Barton Client BarBees Featured on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” Scores $75,000 Deal With Daniel Lubetzky

On January 26^th, Barton client BarBees, a business offering mobile cocktail classes, was featured on an episode of ABC Network’s multi-Emmy Award-winning unscripted series Shark Tank. Now in its 15^th season, the show follows aspiring entrepreneurs as they pitch their small business ideas and products to a group of tough, business-savvy tycoons (i.e., the “Sharks”) in the hopes of obtaining a business deal that could change the course of their company.

The Sharks include billionaire Mark Cuban, owner and chairman of AXS TV and outspoken owner of the 2011 NBA champion Dallas Mavericks; real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran; “Queen of QVC” Lori Greiner; technology innovator Robert Herjavec; fashion and branding expert Daymond John; and venture capitalist Kevin O’Leary. BarBees’ episode featured guest Shark and billionaire founder of Kind, Daniel Lubetzky.

Founded by best friends Jess Blakley and Willow Sprague, BarBees is a nationwide and mobile cocktail class business, offering connective and celebratory cocktail classes for any occasion, in any location. BarBees cocktail classes are available both in-home and virtually for bachelorette parties, corporate team-building, birthdays, date nights, or just as a way to celebrate at home.

For each class, an instructor leads the group through the creation and mixing of a few chosen signature cocktails (or mocktails), giving expert bartending tips along the way. BarBees also offers a cheese pairing package that focuses on how the flavor profiles of the cheese and cocktails complement one another.

Following BarBees’ pitch on Shark Tank, the Sharks were highly impressed with BarBees, and after negotiating, Jess and Willow ended up scoring a deal of $75,000 with Daniel Lubetzky, for 20% stake in the company. Since filming, BarBees has grown from seven cities to ten, and plans to continue to expand its reach in cities across the country.

Congratulations to Jess and Willow! We can’t wait to see where this latest adventure takes you!

Full episodes of Shark Tank can be streamed on ABC’s website here (S15 – E12) and on Hulu.