Fanion Update | Shark Tank Season 16
Every time Glenn Smith chopped onions at home, his eyes would burn and tear up so badly that cooking became frustrating. After trying everything from chewing bread to wearing goggles, he and his daughter Madison created Fanion, a small cordless fan that sits on the counter and blows onion fumes away while you chop. Will this tear-free fix earn their moment with the sharks? Let’s break it down in our Fanion update and pitch recap.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of what happened to Fanion after
Glenn and Madison pitched their kitchen accessory on
In terms of a Fanion update, the company expanded its sales channels by launching on Amazon. Further, they also gained media exposure through features on ABC’s The View and influencer holiday gift guides.
| Shark | Result |
| Kevin O’Leary | No offer |
| Daniel Lubetzky | No offer |
| Lori Greiner | No offer |
| Robert Herjavec | No offer |
| Mark Cuban | No offer |
Shark Tank Fanion Pitch
- Entrepreneurs: Glenn and Madison Smith
- Business: Fan for chopping onions
- Ask: $90,000 for 15% equity
- Result: No deal
- Sharks: None
Glenn and Madison entered
They explained that chopping onions often led to burning, watery eyes.
They tried common tricks like chewing bread, holding a matchstick, and even wearing goggles, but nothing worked.
According to them, Fanion keeps your eyes clear and your hands free to chop.
They run a direct-to-consumer business. Fanion sells for $19.99 on their website and costs $8.09 to make.
In seven months, they sold nearly 1,800 units and made $28,000 in revenue. But they had a bigger issue: unsold inventory.
Glenn and Madison had invested $468,000 of their own money, mostly into 31,000 units of product. Now, they needed help to move that inventory and grow.
The sharks had questions. Robert Herjavec asked if most people cry when cutting onions. Madison said yes. Robert admitted he didn’t, possibly because he wears contacts.
Lori Greiner asked if Fanion was their full-time job. Glenn said he works as a VP at a poultry company.
Madison added that she graduated from Georgia Tech and works in tech and supply chain.
Mark Cuban asked how they were marketing. Madison said they focused on social media ads and had spent around $17,000.
Robert followed up by asking how they funded the business. Glenn said through cash, credit, and home equity.
Mark and Kevin O’Leary helped calculate their customer acquisition cost. It came to about $10 per unit, which meant they were just breaking even.
Robert asked what the plan was for selling all that inventory. Madison said they came to
She believed the product could go viral and fill a need. She mentioned over 10,000 Google searches each month from people trying to stop onion tears.
Still, the sharks had concerns. Mark said the market was too niche. Lori warned against investing heavily in inventory before proving sales.
Kevin suggested discounting the product to recover at least half the money. Robert called it a risky move and advised them to sell off the units, even at a loss.
Guest shark Daniel Lubetzky praised their bond as father and daughter, but also stepped out.
In the end, all five sharks passed on the investment. Nonetheless, Glenn and Madison walked away without a deal but remained hopeful.
With no deal in hand, let’s get a Fanion update to see how their company is doing today.
Shark Tank Fanion Update
Our Fanion update found that the company initially sold exclusively through their official website, but later expanded to Amazon.
Fanion has since gained media attention, with features on ABC’s The View and placements in influencer holiday gift guides.
They also showcased the product at the Vidalia Onion Festival in Georgia, where it received strong community feedback.
For more information or to purchase a fan, visit the Fanion website or Amazon.
We can’t wait to watch the company grow and bring you another Fanion update.
For other company updates from
Before you go, be sure to check out our list of all the Shark Tank Season 16 products.
Marvin Uzor
Marvin Uzor is a content contributor for Shark Tank Recap. He specializes in crafting engaging, well-researched content that delve into the latest Shark Tank stories, keeping readers hooked. He has a soft spot for his favorite Shark Tank companies, Bombas and Doorbot, known for their innovation and impact.