Jim Tselikis

Jim Tselikis is an entrepreneur and co-founder of Cousins Maine Lobster, the food-truck and restaurant brand he launched with his cousin, Sabin Lomac, in 2012. A native of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Tselikis grew up surrounded by the seafood traditions that would eventually inspire his business. He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 2008 with a degree in political science before beginning a career in medical-device sales.

The idea for Cousins Maine Lobster emerged during a 2011 visit to Los Angeles, when Tselikis and Lomac reminisced about the lobster they had grown up eating in Maine and recognized an opportunity to bring authentic Maine lobster to Southern California. They launched their first food truck in Los Angeles in April 2012 with a simple mission: introduce customers to the Maine lobster experience they knew from home.

Just months after launching, Tselikis and Lomac appeared on ABC's "Shark Tank." Their presentation resulted in a $55,000 investment from Barbara Corcoran, helping propel Cousins Maine Lobster from a single food truck into a national franchise operation. The company subsequently expanded into brick-and-mortar restaurants, online sales and franchising.

Tselikis and Lomac chronicled their entrepreneurial journey in the 2018 book "Cousins Maine Lobster: How One Food Truck Became a Multimillion-Dollar Business." Tselikis has also appeared on television programs including "Shark Tank," "The Kelly Clarkson Show," and "TODAY".

Today, Tselikis remains closely involved with Cousins Maine Lobster, which has grown into a nationwide foodservice and franchise business. In 2025, QSR Magazine reported that the company had reached approximately 85 food trucks and two brick-and-mortar restaurants and surpassed $1 billion in cumulative sales.