Our Story: From a Bee Sting to a Buzzing National Brand

The buzz is real, and the future is looking bee-utifully bright! At Me & the Bees Lemonade, our journey is a sweet blend of youthful inspiration, family tradition, and an unwavering commitment to saving the bees. It all started with a simple lemonade stand and a girl determined to turn fear into entrepreneurial power.

ONCE UPON A TIME: A Bee-Sting Breakthrough

Our founder, Mikaila Ulmer, was just four years old when fate—or perhaps a few mischievous bees—intervened. In 2009, she was stung not once, but twice in the same week! Like many kids, Mikaila was terrified of bees. Her parents, wanting to turn her fear into fascination, encouraged her to research them. What she discovered was alarming: bees were dying off at an exponential rate.

This revelation sparked an idea that would change everything: What if she could help save the bees while also building a business?

The Sweet Secret: Great-Granny Helen’s Recipe

The foundation of our award-winning lemonade comes from a beloved family treasure: Great-Granny Helen’s 1940s cookbook. This isn’t just any old recipe; it features flaxseed, known for its omega-3 “good” fatty acids, making our drinks not just fun, but functional. Mikaila took this classic recipe and gave it a bee-utiful twist by swapping out refined sugar for U.S. Grade-A honey—the very ingredient that connects directly to her mission.

In 2011, Mikaila poured her heart (and a lot of fresh-squeezed lemons) into her very first lemonade stand at the Austin Lemonade Day and Acton Children’s Business Fair in Austin, Texas. The positive feedback was instantaneous, proving that a drink with a mission could truly make a splash.

Building the Hive: Growth and National Recognition

The momentum began building quickly:

• 2014: Bottling the Goodness Inspired by overwhelming local demand and a challenge from our favorite local pizza parlor, we figured out how to bottle our secret recipe. We received our very first wholesale order as BeeSweet Lemonade and started taking our mission outside of Austin.
• 2015: Into Major Retailers The biggest turning point for our early growth came with a deal from Whole Foods Market. Soon, our all-natural, honey-sweetened lemonades were on shelves nationwide, expanding into major retailers like Target, World Market, The Fresh Market, and H-E-B.
• 2016: It’s a Deal! Things truly took flight after Mikaila had the opportunity to pitch her product and her plan to “attack” the bee crisis on Shark Tank. She made a landmark deal with investor Daymond John, securing the resources and mentorship to scale Me & the Bees into the powerhouse it is today.
• 2016: Establishing the Healthy Hive Foundation From the start, giving back was non-negotiable. With every bottle sold, we’ve shared a percentage of our profits with organizations working to save the bees. In 2016, we formalized this commitment by launching our own non-profit, the Healthy Hive Foundation, dedicated to conservation through education, research, and protection.
• 2020: New Name, New Brand Embracing our core mission even more fully, we renamed and relaunched our company as Me & the Bees Lemonade. This new identity celebrated the partnership between Mikaila and the amazing pollinators she works tirelessly to protect.
• 2020: Still “Dreaming Like a Kid” Mikaila expanded her impact by writing the bestselling book, Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid. She wrote the book to share her story and inspire the next generation of social entrepreneurs and changemakers, proving that age is truly just a number.

Today: Our Award-Winning Lemonade & Mission

Fifteen years later, our award-winning, ready-to-drink Me & the Bees Lemonades are going strong, available in five refreshing flavors at national, regional, and local retailers across the country.

Our Lemonade Quality

We pride ourselves on creating drinks that are “fun and functional.” We never compromise on quality:

• Made with all-natural ingredients.
• Sweetened with U.S. Grade-A honey (never high-fructose corn syrup).
• Lower in sugar than other ready-to-drink beverages.
• Contains no artificial flavors, preservatives, or GMOs.
• Still uses Great-Granny Helen’s flaxseed base.

Our Commitment to Sustainability

As part of growing a company with a mission, we are always on a quest to be better stewards of the planet. In 2024, we’re celebrating our anniversary with new, sustainable packaging and a continuous effort to incrementally improve across our entire supply chain. Our focus isn’t just on saving the bees; it’s about doing our part for a healthier planet, from soil to shelf.

Our Mission: Save the Bees

Since our humble beginnings, a percentage of our profits has gone to protecting the vital pollinators that make our planet bloom. The Healthy Hive Foundation is the engine of this effort, funding educational programs, research initiatives, and habitat protection. We believe that by supporting the bees, we’re investing in the future of our food supply and the health of our ecosystem.

Our Founder & Hive

This incredible journey is led by Mikaila Ulmer, Founder and CEO. Having started the company at age four, Mikaila’s determination and passion for social entrepreneurship are the heart of the brand. Now with product in all 50 states, she is determined for Me & the Bees to become America’s favorite lemonade.

This is a true family-run business, and we are grateful to our entire “Hive”—from our dedicated leadership team, to our partners, and most importantly, to the “Bee-lievers” who support our lemonade and our mission every single day.

Thank you for being a part of our story. The future is bright, and with your help, we’ll continue to save the bees, one bottle of lemonade at a time!

Meet The Hive

• Mikaila Ulmer, Founder and CEO
• D’ANDRA ULMER, Chief Marketing Bee
• THEO ULMER, Chief Operating Officer
• DEVON PONDS, Chief Financial Officer
• SHON WHIGHAM, Director of Operations
• TOM IZZO, VP, Business Dev
• JAY HAIGLER, Strategic Advisor
• KATE LOWERY, PR & Comm. Strategist
• SHANA JONES, Executive Assistant
• HONEY, Office Mascot

Ready to dive into the details of one of these major milestones, like the Healthy Hive Foundation or the Shark Tank pitch?

Categories

• Beverage Brand

Features

• Instant Purchase
• Natural Ingredients

Regions

• Austin, TX.

Location