How Shark Tank and Mark Cuban Transformed a Teacher's Reading Startup

A learning-based company called Zoobean—now known as Beanstack—has secured investment from billionaire Mark Cuban. The firm focuses on helping children and adults improve their reading and English skills through tailored products. Founded by a former teacher and a mother of two, it has grown rapidly since its appearance on Shark Tank.

Felix and Jordan Lloyd launched Zoobean to support early literacy. The company's roots lie in education, with Jordan, a former elementary school teacher, and Felix, a parent, aiming to make reading engaging for young learners. Their pitch on Shark Tank episode 529 caught the attention of investors, including Mark Cuban.

Cuban invested $250,000 in exchange for a 25% stake in the business. The funding helped expand Beanstack's offerings, which now include four main products. Libraries can use its online reading platform, complete with progress tracking and digital badges for milestones. Schools gain access to a literacy assessment tool that pinpoints individual student needs. For families, Beanstack provides a monthly subscription box with three books, two hands-on activities, and a parent guide. The company's library holds over 1,000 titles, organised by age and interest. Each book comes with a short activity to reinforce learning, catering to children with limited attention spans. Businesses also benefit from Beanstack's services. An AI-powered chatbot helps employees refine their grammar skills, making the platform useful beyond traditional education settings.

Beanstack continues to grow as a versatile learning tool for different audiences. Its mix of physical and digital resources supports readers at home, in schools, and in workplaces. The investment from Cuban and others has helped solidify its place in the education sector.