Mikaila Ulmer

Mikaila Ulmer was stung by bees twice within a single week at age four, an experience that might have left many children afraid of them for life. Instead, encouraged by her parents to learn more, she became fascinated with the vital role bees play in the ecosystem — and decided her business would center on protecting them.

Using her great-grandmother's 1940s flaxseed lemonade recipe as a starting point, Ulmer created a honey-sweetened lemonade she called Me & the Bees. What began as a neighbourhood lemonade stand grew steadily as she entered local business competitions, refining her product and pitch along the way.

At just nine years old, Ulmer appeared on Shark Tank and secured a $60,000 investment from Daymond John. The exposure accelerated her growth dramatically: by thirteen, a group of NFL players had invested $800,000 to help scale the brand, and Me & the Bees Lemonade landed a major distribution deal with Whole Foods.

Now sold in thousands of stores nationwide including Target and Kroger, Me & the Bees has sold nearly ten million bottles. Ulmer has continued to advocate for bee conservation through her Healthy Hive Foundation, written a book on social entrepreneurship, and spoken at the United Nations and to audiences including former President Obama — all while continuing her education.