💥 The Wild Ride of the Hamdog: What Happened After Shark Tank?
In the world of weird food inventions, few things grab attention like the Hamdog—a burger and hot dog in one bun.
When Australian entrepreneur Mark Murray brought his unusual creation to Shark Tank, people were curious: Was this the next fast food craze, or just another silly idea destined to fail?
🍔🌭 The Big Idea
Mark Murray loved burgers. He also loved hot dogs. But one day, standing at a cookout with both in hand, he had a thought:
“Why should I have to choose?”
That spark led him to invent the Hamdog—a split bun that holds a hot dog down the middle and a burger patty on each side. Add some toppings, and boom—you’ve got a one-of-a-kind meal that turns heads and fills stomachs.
Mark wasn’t just messing around. He even got the bun patented. He started selling Hamdogs at fairs and festivals, where people couldn’t get enough.
🦈 The Shark Tank Pitch
In 2016, Mark stepped onto the set of Shark Tank Australia.
He asked for $1 million for 25% of his company. The Sharks chuckled. The idea was wild, sure—but was it actually a business?
Some Sharks loved the fun. But most of them had doubts. They worried it was too much of a novelty—a product people might try once and forget.
In the end, none of the Sharks made a deal.
😔 The Letdown… and the Comeback
Mark walked away without an investment. It stung—but he didn’t quit.
Instead, he leaned into what made the Hamdog work: people loved talking about it.
Photos of the Hamdog went viral. Food blogs picked it up. Festivals booked him. Mark focused on licensing the bun to other food vendors and growing the brand on his own terms.
🎉 So, What Happened to the Hamdog?
Today, the Hamdog is still around—not in every fast food joint, but in enough places to have a loyal fanbase.
You’ll find it at:
- Food trucks and festivals in Australia
- Select U.S. events
- Pop-up restaurant spots and sports venues
It became a cult favorite, not a global chain—but that’s okay. Mark turned a fun food idea into a real business, even without the Sharks.
💡 What We Can Learn
The story of the Hamdog teaches us something big:
You don’t always need a Shark to succeed.
Sometimes, passion, persistence, and a little weirdness are enough.
So next time you’re at a food fair and see a Hamdog, remember—it’s more than just a snack. It’s the taste of one man’s dream that didn’t quit.