Big Bee, Little Bee Shark Tank Update: Net Worth, New Products, and Growth
Big Bee, Little Bee is an innovative consumer goods company that aims to make parenting easier while protecting the environment.
Based in Austin, Texas, this self-funded, mother-daughter business creates clever silicone products designed to replace single-use plastics in family households.
If you watched Season 14 of Shark Tank, you likely remember the charming pitch from this dynamic duo. While they did not secure a deal with the billionaire investors, Big Bee, Little Bee is still in business today.
In this complete update, we break down exactly what happened inside the tank, how the company overcame massive supply chain challenges, and what their multi-patented product line looks like today.
Who Are the Founders of Big Bee, Little Bee?
The heart of Big Bee, Little Bee is the partnership between Amy Leinbach (known as “The Big Bee”) and her daughter Marlo Leinbach (“The Little Bee”).
Amy has a background perfectly suited for solving problems for kids. She holds advanced degrees in education and previously worked as a middle school special education teacher.
In the classroom, she focused heavily on empowering children and helping them build independent problem-solving skills. Today, she brings that exact same educational philosophy to her product designs.
Beyond teaching, Amy had a highly successful career as a voice-over actor. She voiced major television commercials for famous American brands like Procter & Gamble’s Bounty paper towels and General Mills.
In fact, she is one of the iconic voices behind the famous cereal line, “Silly Rabbit, Trix are for kids!”. She also voiced the character Stella in the popular animated series Winx Club.
Marlo, her daughter, is the true inspiration behind the company’s inventions. The entire business was born out of their at-home brainstorming and tinkering sessions.
Following in her mother’s footsteps, Marlo is also an active voice actor, landing roles for Mattel toys and making appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
This unique mother-daughter collaboration ensures that every product they release is genuinely kid-tested and parent-approved.
Big Bee, Little Bee Shark Tank Pitch: Season 14, Episode 5
In late 2022, Amy and a 7-and-a-half-year-old Marlo stepped onto the Shark Tank stage to pitch their business. They were seeking a $100,000 investment in exchange for a 20% equity stake in their company. This gave Big Bee, Little Bee an implied valuation of $500,000.
Showcasing the Marker Parker
During their presentation, the founders focused heavily on their hit product, the Marker Parker. This clever silicone organizer features honeycomb-shaped pockets.
Kids simply push their markers cap-side down into the base. The silicone grips the cap tightly, allowing the child to pull the marker out while the cap stays safely docked on the table.
This solves a massive headache for parents: it stops markers from rolling onto the floor, prevents caps from getting lost, and keeps the ink from drying out.
Amy shared that the product boasted excellent profit margins. It cost just $2.71 to manufacture and sold at retail for $15.00. At the time of the pitch, the company had already generated $200,000 in lifetime sales.
Why the Sharks Passed on the Deal
Despite Marlo’s adorable and professional presentation, the Sharks were tough on the business model. The panel expressed concerns over the company’s lack of focus.
Here is exactly how the Shark Tank pitch played out:
| Shark | Investment Offered | Reason for Passing |
| Mark Cuban | No offer | He praised their resilience but felt Amy suffered from “inventor-itis,” focusing too much on new ideas rather than selling existing inventory. |
| Kevin O’Leary | No offer | He was impressed by Marlo but passed because Amy admitted she had a “fear of numbers” regarding business financials. |
| Lori Greiner | No offer | She believed the company was overextended across too many different products and needed to focus on just one. |
| Emma Grede | No offer | She echoed Lori’s concerns, stating the business lacked a singular, driving focus. |
| Robert Herjavec | No offer | He loved the product for his own kids but backed out when he saw how many unrelated products they were trying to juggle. |
Ultimately, Amy and Marlo walked out of the tank without a deal.
The Post-Show Backlash and TikTok Response
Appearing on national television is risky, and the aftermath of the episode tested Amy’s resilience.
In the 48 hours following the broadcast, Amy’s social media accounts were flooded with hateful comments. Internet trolls attacked her parenting skills and accused her of exploiting her young daughter for television fame.
Instead of backing down, Amy took control of the narrative. She took to the social media platform TikTok to defend her business and her role as a mother. This transparent, authentic response went viral within her community.
She received an overwhelming wave of support from fellow parents, which helped cement brand loyalty and turn a negative public relations moment into a massive positive for the company.
Financial Deep Dive: Net Worth and Sales
Big Bee, Little Bee was built entirely from the ground up without any outside funding. Before appearing on Shark Tank, Amy had invested $166,000 of her own money to get the company off the ground.
The Revenue Rollercoaster
The company’s financial journey has seen major peaks and valleys. In 2021, the business experienced a massive surge, generating $230,000 in sales.
A staggering 80% of those sales came from a single product: the ScrubBEE silicone scrubber. This boom was largely fueled by national media exposure when the products were featured on daytime hits like Good Morning America and The View.
However, 2022 brought severe global supply chain issues. The company ran out of stock for their best-selling scrubbers.
Because of this inventory crisis, sales dipped to $110,000 by July 2022, and the company ended the year with a painful $77,000 loss.
This moment proved the Sharks right—juggling too many products while struggling with inventory control is incredibly dangerous for a small business.
Big Bee, Little Bee Net Worth and Amazon Success
Despite the setbacks, Amy and Marlo bounced back. By late 2024 and heading into 2026, the company stabilized its supply chain and focused heavily on Amazon.
Recent data shows the company is selling over 700 units per month on Amazon. This translates to roughly $11,000 in monthly sales, or about $130,000 in annual revenue from Amazon alone.
This figure does not even count the direct-to-consumer sales from their official website or their wholesale retail orders.
| Financial Metric | Amount | Context |
| Initial Investment | $166,000 | Amy Leinbach’s personal funds used to start the business. |
| 2021 Peak Sales | $230,000 | Fueled heavily by the ScrubBEE and national morning show features. |
| 2022 Net Loss | -$77,000 | Caused by severe global supply chain and inventory shortages. |
| Current Amazon Sales | ~$130,000/yr | Based on a run rate of over 700 units sold per month. |
| 2026 Estimated Net Worth | $750,000 | A solid increase from their $500,000 Shark Tank valuation. |
As of today, Big Bee, Little Bee is estimated to have a net worth of $750,000. The company has proven that you do not need a Shark’s money to build a sustainable, valuable brand.
The Latest Product Line: Patented Eco-Friendly Solutions
While Mark Cuban warned Amy about “inventor-itis,” her constant tinkering has actually saved the company. By constantly inventing, the brand managed to secure seven distinct utility and design patents.
These patents create a legal shield, preventing larger corporations and cheap overseas factories from stealing their unique designs.
Today, Big Bee, Little Bee focuses on smart, reusable silicone products that replace wasteful single-use plastics.
The SoftShell Snap-Close Silicone Food Storage Container
As of today, the SoftShell is the absolute star of the company’s product line. It was designed to replace disposable plastic ziplock bags in lunchboxes.
While the market is flooded with reusable silicone bags (like Stasher bags), many parents find them frustrating to wash because they have narrow, tight openings.
The SoftShell solves this problem entirely. It features a patented clamshell design that opens wide on three sides.
Key Features of the SoftShell:
- Easy to Clean: Because it opens fully, it fits easily into the dishwasher without trapping food inside.
- Doubles as a Plate: When unzipped, it lays completely flat, serving as a clean eating mat for kids at school.
- No Lost Lids: The snap-close clamshell frame keeps the top and bottom permanently attached. You never have to dig through a drawer looking for a matching lid.
- Safe Materials: Made from 100% FDA food-grade silicone. It is completely free of BPA, PVC, phthalates, and lead.
- Temperature Tough: It is fully safe for microwaves and freezers, featuring stay-cool edges so you don’t burn your fingers pulling it out of the microwave.
The SoftShell boasts a 4.7-star rating across hundreds of reviews in 2026. It is currently available in standard sizes, an XL size for dinner leftovers, and a divided “Luncher” size.
The Original ScrubBEE Silicone Scrubber
The ScrubBEE has a special place in the company’s history. Invented when Marlo was just two years old, it was actually the very first silicone scrubber to hit the consumer market.
Traditional washcloths are often too big and heavy for toddlers to wring out. The ScrubBEE features a solid, beehive-shaped handle that perfectly fits a toddler’s wet, soapy hands.
The textured silicone bristles gently clean sensitive skin while resisting the gross mold and mildew buildup common in standard bath sponges. The company now also sells a larger “Big ScrubBEE” for older kids and adults.
Build-A-Straw Reusable System
With many cities banning throw-away plastic straws, parents needed a safe, reusable option for their kids. The patented Build-A-Straw is a modular silicone straw system.
Instead of one long tube, the straw comes in segments that snap together. This allows you to customize the length to fit perfectly into a tiny toddler cup or a large adult tumbler.
More importantly, the break-apart design makes it incredibly easy to clean the inside, preventing the dangerous bacteria buildup found in traditional reusable straws.
The Current Challenge: Trade Tariffs and Supply Chains
Running a physical product business is incredibly difficult, and Big Bee, Little Bee has faced massive macroeconomic headwinds.
Like many American brands, they design their products in the US but rely on overseas manufacturing to keep retail prices affordable for regular families.
Recent US trade policies and import tariffs have severely threatened small businesses. Amy Leinbach has been vocal about how these taxes impact her bottom line.
When discussing the crushing weight of US import tariffs, Amy stated, “Even at 30%, the tariffs will be taking my entire income”.
This is a stark reality for modern entrepreneurs. Even with strong Amazon sales and high customer demand, a 30% tax on imported inventory can completely wipe out a small brand’s profit margin.
The fact that Big Bee, Little Bee has survived these 2025 and 2026 tariff hikes proves that Amy runs a highly disciplined, lean operation.
Retail Strategy, Philanthropy, and Giving Back
To combat tight profit margins, the company has highly optimized its sales strategy. While you can find their products in over 500 retail stores, including big names like buybuyBABY, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Uncommon Goods, they focus heavily on direct-to-consumer sales.
On their official website, they heavily promote “Discounted Bundles”. By encouraging parents to buy a four-pack of SoftShells instead of just one, they increase their average order value. They also offer free US shipping on orders over $59, shipping all packages from their US facilities within 24 hours.
A Brand Built on Corporate Responsibility
Big Bee, Little Bee is deeply committed to giving back to both the planet and the people on it.
- 1% for the Planet: The company is a certified member of this prestigious global organization. This means they legally pledge to donate a full 1% of their annual gross sales to approved environmental nonprofits. This guarantees their commitment to the earth is real, not just empty marketing.
- Well Aware Partnership: They partner with Well Aware, a charity dedicated to building lasting, clean water systems in developing communities across East Africa.
- Local Community Support: The founders regularly support local foster group homes, the Imani Milele Children, and the Shelter Partnership. They also actively promote the #AdoptDontShop movement to encourage dog rescues.
Their dedication to making a great product while doing good in the world has earned them major industry awards, including the Family Choice Award and a National Parenting Product Award.
The Bottom Line
Big Bee, Little Bee is a fantastic example of entrepreneurial resilience. They walked away from Shark Tank empty-handed, faced brutal online bullying, survived massive supply chain crashes, and are currently navigating heavy trade tariffs.
Through it all, Amy and Marlo Leinbach kept inventing. Their pivot to the patented SoftShell silicone container has modernized their brand, pushing their net worth to an estimated $750,000.
For parents looking to ditch single-use plastics and support an authentic, women-owned small business, Big Bee, Little Bee remains one of the best options on the market.
