Where Is MistoBox From Shark Tank Today?

According to the National Coffee Association of the U.S.A., coffee ranked as the most popular beverage, even besting tap water, in 2022. A poll from that year found that 66% of Americans over the age of 18 claimed to have consumed coffee the previous day. 

It's easy to see why coffee retains a hold on so many people. In addition to the rich, bold flavors that so many enjoy, the caffeine content is also essential in mornings — and afternoons, and occasionally late into the evening for hardened coffee lovers.

Because coffee is so popular, it offers many lucrative opportunities from a business perspective. That's what inspired entrepreneurs Samantha Meis and Connor Riley to start MistoBox, a coffee subscription service that sources artisan brands from around the world and sends samples direct to customers. After a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2012, the pair visited "Shark Tank" in 2013 to seek additional funding to grow the business even further. Here's how their appearance played out.

MistoBox appeared on "Shark Tank" Season 4, Episode 23. Founders Samantha Meis and Connor Riley requested a $75,000 investment in exchange for 15% equity in their business. The entrepreneurial duo stated that they were solely responsible for all business operations, including packing customer orders in Meis' apartment. They hoped to use the investment to expand to a production facility, in addition to hiring workers to help them fill a larger volume of customer orders.

The team explained to the Sharks that upon receiving samples, customers can select their favorite brand of coffee and then order a full bag. They also shared that their initial Kickstarter campaign earned $9,000, while they collectively invested $12,000 of their own funds into the business. 

Kevin O'Leary expressed interest in the company, albeit somewhat hesitantly, and offered an investment of $75,000 for 25% equity. Meis and Riley held out, claiming they'd like to hear what Mark Cuban had to offer. Cuban countered with a $75,000 investment, but at 30% equity. The team accepted Cuban's offer and left the pitch room with a deal.

It turns out, Mark Cuban's influence was just the thing MistoBox needed to succeed. After his investment, Cuban assessed the company and discovered its fatal flaw: Customers weren't able to customize their coffee sample selections upon subscribing to the service. Accordingly, Cuban encouraged the young entrepreneurs to overhaul their business model, which they did by offering personalization while simultaneously lowering costs for their subscription service. As a result, the company earned a whopping $2.5 million in revenue after its appearance on "Shark Tank."

In 2020, the business was acquired by Clive Coffee, a company known for its home espresso machines and accessories. Co-founder Connor Riley maintained a stake in MistoBox and joined the management group at Clive Coffee. 

As for co-founder Samantha Meis, her time with MistoBox seems to have ended in 2019. However, there's no doubt that Meis and Riley's combined efforts were integral in making MistoBox the success it is today.