Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- Kimy Aguirre, a Latter-day Saint mother of five, secured a deal on "Shark Tank" for her healthy Doatnuts.
- Doatnut offers gluten-, dairy- and sugar-free donuts with all-natural ingredients.
- Lori Greiner and Mark Cuban invested $200,000 for 30% equity in the company.
SALT LAKE CITY — Kimy Aguirre was three days into an endeavor to eat healthier when she hit a wall. After giving up dairy, bread and sugar during the pandemic, she found herself craving something sweet.
Everything she bought in the healthy section of the store was too dense, expensive or unappetizing for her liking. So, she decided to take matters into her own hands.
"It was like an episode of 'Chopped,'" Aguirre recalled. "I got ingredients that I normally wouldn't eat alone … I took sweet potato, oats, egg whites and started to play with it."
She took a doughnut pan and began making her creation. Trying a few different sweeteners, she settled on monk fruit. Aguirre soon realized she had created a tasty, all-natural treat. Soon after, she launched her oat-based doughnut product, Doatnut, to the world.
Her unique product uses ingredients found in nature. At her storefront in Oceanside, California, Aguirre oversees every step of the process of her "farm-to-finger" doughnuts. The oats are sourced from a farmer in Wyoming and milled in-house to make the oat flour. All other ingredients are naturally sourced, as well.
"I control the process from start to finish and it's very simple ingredients," Aguirre shared. "That is what makes it so special."
With only one gram of sugar and 90 calories per treat, Doatnuts have made a massive impact nationwide. The product is gluten-, dairy- and sugar-free. Not only have they impressed consumers with their food options for those with allergies, but they have also found a fan base for people looking to eat healthier or try a new treat.
"Most people have a preconceived notion that it will taste 'healthy.' ... People are so pleasantly surprised," Aguirre explained. "It's moist, sweet and it's definitely an experience."
After a few years in business, Aguirre decided to take a leap and apply to be on "Shark Tank." Out of thousands of applicants, she was chosen to present her product on the hit TV show. Her product aired on Season 16, episode 3.
"I was told from the beginning that I was a wild card. They don't usually put on products that already have a storefront," said Aguirre. "They all loved my product. That was the best part."
Due to her impressive pitch and tasty product, two sharks, Lori Greiner and Mark Cuban, offered $200,000 for a 30% equity stake. Aguirre ecstatically accepted. Since then, she has been working with the sharks to finalize the deal.
Through the partnership, Doatnuts will be able to expand its presence nationwide and launch an online subscription service for the product.
As a mother of five and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, family and faith have been empowering for Aguirre and her business. She makes it a point to arrive at the storefront extra early, sometimes as early as 2 a.m., to ensure she can drop off her children at school.
"It's important for them to see me chase my dreams because I want them to feel like they can do that," Aguirre shared. "But, when we are together having family dinner or on Sundays, I want to be present … It's not always perfect, but that is the goal."
