The Bumbling Bee Vegan Fast Food Update | Shark Tank Season 12
Finding delicious vegan fast food can be challenging, but Cassandra and India Ayala set out to change that with The Bumbling Bee Vegan Fast Food.
Their mission: serve plant-based “junk food” that’s just as satisfying as traditional fast food.
The mother-daughter duo took their business to Shark Tank Season 12, hoping to secure an investment to grow their brand.
Did they secure a deal? How has their business evolved since their appearance? Let’s dig into The Bumbling Bee Vegan Fast Food Shark Tank update.
The Bumbling Bee’s Shark Tank Pitch
Who Are the Founders?
Cassandra Ayala, a former real estate professional, and her daughter India founded The Bumbling Bee Vegan Fast Food.
Their goal was to make plant-based comfort food accessible to everyone.
The business started as a food truck in Virginia Beach and quickly gained popularity, leading to brick-and-mortar locations.
Their Shark Tank Ask
- Offer: $150,000 for 10% equity
- Valuation: $1.5 million
- Product: Vegan fast-food restaurant and food truck business
What Makes Their Business Unique?
- 100% plant-based fast food
- Award-winning vegan hot dogs
- Expansion from food trucks to physical locations
Did They Get a Deal?
Unfortunately, no. While the Sharks loved Cassandra’s inspiring story, they weren’t convinced about the company’s scalability or competitive edge.
| Shark | Decision | Reason |
| Mark Cuban | ❌ No Offer | No proprietary product or unique advantage |
| Kevin O’Leary | ❌ No Offer | Business too early for investment |
| Daniel Lubetzky | ❌ No Offer | Lacked uniqueness in the food industry |
| Lori Greiner | ❌ No Offer | Advised against expanding too quickly |
| Robert Herjavec | ❌ No Offer | Too much competition in the vegan space |
The Bumbling Bee’s Journey After Shark Tank
Despite leaving Shark Tank without a deal, The Bumbling Bee Vegan Fast Food continued operating and significantly shifted its business strategy.
Sales and Revenue Growth
The company had already generated solid revenue before Shark Tank, with $324,000 in sales in 2020.
However, details of the financial growth post-Shark Tank have not been publicly disclosed.
| Year | Revenue |
| 2020 | $324,000 |
| 2021-2023 | Not Disclosed |
Retail Expansion & New Business Model
Instead of expanding more food trucks and storefronts, The Bumbling Bee took a strategic turn by shifting its focus to selling food on college campuses.
| Location | Status | Details |
| Virginia Beach, VA | Closed | Shifted to campus dining |
| Boulder, CO | Closed | Transitioned business model |
| College of William & Mary | New Partnership | Opened a Hive location on campus with Aramark |
The shift towards operating on college campuses could provide more stability and consistent foot traffic, catering to a demographic increasingly interested in plant-based eating.
New Product Launches & Partnerships
While new product launches haven’t been, The Bumbling Bee’s partnership with Aramark, a major food service provider, is a significant step forward.
This collaboration gives them access to large-scale institutional dining, which could open doors to more universities in the future.
Key Takeaways from The Bumbling Bee’s Journey
- Adaptability is Crucial – After struggling with retail locations, the founders pivoted to a new strategy better suited to their business model.
- Shark Tank Exposure Still Helps – Even without a deal, appearing on Shark Tank gave them national exposure, helping them secure partnerships.
- The Vegan Market is Competitive – The Sharks’ concerns about competition were valid, but The Bumbling Bee found a niche by focusing on college dining.
Final Thoughts
While The Bumbling Bee Vegan Fast Food didn’t secure a deal on Shark Tank, they didn’t let that stop them.
By shifting their focus to college campuses and securing a key partnership with Aramark, they’ve found a way to keep their business buzzing.
It’s still early to determine whether this pivot will lead to long-term success, but one thing is clear—Cassandra and India’s passion for plant-based comfort food is unwavering.
Would you try The Bumbling Bee Vegan Fast Food if it came to a college near you? Let us know in the comments!
