Mikaila Ulmer
Mikaila Ulmer | |
|---|---|
 Portrait by Anna Wilding in 2016 | |
| Born | September 28, 2004 Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Education | Emory University |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, student |
| Known for | Teen Social Entrepreneur |
Mikaila Ulmer (born September 28, 2004) is an American entrepreneur who started a lemonade business in Austin, Texas. Her lemonade is sold in over 1500 stores.[1]
Early life and career
[edit]Mikaila Ulmer was born in Houston, Texas.[2] Her parents, D'Andra and Theo Ulmer, both have business degrees.[3] She is from Austin, Texas, where she attended St. Stephen's Episcopal School.[4] By 2009, Ulmer was in front of her house selling her lemonade inspired by her great grandmother’s 1940s recipe, using honey from local beekeepers[3] which includes flaxseed.[4][5] The lemonade sold well and she was asked by a local pizza shop to supply her product to it, which is how bottling her lemonade started. Since her humble beginnings, Mikaila has donated 10% of the profits to charities that are concerned with saving the bees.[5] As the business grew her parents became involved.[3][6] Mikaila is enrolled as a student at Emory University.[7]
Ulmer appeared with her father on the television show Shark Tank in 2015 where she successfully received a $60,000 investment to support her growing business. Daymond John put up the money.[8] Ulmer was invited that year to meet President Barack Obama at the White House.[3]
Ulmer introduced Barack Obama at the United State of Women Summit in 2016. Obama called her "an amazing young lady".[3] In 2017, her business received $800,000 as an investment made by a consortium of football players.[3]
In 2017, her lemonade, "Me & The Bees Lemonade" was being sold in 500 American shops in 500,000 bottles a year.
In February 2020, Me & the Bees was in over 1,500 stores nationwide, including Whole Foods, Cost Plus World Market, Vitamin Cottage Natural Grocers, H-E-B, Kroger, and The Fresh Market.[9] Me & the Bees has also expanded its product line to include lip balms made from bee’s wax.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ Horch, A. J. (2020-02-26). "Me & the Bees Lemonade founder started her empire at four and a half years old. Her motto: 'Dream like a kid'". CNBC. Retrieved 2020-02-28.
- ^ "Preteen powerhouse: Meet 12-year-old CEO and bee ambassador Mikaila Ulmer". Stories. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ a b c d e f Jeffrey, James (2018-07-23). "The 13-year-old who built a best-selling lemonade brand". BBC News. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ a b Broyles, Addie. "Balancing keynotes and homework: A day in the life of the 15-year-old Me and the Bees founder". Brownwood Bulletin. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
- ^ a b Zillgitt, Jeff (May 19, 2018). "'Inspirational stories populate LeBron's account". USA Today. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
- ^ Broyles, Addie (April 1, 2015). "Food Matters: Television – BeeSweet founder, 10, scores deal with a 'shark'". Austin American-Statesman. Austin, Texas. p. D3.
- ^ "Mikaila Ulmer's Personal Instagram Account". Instagram. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
- ^ Gilchrist, Karen (2019-07-17). "14-year-old 'Shark Tank' success shares her best piece of advice for entrepreneurs". CNBC. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ "Where to Buy". 2020-10-29.
- ^ Horch, A. J. (2020-02-26). "Me & the Bees Lemonade founder started her empire at 4.5 years old. Her motto: 'Dream like a kid'". CNBC. Retrieved 2020-02-28.
External links
[edit]
- 2004 births
- Living people
- American child businesspeople
- Businesspeople from Austin, Texas
- 21st-century American businesswomen
- 21st-century American businesspeople
- African-American women in business
- Businesspeople from Texas
- American food company founders
- American chief executives of food industry companies
- American drink industry businesspeople
- African-American company founders
- American women company founders
- American company founders
- American women chief executives
- 21st-century African-American women
- 21st-century African-American businesspeople