Husband and wife, Maddie and Paul Voge, have developed a delicious line of herbal sparkling waters that contain sophisticated ingredients, eye-catching branding, and natural flavors.

Key Takeaways: Aura Bora on Shark Tank

  • Product: Herbal sparkling water made with real herbal extracts, fruits, and flowers.
  • Investment Ask: $150,000 for 5% equity.
  • Shark Response: Robert Herjavec invested $200,000 for 15% equity.
  • Post-Show Success: Aura Bora has expanded into more retail stores and grown its online presence, carving out a niche in the competitive beverage market.

What is the Story Behind Aura Bora?

Their beverage line, Aura Bora, contains real herbal extracts, fruits, and flowers in every can.

Boasting unique and bold flavors such as lemongrass coconut, peppermint watermelon, lavender cucumber, basil berry, and cactus rose, Aura Bora contains zero calories, zero sugar, and zero artificial sweeteners. Because the beverage market can be a brutal industry to break into, Maddie and Paul have come to the Shark Tank hoping to find a strategic business partner willing to invest $150,000 in exchange for 5% equity in their company.

What Did the Sharks Think of Aura Bora?

While their product is unique and visually appealing, they will need the influence of a Shark to help them expand beyond the shelf space in their initial 488 retail store locations. Pre-pandemic, Paul was able to go into stores and offer samples and create buzz around their product.

Since the retail market has changed entirely, the Voges will need help to set themselves apart in an already saturated sparkling water market.

Aura Bora does have additional investors and because Maddie and Paul own only 74% of the business, they are cautious as to how much equity they are willing to give up.

The Sharks are as impressed by the flavors of Aura Bora as they are their sales data. They are on track to generate up to $3.5 million in sales by the end of 2021 and expect to be profitable by years end as well. Because the beverage market is so difficult to break into, most of the Sharks were not interested in investing in Aura Bora, however, both Kevin O’Leary and Robert Herjavec were willing to take the risk on the Voges.

Kevin offered to invest $150,000 in exchange for a $0.05 royalty per can until he receives back $300,000, at which time the royalty will go away and a 5% equity share will remain. Robert Herjavec initially offered to invest $150,000 for 12% equity, however, through negotiations they agree to partner with Robert for $200,000 in exchange for 15% equity in Aura Bora.

Closing Thoughts

If you were Maddie and Paul, which Shark’s offer would you have chosen? Do you think it was a wise decision for Kevin and Robert to try to get into the beverage industry after being so critical of it in the past?

Start the conversation in the comments below!