From $200 Seed Money to a Multi-Million Dollar Business

In 2019, Kobe Harris sat on his bedroom floor experimenting with lip balm formulas. What began as a small idea funded by $200 from his mom quickly turned into a thriving business — and by the time he made $15,000 in sales in a single day, Harris knew it was time to take a leap of faith.

Harris, the founder of Kobee’s, a Las Vegas-based personal care company, now offers a range of eco-friendly products, including lip balms, lotions, lip scrubs, cuticle butter, and hand salves. Made with just four natural ingredients — beeswax, coconut oil, sunflower oil, and mango butter — the products are packaged in compostable containers and retail for $5 to $42 on the company’s website and Amazon.

How a College Project Inspired a Side Hustle

The idea for Kobee’s took shape when Harris, then a student at Loyola University Chicago, began researching sustainability and bees for a professor. Fascinated, he decided to create his own product line. Using $200 from his mom, he bought ingredients on Amazon and started crafting lip balm in his bedroom during the summer while working as a lifeguard.

By fall, Harris had proven there was demand for his products. Rather than return to classes, he decided to focus on Kobee’s full-time, though he initially told his dad he was still attending school. “Since classes were online, I just told my dad, ‘I’m still in school,’ but really I was just in the basement making lip balms,” Harris recalls.

Turning a Bedroom Hobby Into a Profitable Brand

Fast forward to 2024, and Kobe’s has grown into a profitable startup on track to generate nearly $4 million in sales and about $750,000 in profit, according to Harris. While the company primarily sells products through Amazon and its own direct-to-consumer website, Harris is determined to expand its reach.

Earlier this year, Harris appeared on ABC’s “Shark Tank” to pitch Kobee’s to potential investors. He sought $300,000 in exchange for 6% equity, citing a need for mentorship and help with scaling product distribution.

Trusting His Gut in the Shark Tank

While most of the show’s judges opted out due to concerns about competition or market fit, investor Kevin O’Leary made an offer: $300,000 for 20% equity and access to his network of retail connections. Harris countered with 10%, and O’Leary adjusted to 15%.

In a surprising move, Harris declined the deal. “I won’t do that,” he said, standing by his belief in Kobe’s value and potential. His decision reflects a common entrepreneurial mantra: trust your gut.

Harris credits much of his confidence to his mom, a serial entrepreneur, who supported his decision to drop out of college. “I know my business better than anybody,” he says.

Kobe Harris’ journey from college dropout to business owner shows how a small idea — fuelled by passion, creativity, and $200 — can grow into a thriving enterprise.