
Daymond John
Daymond John is the founder and CEO of FUBU, a Shark Tank investor, and entrepreneur who co-hosted the 2024 How I Built This Advice Line episode to advise early-stage founders.
Daymond John's Bio
Daymond John is a globally recognized entrepreneur, investor, and media personality best known as a mainstay investor on ABC's hit show Shark Tank. He is the founder of FUBU, the pioneering streetwear brand that reshaped global fashion, and a best-selling author, speaker, and advocate for small business owners and underrepresented founders. His work spans venture capital, brand consulting, and philanthropic efforts aimed at empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Born and raised in Hollis, Queens, New York, John launched his first business venture as a teenager, selling custom-sewn hats and clothing to local friends and community members. In 1992, he co-founded FUBU with a $40,000 seed investment, operating out of his small apartment and selling products door-to-door, at local flea markets, and out of the trunk of his car to build initial demand for the brand's hip-hop inspired apparel.
The FUBU founding story is defined by relentless grassroots hustle: John and his co-founders identified a glaring gap in the fashion market for streetwear that authentically represented the Black and hip-hop communities, and spent years building the brand through personal connections and community-focused marketing. Their big break came when they secured a $300,000 order from Macy's, which catapulted FUBU to national prominence and grew the brand into a $6 billion global enterprise over the next decade.
Today, John continues to invest in early-stage companies on Shark Tank, where…
Career Timeline
1992 — Co-founder of FUBU
Co-founded the streetwear apparel brand FUBU (For Us By Us) alongside partners J. Alexander Martin and Keith Perrin, securing $40,000 in startup funding from his mother. The brand grew into a global fashion leader with over $6 billion in cumulative retail sales.
2009 — Shark Tank Investor at ABC
Joined the ABC reality series Shark Tank as a recurring guest investor, assessing business pitches from entrepreneurs and providing capital and expertise in exchange for equity stakes in high-potential startups.
2016 — Bestselling Author
Published his debut book *The Power of Broke*, which became a New York Times bestseller. The book shares strategies for leveraging limited resources to build successful entrepreneurial ventures.
