Inirv walked into Shark Tank Season 9 asking for $800,000, left without a deal, got tangled in a lawsuit, and still managed to rebrand, raise $3 million, and win a major industry award. Here is the full story, from the original pitch to where the company stands right now.
This article covers the original pitch, what went wrong after the show, the rebrand to Ome, current product details and pricing, and whether the company is worth paying attention to today.
What Inirv Pitched on Shark Tank Season 9
Founders Akshita Iyer and Ranjith Babu, both Duke University graduates, appeared on Season 9, Episode 14. They asked for $800,000 for 8% equity, putting their company valuation at $10 million.
The product was a set of smart replacement knobs for existing gas and electric stoves, paired with a ceiling-mounted sensor. That sensor detected heat, gas, smoke, and motion in the kitchen.
If hazards were detected — or if no motion was sensed for 15 minutes — the system would automatically shut off the burners. Users could also monitor and control everything from a smartphone app.
None of the sharks invested. Iyer and Babu left without a deal.
The Problem That Started the Company
The idea came from a real scare. Iyer’s mother nearly started a kitchen fire after leaving the stove on unattended. That incident became the direct reason Inirv existed.
The product targeted a specific group of people: distracted cooks, forgetful family members, and caregivers looking after elderly parents. The core anxiety it solved was simple — leaving the house and wondering if you turned the stove off.
A practical example: an adult child installs Ome knobs on their aging parent’s stove. If the parent walks away and forgets a burner is on, the system sends an alert. The caregiver can check the stove status remotely and shut it off from their phone before anything goes wrong.
The team launched on Kickstarter on January 4, 2017, to fund early production. They pitched it as a device that lets you control your stove from your smartphone while protecting your home from kitchen fires.
Manufacturing Problems, a Lawsuit, and Kickstarter Delays
After the show, things did not go smoothly. Inirv hired a Charlotte-based prototyping firm to build units. According to Inirv, the firm delivered faulty devices. The founders claimed those defective prototypes hurt their Shark Tank pitch and caused production delays.
The prototyping firm pushed back hard. They countersued, alleging defamation and claiming Inirv owed outstanding payments. The legal dispute, detailed in the Triangle Business Journal, added significant financial and operational strain to the company.
Those delays had a direct impact on Kickstarter backers. Some people who had preordered units were still waiting for fulfillment. As of August 2023, HouseDigest reported that not all Kickstarter preorders had been delivered.
It is worth noting that available sources do not document whether the lawsuit was fully resolved. What is clear is that the dispute slowed the company down at a critical time.
The Rebrand to Ome and What Changed
On June 14, 2021, Akshita Iyer announced on LinkedIn that Inirv had rebranded as Ome. Products were open for orders under the new name.
The product line simplified. Smart stove knobs were now sold under the name Ome Smart Knob, sometimes referred to as Ome Kitchen. The core function stayed the same — replace your existing stove knobs with smart ones that connect to an app.
Here is what the Ome Smart Knob does:
- Turns individual burners on or off remotely via the app
- Sets individual burner timers so burners shut off automatically
- Sends alerts when a burner has been left on
- Works with Alexa for hands-free voice control
Think of it like a smart thermostat, but for your stove. It does not replace the appliance — it gives you remote control and safety features without buying a brand-new range.
The rebrand also brought a business-to-business angle. Ome built a platform called Amity — a centralized dashboard for property managers and senior living facilities. With Amity, staff can monitor stoves across multiple units from one screen. If a burner is left on in any unit, the system can alert staff or shut it off automatically. This opens up a clear market beyond individual consumers.
Funding, Awards, and the Second-Generation Product
After rebranding, Ome gained real traction. By early 2022, the company had raised approximately $3 million in funding. That money helped them develop the product further and build out the Amity platform.
Recognition followed. Ome’s Smart Knob was named Smart Appliance Product of the Year in the IoT Breakthrough Awards. That kind of third-party validation matters in a crowded smart home market.
In 2024, founder Akshita Iyer was named one of TechRound’s Top 50 Women in Startups and Tech. It is a sign that the company and its founder are being taken seriously in the industry.
In March 2024, Ome launched a second-generation product at a major industry show. The updated version added more features and new color options, showing the company is still actively improving the product rather than coasting on the original design.
Current Pricing and Where to Buy
Ome sells its smart knobs directly through its website in packs of one, four, and five. Pricing has shifted over time, so treat these as rough reference points rather than current prices.
Mashed reported pricing at around $149.99 for a single knob and $449.99 for a four-pack. A more recent update from SharkTankRecap noted the four-pack running at approximately $399. Check Ome’s website directly for current pricing.
Before ordering, use the compatibility checker on Ome’s site. The knobs do not work with every stove model, so checking first saves time and hassle. Do not assume they will fit your range without confirming.
Is Ome Still in Business?
Yes. Multiple sources confirm Ome is still operating as of the time of writing. The company sells products online, has raised outside funding, launched a second-generation product, and won an industry award. That is a very different picture from a failed Shark Tank pitch.
There are still some open questions. Some Kickstarter backers reportedly did not receive their orders as of August 2023. That history matters for anyone thinking about brand trust. At the same time, the company has continued to ship products and iterate on its design.
For those following hardware startup stories, Ome is a useful example. Getting rejected on Shark Tank does not end a company. What matters is what happens next — how founders respond to setbacks, whether they can raise money elsewhere, and whether the product solves a real problem well enough that people will pay for it.
If you want to read more business stories like this one, Repute Business covers company updates, startup journeys, and practical business insights worth bookmarking.
Final Takeaway
Inirv did not get a deal on Shark Tank. It faced a lawsuit, manufacturing problems, and Kickstarter delays that frustrated early supporters. None of that killed the company.
The rebrand to Ome in 2021 gave the founders a cleaner start. The $3 million funding round, the Amity platform for senior living and property management, the IoT Breakthrough Award, and the second-gen product launch in 2024 all point to a company that kept moving forward.
If you have an older stove and want smart safety features without buying a new range, Ome is worth checking out. Just confirm compatibility before you order, and check the current pricing directly on their site.
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