Mo’s Bows: The Shark Tank Success Story

For the time Shark Tank has existed, it has provided opportunities for startups and entrepreneurs to get funding to expand their businesses. Mo’s Bows is just one of the thousands of companies that have witnessed global success thanks to the business reality show, including Scrub Daddy, Ring, The Bouqs Company, and Squatty Potty.

Mo’s Bows is a company that makes handmade bow ties, neckties, and pocket squares. Kidpreneur Moziah ‘Mo’ founded the company at nine, two years before appearing on Shark Tank. From there, his business just picked up and is now worth $2 million. Here is an in-depth look into Mo’s Bows' success story.

In 2014, a young kid donning a dapper suit and cute bow tie entered Shark Tank accompanied by his mother, an opportunity most adult entrepreneurs would die for. Moziah, 11 at the time, eloquently pitched his business idea to the sharks, hoping to go home with an investment of $50,000 in exchange for 20% equity in his company, Mo’s Bows.

The young entrepreneur described making bows as a passion that stemmed from his penchant for stylish fashion. When he was nine, he decided to turn that passion into a business where he handcrafted quality bow ties with the help of his grandmother. When pitching on Shark Tank, his small business had sold about 2,000 bow ties. Moziah’s figures backed with his charismatic persona, impressed the shark, particularly Daymond John, who saw himself in the young boy.

Unfortunately, Moziah did not get a deal from any of the five venture capitalists sitting in the room. However, he got something even better. Entrepreneur and fashion guru Daymond John offered to mentor Moziah and help him grow his business for free.

John’s mentorship and appearance on the reality show boosted Bridges’ business significantly. His business expanded, and he acquired floor space at upscale boutiques and retail stores. Bridges has since been named TIME Magazine’s Most Influential Teen in 2015 and invited to the White House by former President Barack Obama. NBA also entered into a licensing agreement with Mo’s Bows, allowing the company to manufacture its products with the logos of NBA clubs for distribution through the company’s online store and retail outlets.

In an interview with the US Chamber of Commerce, Bridges says that the best part of running his business is learning from people like Daymond about how to make his business better. Although his company is legally listed under his mother's name, Moziah remains the creative director and CEO of Mo’s Bows.

Moziah started his company very young and got the opportunity to stand before billionaire venture capitalists at 11. Part of his motivation to start Mo’s Bows is to encourage other kids to find what they love doing and monetize it. Moziah, with his business, continues to blaze trails that young people can follow. Starting a business young and growing it to a big brand is not easy, even for most adult entrepreneurs. However, Moziah did it, and he continues to inspire other kids to turn what they love doing into a business.