Daymond John founded FUBU and served as its president before becoming a Shark Tank investor.
FUBU began as a clothing project in Queens, New York, in the early 1990s. John started the business with J. Alexander Martin, Keith Perrin, and Carlton E. Brown. The name FUBU stands for “For Us, By Us,” reflecting the founders’ focus on Black consumers and the growing hip-hop fashion market.
The company first gained attention through handmade clothing and hats before expanding into a major international apparel brand. John’s experience building FUBU became a central part of his identity on Shark Tank, where he is commonly associated with fashion, branding, and consumer products.
A common mix-up is identifying John only as a Shark Tank personality. His television career followed his entrepreneurial success: FUBU was founded years before Shark Tank premiered in the United States.