What Happened to Ionic Ear After Shark Tank?
by Kowsalya
Updated Jun 03, 2023
What Happened to Ionic Ear After Shark Tank?
Some businesses featured on Shark Tank that failed to secure investments have still managed to thrive and bring their products to market. One notable example is DoorBot, a company that manufactures video doorbells. Despite not receiving any investments on the show, the company was later rebranded as 'Ring' and was acquired by Amazon for a staggering $1 billion.
On the other hand, the Ionic Ear, a product showcased on Shark Tank, did not have the same success. It is difficult to find any information about the company today, suggesting that it may have ceased operations. It seems that challenges in obtaining government approval and finding willing customers for the surgical procedure may have led to the company's downfall.
Typically, appearing on Shark Tank provides significant exposure for products, leading to increased demand even without securing a deal with the Sharks. However, the Ionic Ear failed to generate consumer interest, mirroring the concerns raised by the Sharks during the show. The lack of recent news or information about the product or its inventor indicates that the company is no longer active.
Interestingly, while the Ionic Ear may not have impressed many in 2009, it is possible that it could have gained more acceptance today. Neuralink, a company founded by Elon Musk, recently obtained FDA approval to conduct human trials for a brain implant chip. This development suggests that the concept of surgical implants for enhanced capabilities is becoming more accepted. Perhaps the Ionic Ear and its creator, Darrin Johnson, were simply ahead of their time.
What is the Ionic Ear?
The concept behind the Ionic Ear had its merits. Dealing with Bluetooth headphones can be cumbersome at times, and their movement can often lead to disruptions in the listening experience. Inventor Darrin Johnson aimed to address this problem by creating a Bluetooth device that could be permanently attached to the human ear. The Ionic Ear was designed to securely stay in place on the ear, offering a microphone and a receiver like traditional Bluetooth headphones.
However, there were some significant challenges associated with the implementation of the device. It required surgical implantation inside the ear canal, and being a wireless device, it needed regular charging. This meant connecting the device within the ear canal to a power source and remaining stationary for several hours.
When Johnson presented his idea on Shark Tank, he sought a $1 million investment in exchange for a 15% stake in the company. The surgical aspect and the seemingly unbelievable nature of the product failed to impress the investor panel. Robert Herjavec, the only Shark willing to engage in the pitch, humorously remarked, "Darrin, here's insanity, here's genius... you're somewhere in between."
Overall, the Ionic Ear's unconventional approach and practical challenges hindered its success on the show.
ABC on Shark Tank Updates
For over a decade, ABC's Shark Tank has offered aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to secure investments from seasoned business moguls. This reality show, which has won multiple Emmy Awards, has witnessed numerous successful deals over its 14 seasons. While some businesses struck gold with their investor partnerships, others were less fortunate.
One notable aspect of Shark Tank is the presentation of unique and unconventional products. Just to give you an idea, there have been pitches for a urinal disguised as a golf club, stick figure drawings of cats and even a functional Transformer suit. Surprisingly, some of these products managed to secure investments, such as the UroClub and I Want To Draw A Cat For You, which struck deals with investors Kevin Harrington and Mark Cuban, respectively.
However, there are occasions when a business pitch is so outlandish that it elicits laughter and fails to gain traction on the show. The Ionic Ear made its debut in the first episode of Shark Tank and proved too far-fetched and peculiar for the experienced panel of investors. To this day, the Ionic Ear remains one of the most eccentric products ever presented on Shark Tank.
Shark Tank
Shark Tank is an American reality television series focused on business that debuted on August 9, 2009, airing on ABC. It is based on the international format Dragons' Den, which was first introduced in Japan as Money Tigers in 2001. The show revolves around entrepreneurs presenting their business ideas and seeking investments from a panel of five venture capitalists known as "sharks." The sharks evaluate the proposals and decide whether to invest in the entrepreneurs' companies.
The show has been highly successful in its time slot and has garnered strong ratings. It has been recognized with the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Structured Reality Program four times consecutively from 2014 to 2017, marking the first four years of the category's existence. In the 2012-2013 season, it also received the Outstanding Reality Program award.
What Happened to Ionic Ear After Shark Tank - FAQs
Some businesses featured on Shark Tank that failed to secure investments have still managed to thrive and bring their products to market. One notable example is DoorBot, a company that manufactures video doorbells. Despite not receiving any investments on the show, the company was later rebranded as 'Ring' and was acquired by Amazon for a staggering $1 billion.
The concept behind the Ionic Ear had its merits. Dealing with Bluetooth headphones can be cumbersome at times, and their movement can often lead to disruptions in the listening experience.
Shark Tank is an American reality television series focused on business that debuted on August 9, 2009, airing on ABC.