Mark Cuban Said 'You're Making A Killing'—Then This Founder's History Startup Made $1 Million And Had Its Best Week Ever

Some startups break the internet. Others go old school—and still make a fortune.

Ari Siegel, the founder of History By Mail, has proven that even in the age of TikTok and AI, people still crave the tangible. His company ships replicas of historical documents—complete with authentic-looking paper and calligraphy—straight to subscribers’ mailboxes each month. 

NBC10 Philadelphia reported that the five-year-old business pulled in more than $1 million in revenue in 2024, and after a recent "Shark Tank" appearance, it had its biggest sales week ever.

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From Senate Intern to History Entrepreneur

The idea was born when Siegel interned for the U.S. Senate and visited the Library of Congress. There, he spotted a letter penned by Abraham Lincoln and got inspired to replicate historical artifacts for friends and family. The emotional response he received sparked a business.

He launched History By Mail in January 2019. Early subscribers received documents every two weeks, each tied to major events or iconic figures in American history. But that fast pace quickly became a problem.

"People told us they loved the content, but couldn't keep up," Siegel told CNBC "Make It." It takes time to really dig into each letter. Everyone's busy." So, the company pivoted to monthly shipments—one letter, one context page, one manageable dose of history.

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The simplicity worked. Siegel shared on "Shark Tank" that the company hit $1 million in revenue last year, without outside investment—until now. On the April 4 episode of "Shark Tank," Siegel pitched the company and asked for $250,000 in exchange for 10% equity. His goal: scale the business through better social media marketing.

Mark Cuban praised the concept, telling Siegel, "You get to do what you love, and you're making a killing." Cuban and Lori Greiner passed on investing. Kevin O'Leary and Daniel Lubetzky each offered $250,000 for 20%, while Barbara Corcoran later jumped in to team up with Lubetzky. Together, they offered $125,000 each for a combined 20% stake.

Siegel accepted the offer from Lubetzky on air. However, a History By Mail spokesperson later confirmed to CNBC that only Lubetzky's firm, Camino Partners, finalized the deal. Corcoran was not part of the deal.

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According to CNBC, the "Shark Tank effect" was almost instantaneous. Sales hit a record high within an hour of the episode airing, the company confirmed. While no specific revenue numbers were shared, Siegel said it was the company's strongest sales week to date.

"We want to make historical documents more accessible," Siegel said. "They already belong to the public—they're just not in their hands."

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