"I strongly disagree with" -When PROVEN Skincare left Shark Tank without a deal 

After leaving the Shark Tank without a deal, PROVEN Skincare's co-founder Ming Zhao had some thoughts about Shark Anne Wojcicki's rejection.

"I really wanted to make a deal with Anne before going in. However, she felt that skincare didn't need this level of personalization, which I strongly disagree with," Zhao told People magazine.

But the experience didn't dampen her spirit:

"I still appreciate telling the Sharks and America more about PROVEN. Being on the show further confirmed to me that hard work, optimism and tenacity do pay off — even if it may not be in the way that you initially expected."

The rejection occurred during Shark Tank Season 11 when entrepreneurs presented their company concepts to prosperous investors. PROVEN was the first skincare company to appear on the show in five years.

The business employs artificial intelligence (AI) to provide customized skincare regimens based on 47 variables, such as lifestyle choices, environmental influences, and skin type. Zhao's own dissatisfied experiences with skincare products that promised miracles but fell short of expectations gave rise to the concept.

What happened during PROVEN Skincare’s Shark Tank pitch?

Unlike most entrepreneurs, PROVEN didn't apply to be on Shark Tank — the show chose them. Zhao initially turned down the opportunity, feeling the company wasn't ready. A year later, after their beta technology had served thousands of customers, she decided the time was right.

On the "How I Got There" podcast, Zhao shared her motivation for starting PROVEN:

"I started investing in all kinds of expensive skincare products that promised miracles, that promised that I would see this result, but none of them actually delivered on their promise."

The breakthrough came after visiting a specialist, where she realized personalized consultations made a real difference.

When Zhao stepped into the Tank, she asked for $500,000 in exchange for 5% of PROVEN. The pitch started strong — the company was on track for $3 million in revenue for 2019, and they'd licensed their AI technology to the baby care industry for $3.5 million.

But then came the numbers that made the Sharks swim away. PROVEN had spent $90,000 on Facebook ads in two months, generating only $110,000 in sales. Mark Cuban didn't mince words, suggesting the company was "buying" its sales. The other Sharks followed suit, with concerns about market saturation and marketing costs.

How did PROVEN fare beyond Shark Tank?

The rejection turned out to be just a tiny little bump in the road. In 2021, Zhao revealed to Global Cosmetic Industry magazine:

"The brand has experienced exceptional growth since its founding. We grew more than 2,000% our first year in the market, and now have $24 million in revenue run-rate in less than two years of launch and have built a customer base of over 100,000 paying customers."

Today, PROVEN has a strong social media presence with 134,000 Instagram followers, over 100,000 goods sold, and over 35,000 five-star reviews. The business has

reached other markets, including Canada and the UK, and has branched beyond its initial product line to include eye creams.PROVEN most certainly isn't slowing down. The company launched Noteworthy, a personalized fragrance brand, in 2023. Zhao's vision extends beyond skincare:

"Further development of AI will see us taking our robust AI capabilities, and expanding it into other channels within wellness to complete our vision of building a portfolio of personalized wellness companies," she told Global Cosmetic Industry.

The company has even opened investment opportunities to the public, offering shares at $6.60 each. Plans are underway to expand into retail stores, spas, and standalone locations.

For Zhao and her co-founder, Dr. Amy Yuan, the rejection of the Shark Tank proved to be just another step in their journey. They've shown that sometimes the best response to a "no" is simply to keep moving forward — and let the results speak for themselves.

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Shark Tank airs Fridays at 8 PM ET on ABC, with all episodes available on Hulu.