Here's What Happened To The Dough Bar After Shark Tank

Picture this: You're eating donuts for breakfast. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, The Dough Bar had this very mission in mind. The Fort Collins, Colorado-based company was co-founded by Marquez and Ondrea Fernandez in 2015 on the idea that sweets can actually be a protein-filled, macro-friendly snack. With flavors like Apple Pie and Cookie Butter, and weighing in at less than 350 calories, these little health packets were set to transform the healthy snack market.

The masterminds behind the bakery were contestants on Season 9 of "Shark Tank," the hit ABC reality series in which entrepreneurs present their innovations to a panel of famous investors in hopes that they will buy a stake in their business and help their brands thrive. One of the show's longest-standing sharks, American businesswoman Barbara Corcoran, ultimately accepted Marquez and Ondrea's offer for $300,000 and a 20% stake in the company, per Shark Tank Tales. So, where did The Dough Bar land after Corcoran's generous funding, and how are they doing today?

The Dough Bar originally began as an e-commerce company, selling protein-infused donuts exclusively through its website to customers who wanted an alternative to run-of-the-mill protein bars and shakes. The Dough Bar's products included donuts, cookies, pastry rolls, and even monkey bread.

According to Coloradoan, the company opened a brick-and-mortar location after online sales surpassed $2 million. But the company had also accumulated debt, and The Dough Bar filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2019, shortly after "Shark Tank" investor Barbara Corcoran backed the brand. However, Marquez and Ondrea Fernandez fought hard to keep their dream alive and vowed to keep their doors open. The Dough Bar's closure was framed as a strategic move that enabled the founders to address their financial woes. And at least for a time, this appeared to pay off, as the company could be found advertising its products on Instagram as recently as April of this year.

On an archived page of the company's official website, the co-founders shared the wisdom, "Don't be afraid to try again; sometimes the second time's the charm!" Although they were referring to the competitive pitching process on "Shark Tank," this piece of advice may come with a different meaning — even after rough patches, business owners can manage to gather the means to recover. But that wasn't the end of the story.

In May 2022, after a sweet, seven-year run, the co-founders of The Dough Bar shared the news on Instagram that they were closing their company's doors to prioritize the health of their infant daughter, who had been enduring constant intensive care due to serious medical problems. However, they gave fans a reason to stay tuned. "Please hang tight, as we hope to announce the next chapter of the business within 3-6 months," the post reads. A couple of weeks later, The Dough Bar announced its last production day on May 16. "It's a very bittersweet moment for us here at The Dough Bar, but we're finishing off strong."

But then, a year later in May 2023, The Dough Bar's website was updated with a brief announcement that they'll be opening soon. We can't wait to see what the Fernandez family bakes up next!