Daniel Lubetzky
Daniel Lubetzky is the founder of KIND Snacks, a healthy snack company he launched in 2004 and sold to Mars for $5 billion. A Lithuanian-Mexican-American entrepreneur, he is also a Shark Tank investor and author.
Daniel Lubetzky's Bio
Daniel Lubetzky is the founder and Executive Chairman of KIND Snacks, the healthy snack company he built into a $5 billion business before selling to Mars in 2020. A Lithuanian-Mexican-American entrepreneur, he's also a "Shark Tank" investor and founder of Camino Partners.
Born in 1968 in Mexico City to a Holocaust survivor father, Lubetzky moved to the U.S. and earned degrees from Stanford and the University of San Diego. Before KIND, he launched a legal publishing business while in law school and worked as a securities lawyer, always drawn to entrepreneurship.
The idea for KIND came in 2003 when Lubetzky couldn't find a convenient, nutrient-dense snack that met his standards. Rather than compromise, he created his own—a simple bar of whole nuts, fruits, and grains bound with honey. He founded KIND Snacks in 2004, building it from a direct-to-store operation into one of America's fastest-growing snack brands.
Under Lubetzky's leadership, KIND reached over $700 million in revenue and became known for both its products and its social mission through the KIND Foundation. The $5 billion Mars acquisition in 2020 cemented his place as one of the most successful snack founders in history.
Today, Lubetzky serves as Executive Chairman of KIND, invests through Camino Partners, and joined "Shark Tank" as a judge in 2024. He continues to champion his "builders, not dividers" philosophy through writing, speaking, and the Builders Movement.
Career Timeline
1968 — Born in Mexico City
Born in Mexico City to Sonia and Roman Lubetzky; later moved to the U.S. as a teenager.
1993 — Graduated from Stanford Law School at Stanford University
Earned Juris Doctor degree from Stanford Law School after receiving BA in economics and international relations from Trinity University.
1993 — Awarded Haas Koshland Fellowship
Received Haas Koshland Fellowship to write about legislative means to foster joint ventures between Arabs and Israelis.
2003 — Founded KIND Snacks
Launched KIND Snacks with the slogan 'Kind to your body, your taste buds and your world.'
2015 — Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship
Named by President Barack Obama and Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker as a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship.
2020 — KIND acquired by Mars for $5 billion
Mars agreed to acquire KIND North America in a $5 billion deal; Lubetzky retained his stake and remained involved in operations.
2020 — Guest shark on Shark Tank
Became a recurring guest shark on Shark Tank starting from Season 11.
2024 — Main shark on Shark Tank
Promoted to one of the main sharks on Shark Tank as of 2024.
