Go Oats: Here's What Happened After Shark Tank

Go Oats offers easy-to-eat oatmeal balls made with high-quality ingredients that are great for a quick, hearty breakfast. Founder Nahum Jeannot was inspired to start the company based on the nutritious breakfasts his mother and grandmother always prepared fresh during his childhood, and after being thrust into the culinary world by happenstance.

While working at a restaurant, Jeannot pivoted to a kitchen role after a line cook walked out on a busy night. When he eventually became head chef at a hotel, Jeannot was tasked with creating a mess-free, grab-and-go breakfast, and the first version of his oatmeal bites were born. Soon, he officially founded Go Oats with business partner Alvin Chun upon realizing he had created a treat worth producing on a larger scale. With Go Oats, oatmeal balls are frozen but heat up in minutes, providing a quick and nutritious morning meal.

Jeannot pitched his breakfast product on Episode 2 during Season 12 of "Shark Tank," his segment first airing in October 2020. Jeannot appeared solo on the show because of the challenges his partner Chun faced traveling and filming during the pandemic, and also because Chun much preferred to support Go Oats from behind the scenes. Sharks Kevin O'Leary, Barbara Corcoran, Kendra Scott, Mark Cuban, and Lori Greiner were all on the panel to consider Jeannot's ask of $150,000 in exchange for a 10% stake in the company as the entrepreneur positioned Go Oats as the quicker, but just as healthy alternative to typical steel-cut oatmeal.

As the Sharks sampled the different flavors of Go Oats, they nodded their heads approvingly, and talked over each other while sharing their praises for the product. Barbara Corocoran, a self-proclaimed oatmeal superfan, gushed, "This is better than oatmeal," largely commenting on the satisfying texture of the bites she hailed as "crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside," (via YouTube). Kendra Scott shared her approval as well, saying, "I'm not a breakfast eater and I would eat this all day." She especially appreciated the convenience of the product because she routinely struggles to get her three children and herself out of the house on time for school and work. The individual packaging of Go Oats also really impressed the Sharks because it could go straight into the microwave or oven for a warmup.

The only major problem the Sharks commented on was the price — saying it was too low. At the time, Go Oats was selling wholesale for $2.66 with a cost of $1.35 to make. The product was also sold for $4.99 in retail settings, which Mark Cuban said simply was not a high enough price to allow for scalability.

Corcoran had the first and only offer for Nahum Jeannot, suggesting $150,000 for a 25% stake, which she justified by saying she had the expertise to navigate the process with big box stores. Jeannot attempted to negotiate by bringing another Shark into the deal, but Corcoran rebuffed the idea saying that working as a committee isn't very streamlined. Ultimately, Jeannot accepted Corcoran's offer, negotiating a 20% equity portion in exchange for the asked-for investment of $150,000.

Like with so many other products that appear on "Shark Tank," Go Oats sold out their stock within two days of its episode airing. PipSnacks, which Barbara Corcoran also invested in, saw similar successes. Shortly thereafter, founder Nahum Jeannot had to move the operating location of Go Oats to accommodate the business' growth, which was already on the fast track. During "Shark Tank," he told  the panel that sales were $13,000 in 2017 but increased to $57,000 in 2018 and 2019.

At the time the episode of "Shark Tank" aired, Go Oats were only available in Whole Foods. Today, you can find Go Oats in the freezer sections of numerous stores across the United States, including Albertson's, Target, Sprouts Farmers Market, Heinen's, Gelson's, and Dawson's Market. They are also available directly from the Go Oats website, though the company did have to pause online ordering because of complications of shipping a frozen product during the heat of summer. 

Reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, with may commenting on the taste, texture, and convenience of the product. But, there are several lower rated reviews because of shipping issues and product quality due to defrosting while en route.

The oatmeal balls are available in pouches of nine, but the single-serve cartons that the Sharks loved don't seem to be available for sale at this time. However, Go Oats did address the pricing issue that Mark Cuban initially had issues with — oatmeal balls are now purchased directly from the brand's website in a set of eight pouches selling for about $8.50 per pouch. 

At the time of writing, Nahum Jeannot's LinkedIn profile is active, and shows that he is still involved with Go Oats. He holds the titles of founder and COO. Typically, that is the chief operating officer, but at Go Oats, the acronym stands for chief oatmeal officer.

Go Oats does say that they are testing and perfecting new flavors, but Jeannot is guarded about what exactly those new tastes may be in the future. The company continues to offer flavors that were sampled on "Shark Tank," — apple cinnamon, cranberry walnut, maple brown sugar, and blueberry — with the newer addition of strawberry. 

A seasonal pumpkin spice flavor, available at Sprout's and HomeChef, dropped in Fall 2023 and the news quickly garnered many positive comments. The new flavor will soon be available directly from the Go Oats website as well. As a trained chef, passionate culinary figure, and oatmeal lover, Jeannot and Go Oats are sure to keep releasing fun oatmeal flavors.