From Laughed At to Backed by Shark Tank: Wellness Founder Shares How to Turn Your Story into a Mission-Driven Brand that Investors Believe In
What if the idea everyone laughed at…
turned out to be a “Miracle” and breakthrough that can change millions of lives.
A Healthier Way To Add Sweetness To Your Diet
For most of us, health starts with what we eat—but what if how we taste is just as important?
We live in a world obsessed with willpower. From restrictive diets to sugar detoxes, we’re constantly told that the path to health lies in resisting temptation. But what if that’s not the whole story?
What if your sweet tooth wasn’t the enemy—but a powerful signal that could be reprogrammed?
That’s the question that launched Nature’s Wild Berry, a Shark Tank-featured innovation that’s helping people across the globe fall in love with healthy food again—even amidst cancer treatment, diabetes and eating disorders.
In this MBNews exclusive interview, we sat down with Hank Watt, the co-founder behind the miracle berry movement, to explore how this ancient fruit is being revived through modern science, soulful storytelling and a mission-driven brand that’s just getting warmed up.
A Miracle Everyone Thought Was Too Good to Be True
When Hank Watt first discovered a miracle berry that made healthy food taste sweet, he thought he was dreaming.
Green juice with dandelion tasted like Jolly Ranchers.
Salads became entrees
Lemon water? Like lemonade.
He had just reversed his pre-diabetes—and suddenly, healthy was crave-worthy.
But when he tried to share the berry with the world?
People laughed.
Skeptics said it wouldn't work
Investors said it couldn't be done
And for years, Hank went door to door, demo to demo, telling the story over and over, trying to prove one thing:
That this little berry could bring people together, satisfy curiosity and if we wanted to, change health, nutrition and the way we eat—forever.
Hank Turned His Struggle Into His Mission
Before Hank Watt ever stood in front of the investors on Shark Tank or received national recognition for Nature’s Wild Berry, he was facing something much more personal—something millions of people silently battle every day.
Hank struggled with Binge Eating Disorder (BED), a condition that goes far beyond the occasional overindulgence. It’s a cycle of emotional eating that often feels impossible to break—where food becomes both comfort and conflict. For Hank, food was a way to cope but it came at a cost. He weighed over 250 pounds, wore a size 42 waist and was diagnosed with prediabetes.
“Willpower or discipline had nothing to do with Emotional Overeating” “When it comes to Emotional Eating, what most people don't understand is that willpower or discipline have nothing to do with it.” He said.
It was the day after Thanksgiving when everything began to shift. Standing in his kitchen, Hank stared at a brand-new juicer collecting dust on his counter. He knew he needed to make a change. But every attempt to eat healthy had been a struggle—green drinks felt like punishment, not a path to wellness.
That’s when he stumbled upon something curious: a wild, red berry that claimed to curb bitterness and transform sour foods into something palatable. Skeptical but intrigued, he called his friend Juliano Bonanni—a celebrated raw food chef. In a twist of fate, Juliano had discovered the exact same berry that very same day.
They tried it together.
And in that moment, everything changed.
For the first time in his life, Hank realized he could crave something healthy—without coating it in sugar, sacrificing flavor or feeling deprived.
That revelation wasn’t just a personal breakthrough. It became the foundation of his calling.
Because once Hank experienced that transformation, he knew he had to help others do the same.
Who Is Nature's Wild Berry for?
According to Hank, there are three primary audiences:
1. Sweet Lovers Trying to Cut Sugar & Manage Weight
Over 55% of Americans say sweet is their favorite flavor—but sugar is linked to a range of chronic health issues. Miracle berries offer a way to satisfy the craving without feeding the addiction.
“This is for people who love sweets—but don’t love the side effects,” Hank says.
Looking for a weight outcome you can maintain? Making and craving delicious foods and drinks that happen to be better-for-you can prevent your diet from becoming a yo-yo cycle. Staying power beats willpower every day of the week.
2. People Living with Diabetes or Prediabetes
Nature’s Wild Berry contains no sugar, no sweetener, and triggers no insulin response. For people managing blood sugar, it provides a safe, natural way to enjoy flavorful meals and drinks without compromise.
3. For Culinary Connoisseurs and Flavor Explorers
Hank believes the berry doesn’t just shift taste—it unlocks imagination. It turns everyday people into “taste makers,” giving them the chance to experiment with new ingredients and experience food in a completely different way.
“I love the connoisseur experience. The berry promotes curiosity,” Hank shared. “You can literally walk down a grocery store aisle and say, ‘Today, I’m going to try it with that.’ It’s taste testing turned into taste making.”
Why This Berry Almost Never Made It to Market?
Though Hank and Juliano discovered the berry in 2013, it took three full years to launch Nature’s Wild Berry. Why?
Because no one had figured out how to preserve the fruit. The industry defaulted to tablets, which took 10 minutes to activate and left a chalky aftertaste.
But Hank was obsessed with making the berry more affordable and more accessible.
Today, the product:
Activates in 30 seconds.
Costs just $0.41 per serving.
Delivers a pure fruit experience with no additives and no preservatives.
That breakthrough helped Hank and Juliano land a deal on Shark Tank, with Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner investing—and continuing to actively support the company's growth.
If you’re curious how Hank and Juliano closed the deal. You can watch the whole episode here.
How to Make Millions Believe in You—and Your Brand
“You have to give people a mind-blowing experience first,” Hank shared in his MBNews interview.
“Then—and only then—will they listen to your story. That’s when they ask how it works and who it can help.”
The Results?
Fast forward over eight years of relentless grit, storytelling and grassroots demos, and Nature’s Wild Berry has gone from unknown to unforgettable:
➟ Featured on Shark Tank.
➟ Backed by Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner.
➟ Seen by over 300 million people across social media.
And it’s not just everyday users taking notice. Celebrity chef and MasterChef finalist Nick DiGiovanni, known for his creative content and sharp palate, reviewed the berry and was visibly stunned by how it transformed his entire tasting experience.
Award-winning actress Jennifer Garner also came across the product and was so impressed, she personally shared it with her audience—becoming one of many public figures who couldn’t keep the discovery to themselves.
But it’s not just about novelty. It’s about impact.
Today, Nature’s Wild Berry is helping people around the world with:
➟ Sugar addiction
➟ Emotional eating and binge eating disorder (BED)
➟ Chemo-related taste distortion
➟ Diabetes & pre-diabetes
➟ Appetite loss from medications and chronic illness
And perhaps most importantly—it’s showing other health innovators what’s possible when your mission is louder than your fear.
Because the truth is:
Words don’t create belief.
Experience does.
In this case, it wasn’t a sales pitch that converted skeptics into believers—it was letting a single berry coat their tongue for 30 seconds.
5 Hard-Earned Lessons from a Founder Who Took a Berry to Shark Tank
Building a Wellness brand is hard.
Despite going viral and landing a deal on Shark Tank, he said “99% of people still don’t know what a Miracle Berry is. That means we're just getting started .”
That’s why Hank wanted to share this message to wellness entrepreneurs out there.
Here are the five biggest lessons he shared with MBNews for health entrepreneurs, wellness brands and anyone building a business with heart:
Lead With a Mission That Moves You
“You can’t survive entrepreneurship unless it means something to you. Perseverance only comes when you’re emotionally invested."
Your mission should be more than a tagline—it should carry you when nothing else will.
Trust Yourself Over Skeptics
“The harshest critics were always people who hadn’t even tried the berry.”
Don’t hand the mic to people who haven’t walked your path. If they don’t know your product or your purpose, their opinion is noise.
Forget About Being First—Be Unforgettable
“Being first means you're unproven and risky. If you want to be first to anything, be first to mind because you're the best.”
Instead of racing to market, focus on being the one people remember. Deliver value, not vanity metrics.
Make It Accessible Before You Make It Big
Big impact starts with small, tangible promises kept. Solve real problems, and scale will follow.
Let the Experience Do the Talking
“No one cares about your story—until they’ve had the experience. Blow their minds first. Then they’ll ask who you are.”
If your product delivers transformation, let it lead. Trust builds after the “wow.”
Hey! This is Emilia With MBNews
What really struck me was Hank’s story. The commitment. The why. The way he turned a deeply personal struggle into a mission that now impacts tens of thousands.
At MBNews, our goal is to spotlight those who are quietly transforming the way we care for ourselves and others—and Hank Watt embodies that in every way.
Whether you’re a wellness practitioner, a conscious entrepreneur, or someone healing their relationship with food, this story reminds us:
Sometimes the solution is already growing in nature. We just need the courage—and the vision—to bring it to the table.
The magic isn’t just in the berry.
It’s in the mission.
The consistency.
And the commitment to change lives—one bite at a time.
Ready to Experience the Miracle?
Whether you’re a health-conscious consumer, a wellness entrepreneur or a medical professional looking for innovative tools to support patients…
Nature’s Wild Berry could be the missing ingredient in your wellness diet.
If you—or your clients—struggle with:
Sugar cravings and sweet tooth habits
Emotional or binge eating patterns
Weight loss plateaus and metabolic challenges
Taste distortion from chemotherapy or medications
Or even just boredom with healthy meals...
This isn’t just a berry—it’s a breakthrough.
With each piece, sour turns sweet. Bitter becomes much more palatable . And “healthy” doesn’t have to feel like sacrifice or worse, torture.
A Special Offer for the MBNews Community
Right now, Nature’s Wild Berry is running a Shark Tank Special:
➟ Refills are half off—just 41 cents per serving.
➟ Use code MBP for an extra 20% off.
➟ Valid on one-time purchases and subscriptions.
➟ Stackable with free shipping discounts.
Explore + Experience It Yourself
Shop now at NaturesWildBerry.com
Follow Natures Wild Berry Instagram here.
Join the MBNews Community
I started MBNews because I believe in the power of knowledge, connection and transformative health solutions. Every story we share is meant to bridge the gap between innovative products, cutting-edge wellnessand the people who need it most.
If this conversation resonated with you, join the movement.
We’ve got more stories that will light your fire and fuel your mission.
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