Mark Cuban Can’t Stop Investing In Vegan Meat

Mark Cuban just made another vegan investment. Vegan meat brand Everything Legendary secured $300,000 in funding from the entrepreneur during an episode of Shark Tank, which aired in February. And within 24 hours of the show airing, the company sold $250,000 worth of its burgers online.

With a rather extensive investment portfolio of plant-based brands, including Wild Earth and Unreal Deli, Cuban has high hopes for the vegan meat market. “It’s going to keep on growing quickly,” he tells LIVEKINDLY in an email. “People realize [eating plant-based is] better for their own health, for the environment and it now tastes great!” 

But Everything Legendary isn’t your average vegan meat brand. According to co-founder, Duane “Myko” Cheers, the Black-owned company is looking to revolutionize the vegan meat market with its soy- and gluten-free, pea protein-based meat.

“This is a vegan, flavorful movement that we’re starting right now. And we’re revolutionizing the entire industry,” he tells LIVEKINDLY. “We’re vibrant. We have high energy, and we’re good.”

The company currently carries plant-based burgers. It has vegan ground meat, sausages, chicken nuggets, and cheese-infused burgers in the pipeline—the latter of which the judges tasted on Shark Tank. And, explains Cheers, all of the brand’s products are mom-approved.

“That’s what [Everything Legendary] really is: inspired by Mom,” he says. “That’s where this company really starts from. It’s a purpose-driven company. It’s inspired by watching my mom battle this terminal illness.”

Mom-Approved, Vegan Meat

Cheers’ mother, Darline, was diagnosed with lupus more than 30 years ago. 

The inflammatory disease occurs when the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues. Around the same time that she learned she had lupus, Cheers’ mother went vegan in order to help mitigate her symptoms. “That illness affected her lungs. She has half of one lung, so she’s on oxygen 24/7,” he continues. 

Cheers says he was inspired to create the company so that people like Darline—who just celebrated her 71st birthday—could enjoy quality, flavor-packed foods on a vegan diet. “Her changing her diet really inspired us to do this,” he adds. “So, we’re having this flavor movement where it’s healthy flavors that are just different from everyone else. And we’re just demanding better.”

“That’s one of the reasons why the company is called Everything Legendary. She is one of our legends,” he explains. “She has really been an advocate for other people. We want people to be healthy and eat good food at the same time. So that’s why Everything Legendary is just about very tasteful, healthy products.”

Mark Cuban Makes Another Vegan Investment

Cheers, who studied business at Morgan State University, says he’s happy Cuban believed in the company. “Shark Tank was the biggest blessing in the world,” he says.

He explains that he suffered financial hardships prior to going on the show, including his home going into foreclosure and his car being repossessed. But, he says, he never gave up on his vision.

“I always had this dream,” he explains. “I believe that our product is better. You guys heard it on Shark Tank. All five sharks shared that this is the best plant-based burger they’ve ever had.”

Mark Cuban is certainly a fan. “I invested because the product was better than any impossible or Beyond burger I have had,” he says. “And just as importantly, Duane and his team are truly legendary. Great products need great entrepreneurs, and they fit the bill.”