When Cơm Thố Bách Khoa appeared on Shark Tank Vietnam Season 6, it became one of the most talked-about moments in the show’s history. Two humble founders walked in with nothing more than steaming bowls of clay pot rice and a powerful story of persistence. By the time they walked out, investor Shark Bình had offered 7.5 billion VND for 36 percent equity in their business.
The deal sounded like a dream come true. Yet one year later, fans and business watchers began to wonder: Did this investment ever really happen? Or did it end as just another handshake on television?
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read)
Cơm Thố Bách Khoa rose from a small Hanoi eatery to a 30-store franchise and earned a 7.5 billion VND offer from Shark Bình on Shark Tank Vietnam. But despite its early promise, there’s no proof the deal was finalized — leaving the brand steady yet stalled, still simmering for its next big break.
From a Street Eatery to a National Chain
The story of Cơm Thố Bách Khoa started in 2014, when Nguyễn Thiệp and Đỗ Mai opened a tiny eatery near Hanoi University of Science and Technology. The location was not accidental. The area was packed with students looking for affordable, filling meals. The founders served cơm thố, a traditional Vietnamese dish cooked and served in a clay pot. This cooking method keeps the rice warm longer and creates a crisp, flavorful bottom layer that customers love.
Word spread fast. Within a few years, their shop became a local favorite. The founders built their brand around three things: freshness, simplicity, and consistency. Every meal was cooked from scratch, and each customer received the same quality no matter which outlet they visited.
By 2023, the chain had expanded to 30 stores, with 14 company-owned and 16 franchised, across Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Their financial record was even more impressive. The company reported 40 billion VND in annual revenue and 5 billion VND in net profit, and according to the founders, not a single outlet had ever lost money.
“Our goal was never luxury. It was to serve a perfect bowl of rice every time,”
Founder Nguyễn Thiệp in an interview with Vietnambiz.vn, Oct 2023
Their consistent performance and authentic flavor made them one of the most admired local food brands in northern Vietnam. But as the chain reached maturity, the founders faced a new challenge: how to grow from a beloved local brand into a national franchise powerhouse.
The 7.5 Billion VND Bet
When Cơm Thố Bách Khoa entered Shark Tank Vietnam, their pitch immediately caught the investors’ attention. The founders asked for 5 billion VND in exchange for 10 percent equity, valuing their company at 50 billion VND. They backed their request with solid numbers: strong profits, loyal customers, and a spotless record of store performance.
Shark Bình, known for his focus on digital transformation and financial discipline, saw both opportunity and weakness. He appreciated the brand’s strong foundation but pointed out that the business lacked a centralized management system. Without proper accounting tools, a digital POS system, and supply chain visibility, it would be hard to scale beyond a few dozen outlets.
He offered 7.5 billion VND for 36 percent equity, a deal that valued the company at around 20.83 billion VND post-money. It was a lower valuation than the founders had hoped for, but it came with the promise of capital and mentorship. However, the deal had strict conditions:
- Expand to 100 stores nationwide within a short timeframe.
- Pay annual dividends to investors instead of reinvesting all profits.
- Build a professionalized financial and operational system with full transparency.
Accepting meant giving up control but gaining access to Shark Bình’s network and resources. On-screen, the founders agreed. The handshake was sealed, and viewers believed a new Vietnamese franchise success story had just begun.
After the Applause: Silence
After the episode aired, Vietnamese media outlets quickly picked up the story. Reports on Vietnambiz, Báo Mới, and Doanh Nhân Pháp Luật praised Cơm Thố Bách Khoa for proving that local F&B businesses could thrive without foreign capital. The narrative was inspiring, showing two everyday entrepreneurs growing through discipline and grit.
However, as weeks turned into months, no new information emerged about the deal’s completion. Usually, Shark Tank Vietnam’s official website or the investors themselves confirm when a deal passes due diligence and the funds are transferred. In this case, there was no confirmation from either side.
The company’s own channels, including Facebook pages, franchise listings, and business directories, did not announce any new store openings or partnerships with Shark Bình’s ecosystem. This left fans wondering if the deal had stalled.
Industry experts began to weigh in. According to Phạm Minh Tuấn, an analyst specializing in Vietnam’s restaurant franchise market, only 40 to 50 percent of Shark Tank Vietnam deals actually close after the show. Many collapse during financial audits or legal checks.
This means Cơm Thố Bách Khoa might have faced similar hurdles such as paperwork, valuation disagreements, or operational issues that delayed or canceled the investment.
Why Scaling a Family Brand Is So Hard
Even for a successful restaurant chain, scaling in Vietnam’s food and beverage industry is a complex game. The founders of Cơm Thố Bách Khoa had built their brand on family-style operations. They controlled quality personally, often visiting stores and training staff themselves. This hands-on approach created consistency but also limited scalability.
Each new location demanded new systems, including supplier contracts, ingredient logistics, staff management, and brand monitoring. Without automation or a professional management team, expansion can quickly lead to chaos.
“Small F&B chains often hit a wall when passion outgrows process. Without standardized systems, every new store risks losing what made the brand special.”
Nguyễn Hữu Lâm
This quote captures the challenge facing Cơm Thố Bách Khoa. The very culture that made them successful, with personal attention and family-style control, became their biggest limitation when they tried to scale.
The Financial Picture That Still Matters
Before the Shark Tank deal, Cơm Thố Bách Khoa was already financially healthy. Their 12.5 percent profit margin was impressive in a country where the average restaurant profit margin hovers around 7 percent, according to Statista’s Vietnam F&B Industry Report 2024.
Their 40 billion VND annual revenue also placed them among the top mid-sized food chains in Vietnam’s casual dining segment. Most independent restaurants in the country earn less than 5 billion VND per year.
This made Cơm Thố Bách Khoa a true outlier, a profitable chain that had grown organically without outside investors or large marketing budgets.
However, Shark Bình’s conditions hinted at what investors value most: not short-term profits, but scalability and governance. The company’s success in serving rice efficiently didn’t necessarily mean it could manage a 100-store franchise network across multiple cities.
The Missing Evidence of Growth
In 2024 and 2025, public searches for Cơm Thố Bách Khoa reveal a surprising result. On Google Maps, ShopeeFood, and Foody.vn, there are listings for a handful of stores, most concentrated in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. No evidence supports an expansion to 100 stores.
The brand’s digital presence also appears quiet. The last major social media activity occurred in late 2023, shortly after their Shark Tank episode. Their absence online suggests either a period of internal restructuring or a pause in operations to stabilize finances.
Without verified public updates, the company’s net worth likely remains near its 2023 post-money valuation of around 20 billion VND. This estimate is based on their existing revenue and store performance.
Analysts note that many family-run F&B brands in Vietnam prefer to grow slowly rather than risk overexpansion. This might be the case with Cơm Thố Bách Khoa, especially if the Shark Bình deal was not completed.
What This Story Reveals About Shark Tank Vietnam
Cơm Thố Bách Khoa’s experience reflects a broader trend in Shark Tank Vietnam. The show often highlights great local ideas that struggle with corporate readiness. For food chains, the main obstacle is not product quality but systemization.
Vietnam’s restaurant scene is fast-moving, competitive, and heavily dependent on word-of-mouth. To succeed, businesses need not only delicious food but also operational excellence. Investors like Shark Bình typically focus on tech-driven governance, cash flow management, and scalability.
The tension between investors and founders often comes from different priorities. Founders focus on maintaining their brand’s soul, while investors push for rapid growth. Finding balance between the two is rare.
The Clay Pot Metaphor
The clay pot, or thố, is the heart of this story. Cooking rice in a clay pot takes time and attention. You can’t rush it, or the rice burns. You can’t leave it too long, or it dries out. The result depends on patience and steady heat.
Cơm Thố Bách Khoa’s journey mirrors that process. Their business started with care and patience. Then came the heat of national attention and the pressure to expand. The founders now face the same challenge as their clay pots: staying steady without cracking.
This metaphor captures a truth about Vietnamese entrepreneurship: fast growth can ruin what time built.
Final Take: The 7.5 Billion VND Question
So, did Shark Bình’s investment ever pay off? The evidence suggests that the deal, while agreed on-air, was likely never finalized. No new financial statements, announcements, or store openings confirm its completion.
Still, Cơm Thố Bách Khoa remains a symbol of Vietnamese ambition, proving that a small, home-grown food chain can reach national attention without flashy marketing. It also reminds us that ambition needs structure, and passion must meet process to sustain growth.
The real question now is not whether the clay pot brand succeeded, but whether it is still quietly cooking something new behind the scenes. In a business world obsessed with speed, perhaps Cơm Thố Bách Khoa is simply taking its time, waiting for the perfect heat to rise again.
FAQs
Is Cơm Thố Bách Khoa still in business in 2025?
Yes, Cơm Thố Bách Khoa is still operating in 2025, though on a smaller scale. The brand continues to serve clay pot rice in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, but there’s no public evidence of the large-scale expansion to 100 stores promised on Shark Tank Vietnam.
Did Cơm Thố Bách Khoa get a deal on Shark Tank Vietnam?
Yes, a deal was made on air during Shark Tank Vietnam Season 6. Shark Bình offered 7.5 billion VND for 36% equity in Cơm Thố Bách Khoa. However, there’s no confirmation that the deal was finalized after the show aired, suggesting it may have stalled during due diligence.
Who are the founders of Cơm Thố Bách Khoa?
The business was founded in 2014 by Nguyễn Thiệp and Đỗ Mai. They started with a small eatery near Hanoi University of Science and Technology and built the brand into a popular Vietnamese clay pot rice chain serving students and office workers.
What is the net worth of Cơm Thố Bách Khoa in 2025?
Based on available data, Cơm Thố Bách Khoa’s estimated net worth in 2025 is around 20 billion VND. This estimate is derived from its 2023 revenue of 40 billion VND and profit of 5 billion VND, as well as the valuation implied by Shark Bình’s 7.5 billion VND offer for 36% equity.
What makes Cơm Thố Bách Khoa unique among Vietnamese food chains?
The brand stands out for its traditional clay pot rice, or “cơm thố,” which keeps rice warm and crispy at the bottom. Its success also comes from consistent quality, student-friendly pricing, and a strong focus on authentic flavors that remind customers of home-cooked meals.
Did Shark Bình’s investment in Cơm Thố Bách Khoa pay off?
As of 2025, there’s no public record showing that Shark Bình’s 7.5 billion VND investment was fully executed. While the deal created buzz on television, no updates or new store openings suggest that the partnership reached its full potential.