Press

St. Louis-Based Business Owner Fights Back Against “The Way It's Always Been Done” in Shark Tank Pitch

Expedition Subsahara Aired on ABC’s Shark Tank Season 14, Episode 4

St. Louis, MO – “The only people in history who’s ever changed the world are the people who never have accepted somebody saying ‘That’s the way it’s always been done,’” Daymond John, founder, president, and chief executive officer of FUBU, and an investor on the ABC reality television series Shark Tank told Expedition Subsahara Founder Sofi Seck in the Oct. 14 episode. 

Expedition Subsahara is a St. Louis-based home decor company that provides authentic, handcrafted goods created in Senegal, West Africa, using techniques passed down through generations of women. 

During the episode, the sharks are stunned to learn that Seck is providing her weavers a set wage for weaving her baskets, defying the industry standard of paying per piece. 

“There’s an African proverb: Until the lion can speak, the story will always glorify the hunter,” Seck said. “We aim to show the world that Africa is a vibrant, thriving, beautiful continent full of diversity, and to create mutual, radical respect between cultures.” 

In addition to connecting cultures, Expedition Subsahara has a mission to build a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) school for girls in Senegal, West Africa. A portion of every sale is earmarked for the education fund. 

Seck joins a number of St. Louis entrepreneurs who have appeared on Shark Tank in the past two years, including No Limbits and Flipstik.

###

Media inquiries: hello@expeditionsubsahara.com

Learn more: www.expeditionsubsahara.com