product could have a negative impact on people’s health.
In the end, the Sharks didn’t invest in Minus Cal. And Mark went as far as calling it a scam, telling the audience that they should stay away from it. You don’t see this kind of reaction from the Sharks very often. Not only they failed to get an investment, they got criticized too before millions of people.
But after that, what happened to Minus Cal? Let’s take a look. [2] [3] [4]
What Happened After Shark Tank?
After the episode, Minus Cal received a lot of criticism and press and not only that. People weren’t excited about the product for its weight loss effects, especially now that Mark Cuban had called it a scam.
We have seen plenty of Shark Tank deals that failed to get an investment from the Sharks but still managed to succeed. However, the same doesn’t seem to be true in the case of Minus Cal. After all, not all exposure is positive.
After the episode, Minus Cal started to lose its traction and failed to secure any more investments or partnerships. The company quietly closed shop a few years after the show with no public announcement of the closure, leaving many wondering what happened to them.
Today, there is no trace of the product and it has disappeared from all websites and stores. The website is defunct and the social media pages are gone without a trace as well. It appears that Minus Cal’s journey came to an abrupt end after Shark Tank, perhaps due to too much negative publicity and a lack of investor interest.
You see, there isn’t much product that helps you absorb fat if any. The only other product we could find was a drug called Orlistat which helps you absorb fat, but it has a long list of side effects.
What’s more, the marketing they used for the product had a tint of fat shaming, which could have also put off potential customers. All these factors combined to make this product fail, and it’s sad to see that nothing was done about it after the Shark Tank episode aired.
Barret Jaques is not pursuing an enterprising career anymore and instead holds a job as a Business Developer Manager at MetaPhy Health. He is still actively involved in the health and wellness industry, although not with his own product. [2] [3] [4]
Competitors of Minus Cal
Even though Minus Cal may no longer be available, there are still many other products on the market that are similar and do their job better. These solutions may not promise the same effect as Minus Cal, but they can still help you reach your health goals by reducing sugar intake.
Premier Protein
Premier Protein is a company founded that produces high-quality protein bars and shakes. Their products are designed to provide the right amount of energy and nutrition for an active lifestyle. And they are incredibly successful at that as their revenue is around $ 10 whole million!
Built Bar
BuiltBar is a low-calorie energy bar brand that offers delicious flavors in many different types of bars. Each bar also contains added ingredients like oat fiber, chicory root extract, stevia leaf extract, and monk fruit extract to provide a balance of nutrition without an overload of unhealthy processed sugars.
And on top of that, their bars are gluten-free so almost everyone can enjoy them. Just like Premier Protein, BuiltBar is also growing in popularity and revenue.
Primal Kitchen
Primal Kitchen is a popular brand of healthy food and drinks products. It offers several options to replace unhealthy foods with healthier alternatives, including its own line of calorie-reduced beverages called Primal Fuel.
Advocare
Advocare is a dietary supplement that is designed to help people achieve their sports goals with the help of its natural ingredients. They offer a great energy boost and keep it all natural so it is safe to use.
However, similarly to Minus Cal the company was changed for deceptive advertising practices and had to go to court to settle the case. [4]
FAQ
Are weight loss products a scam?
Weight loss products are not necessarily a scam, but there is definitely the potential for fraud and abuse. The effectiveness of weight loss products can vary greatly, so it’s important to do your research before investing in any such product. Many weight loss products make unsubstantiated claims about their effectiveness and some may even contain ingredients that could be harmful to your health. It’s also important to note that some products may not be suitable for everyone and could have unwanted side effects.
Minus Cal was such a product featured on the show Shark Tank. It claimed to be an all-natural weight loss supplement that could help users burn fat and lose weight quickly, however some of its claims have been questioned by experts. After appearing on Shark Tank, Minus Cal was not picked up by any of the investors and it seems to have disappeared from the market.
Is Minus Cal successful?
No, Minus Cal was not successful. After their appearance on Shark Tank, the company received a lot of negative backlash from viewers and investors, due to their controversial business.
What bugged people the most was the shady research methods. Without proper studies, many thought that the product was not effective or safe for consumers to use.
Despite the negative reactions, Minus Cal remained determined to make their product work and tried to build up investor interest. After years of unsuccessful efforts, they decided to shut down operations.
Did Shark Tank invest in Minus Cal?
None of the Sharks chose to invest in Minus Cal on Shark Tank. And not only that, the founder team was slammed by the sharks for misleading marketing, specifically for the use of the words “clinically proven” on their packaging and website.
Because of this, the Sharks were very critical of Minus Cal and their claims. Despite the team’s passion for their product and potential, the Sharks ultimately decided to pass on the deal.
The negative exposure that has piled up forced the Minus Cal team to go out of business a few years after.
Since then, Minus Cal has been largely forgotten by the general public, but it still lives on in the memories of Shark Tank fans who are curious about what happened to the company. Unfortunately, that is usually not a good sign for any company featured on Shark Tank.
What Shark invested in Minus Cal?
No one has decided to invest in the company. While more often than not, Sharks decide not to invest because the company is not a good fit for their portfolio, this was not the case with Minus Cal.
The sharks were mad at the founders, as they felt they were lying to their audience. They felt that the company was selling a miracle product, which was not backed up by science. After they voiced their concerns, all sharks decided to pull out of negotiations.
Who owns Minus Cal?
Minus Cal was owned by Barrett Jacques and Crom Carmichael, the two co-founders of the company. They both appeared in the Shark Tank episode and not only failed to secure a deal with any shark, but also were publicly called out for misleading the customers.
A few years after the show, because they weren’t generating any profits, both Barrett and Crom decided to pull the plug on the business and closed it down. As of 2023, neither of them seems to be active in the entrepreneurship scene.
Why did Minus Cal fail?
The two co-founders were also not very experienced in running a business, so they struggled to make the right decisions when it came to marketing and operations. Additionally, they underestimated the competition and this caused them to lose more customers.
And the backlash they received from Mark Cuban on live TV was the final nail in the coffin for Minus Cal.
Useful Video: Shark Tank US | Sharks Get Into A Heated Argument Over Minus Cal Product
Conclusion
Minus Cal was thought to be a revolutionary product aimed at helping people lose weight and improve their health. Barrett Jacques and Crom Carmichael were working hard on creating a protein bar that was truly one of a kind.
Sadly, the Shark Tank pitch went in the worst way possible for the entrepreneurs. Not only the sharks weren’t impressed, but they also doubted the validity of the research that had been conducted.
Mark Cuban even went as far as to discourage potential buyers by saying that Minus Cal didn’t really have what it takes to be a success.
This and the initial lack of popularity didn’t turn out well for the company, as it didn’t manage to gain the traction it needed in order to survive and thrive.
Despite this unfortunate ending, Minus Cal lives in Shark Tank history as a lesson for all entrepreneurs: be honest about what you are selling, and make sure to conduct the necessary research in order to prove it.
Ultimately, Minus Cal may not have been successful on Shark Tank, but they still managed to teach everyone an important lesson about being honest when marketing a product. With just enough hard work and dedication, anything is possible!
Hopefully one day soon, Barrett Jacques and Crom Carmichael will continue their journey with a better product and see success in the future. We will be rooting for them!
References:
- https://www.sharktankblog.com/minuscal-protein-bars-with-choleve/
- https://www.sharktankblog.com/business/minus-cal/
- https://bizzbucket.co/minus-cal-shark-tank-update/
- https://www.onlinethreatalerts.com/article/2020/1/3/minus-cals-bars-choleve-scam-see-the-review/