Where Is SafeGrabs From Shark Tank Today?
Despite the appliance's near-ubiquitousness in the modern kitchen, the invention of the microwave sounds like something out of a science fiction story. In 1945, Raytheon engineer Percy Spencer noticed that his nut cluster had melted after he walked by a radar device. Only a few years later, Raytheon rolled out the first commercial microwaves.
Of course, you need to know what not to microwave. But when used correctly, the microwave is an invaluable kitchen tool. While many people have attempted to smear the good name of the microwave oven by insinuating that its heating rays decimate the nutritional contents of your dinner, Harvard Health explains that microwaved food is just as healthy as food prepared in other ways. In some circumstances, it can even be better for you.
Still, there's one aspect of microwave cooking that can be difficult to overcome. Certain materials aren't meant for the microwave, and things can get incredibly hot while you're cooking your food. Anyone who's fried their fingertips on a freshly nuked bowl of soup might appreciate a SafeGrabs microwave mat. And the "Shark Tank" investors saw the multipurpose product's potential.
SafeGrabs brought the heat to Shark Tank
For Cyndi Lee, the founder of SafeGrabs, the battle against scalding her hands on freshly microwaved kitchenware has been a lifelong struggle. Tired of blisters and burns, she invented SafeGrabs, a line of silicone mats that essentially function as easily cleaned, portable, and shockingly heat-resistant microwave mitts. Customers can simply set their plates or bowls on top of the mat and scoop them up by its safe-to-touch sides. Alternatively, you can place a SafeGrabs sheet on top of your dish, transforming it into a splash guard.
It took a while for Lee to secure a spot for SafeGrabs on "Shark Tank." She struggles with stage fright, and it took her three audition attempts to perfect her pitch.
When Lee finally had the opportunity to showcase her product, she asked for a $75,000 investment in exchange for a 10% share of her company. Despite her nerves, Lee delivered a phenomenal pitch and drew laughs from the Sharks with her imitation of an infomercial spokesperson. Lori Greiner was particularly impressed by both the pitch and the product and offered the full $75,000 for a 30% stake. After a brief period of deliberation, Greiner stood firm at 25%, and SafeGrabs made the deal.
SafeGrabs post-Shark Tank
Despite the arduous audition process and her lifelong aversion to public speaking, Cyndi Lee's SafeGrabs presentation was crowned pitch of the week when she appeared on "Shark Tank." However, the businesswoman has achieved success that far exceeds both Lori Greiner's initial investment and an admittedly hard-won honorific. With Greiner's help, SafeGrabs exploded in the years after Lee appeared on "Shark Tank". Between 2016 and 2019, the company exceeded $5 million in sales.
The original SafeGrabs microwave mats are currently available in a variety of colors. Additionally, the company has added two new products to its lineup. Home cooks can protect their digits with the glove-like butterfly pinch mitt, an alternative to notoriously filthy oven mitts. Once your food is finished, you can cover it with a new SafeGrabs kitchen towel.
SafeGrabs' success also allowed Lee to give back to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. For every dollar the company earned, it spent another dollar purchasing medical masks for under-equipped healthcare workers.