While most kids his age were still figuring out what they liked, Ethan Sanborn was helping his father build a beverage business.
asserted
father → figure → business
What started as a family endeavour to create a coffee-flavored drink for kids has gradually blossomed into Kiid Coffee, a growing brand that got national exposure from the TV show Shark Tank.
asserted
that → start → show
By 2026, the company had expanded its retail presence to more than 400 stores, giving the young founder an opportunity to take a childhood idea into the wider consumer market.
asserted
company → expand → market
Ethan Sanborn established Kiid Coffee with his father
The Sanborn family had a personal insight that led to the creation of Kiid Coffee.
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that → establish → Coffee
Ethan liked the taste of his father's coffee and sometimes wanted some himself.
asserted
Ethan → like → some
But a little boy would not do for traditional coffee.
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boy → do → coffee
So
David Sanborn, his father, began to investigate a different sort of beverage.
asserted
Sanborn → begin → beverage
Ethan also broke both his legs separately, according to Food Republic.
uncertain
Ethan → break → Republic
Later the family learned that nutritional deficiencies were a contributor and began paying more attention to his diet.
asserted
deficiencies → learn → diet
So David started working on a drink that would have the similar coffee-inspired flavour that Ethan liked, but also other nutrients.
asserted
Ethan → start → that
The project eventually developed into a business.
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project → develop → business
All Shark Tank Products reports that the company was founded in July 2023 and officially launched in April 2024.
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company → report → April
Ethan, who was 7 when the concept was developed, played an important part in shaping the product.
asserted
concept → develop → product
Rather than creating another sugary drink aimed at children, the father-son team wanted to introduce something that could become part of a morning routine.
uncertain
that → create → routine
The result was a powdered beverage that combined decaffeinated coffee with cacao, prebiotic fibre, vitamins and minerals.
asserted
that → combine → cacao
What made the drink different from conventional children's beverages
Kiid Coffee was designed to offer more than the flavour of a regular coffee drink.
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Coffee → make → drink
Its original formulation included organic decaffeinated Arabica coffee, raw cacao, prebiotic fibre and a blend of vitamins and minerals.
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formulation → include → vitamins
These included calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and vitamins A, C, D3, E, B6 and B12.
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These → include → calcium
The product was also developed with children's dietary preferences in mind.
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product → develop → mind
It contained no added sugar and was designed to be dairy-free, soy-free and gluten-free.
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It → contain → sugar
Its decaffeination process used water rather than chemicals, with the finished drink described as 99.9% caffeine-free.
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drink → use → chemicals
Parents could prepare it by mixing the powdered beverage with milk or water.
uncertain
Parents → prepare → milk
The flavours were intended to make the drink appealing to children while providing nutrients that might otherwise be missing from their diets.
uncertain
that → intend → diets
Ethan’s younger brother Logan also helped out in the development process by tasting different batches.
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brother → help → batches
Their feedback helped the family refine the flavours, with the Chocolate version resembling hot cocoa and Caramel offering a sweeter taste.
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Caramel → help → taste
How did Kiid Coffee secure a deal on Shark Tank
The father-son team took their idea to ABC's Shark Tank in March 2025.
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team → secure → March
According to Food Republic, David and 8-year-old Ethan entered the programme seeking $50,000 in exchange for a 5% stake in their business.
uncertain
David → accord → business
During the presentation, the pair explained the product and its intended benefits.
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pair → explain → product
The Sharks sampled the different flavours before discussing the company's sales, production costs and plans for growth.
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Sharks → sample → growth
Food Republic reported that the drink was being sold for $14, while its production cost was approximately $3.50.
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cost → report → 14
Since its launch in 2024, the company has sold $75,000 in products, much of it through direct-to-consumer online sales and Amazon.
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company → sell → sales
The presentation attracted the attention of several investors.
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presentation → attract → investors
Kevin O’Leary offered $50,000 for 30%, Lori Greiner and Mark Cuban together offered $50,000 for 20%.
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Greiner → offer → %
Daniel Lubetzky, the founder of KIND Snacks, also offered $50,000 for a 20% share.
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Lubetzky → offer → share
Ethan attempted to negotiate a smaller equity arrangement, asking for 10% in exchange for the investment.
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Ethan → attempt → investment
However, after discussing the proposals with his father, he accepted Lubetzky's offer.
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he → discuss → offer
The agreement also included an additional 5% in stock options if David moved from his part-time involvement to working full-time on the company.
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David → include → company
The deal provided the young business with an investor who had experience building a consumer food brand.
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who → provide → brand
It also gave Kiid Coffee greater visibility beyond its existing online customer base.
asserted
It → give → base
The business expanded beyond its early online customers
The television appearance brought Kiid Coffee considerable attention.
asserted
appearance → expand → attention
…and 18 more, not listed.
The Aporia
