Where Is SmartPlate From Shark Tank Today?

Plenty of entrepreneurs dream of the day they can pitch their million-dollar idea to a team of investors on "Shark Tank" and hit it big. The show helps small, unnoticed brands take their sales up a notch, whether it's through a deal with an investor or just their 15 minutes of fame to pitch the product to the audience watching; sales tend to increase even if the business owner doesn't walk away with a deal.

SmartPlate had its chance to win over the sharks in a 2016 episode, though it was just one of many featured kitchen tools that faltered, and for a few reasons. The plate's concept was that it could analyze the nutrition facts of any meal that was sitting on it, using weight and camera technology to view and measure the ingredients. Martin Dell'Arciprete represented the company, and while the investors initially thought his pitch was captivating, they immediately noticed problems.

According to Philadelphia Magazine, The SmartPlate retailed for $199 at the time, which Kevin O'Leary said was "crazy." Plus, it was only in prototype mode, so it didn't work properly, and Dell'Arciprete couldn't show off its camera function. All of that, paired with the stiff $1 million investment request for only a 15% stake, forced every shark to bow out. With no sharks having offered a deal, where is SmartPlate today?

The Philadelphia-based company made swift moves regarding Dell'Arciprete's job before the episode even aired. According to Philadelphia Magazine, once the episode was done filming, Dell'Arciprete was laid off from his role. Dell'Arciprete and CEO Anthony Ortiz both viewed the layoff differently, with the magazine reporting that Dell'Arciprete interpreted the layoff as being due to his "Shark Tank" appearance, while Ortiz claimed it was due to "other performance issues."

Based on its website, it appears SmartPlate is still in business despite its crash-and-burn on "Shark Tank." Per its promotional video, the plate today uses artificial intelligence, plus your phone's camera and weight sensors, to view what's on your plate, weigh it, and provide its nutritional information "in less than five seconds." The app now also recognizes dishes at restaurants, too, to assume nutritional content without weighing the portion.

In addition to its "Shark Tank" appearance, the product that claims to count calories (among other nutrition facts) has been given some high-profile coverage through the years. Forbes, Good Morning America, and The Times of London have all written about the innovative plate, per the company website. It's gained a substantial social following as well, with more than 21,000 Instagram followers and nearly 6,000 Facebook likes. Today, the plate retails for $199, plus $30 per month, but it guarantees its customers will lose 20 pounds in just six weeks (which, according to the CDC, is an unhealthy amount of weight in such a short time).

Though the Shark Tank Blog puts SmartPlate's annual revenue at somewhere around $1 million, Daily Meal could not independently verify that claim with any information available online. Still, the product has a place on the market today, although its hefty price tag, which totals $559 in the first year including the plate, does mean it could be a bit of a financial commitment for the average American. SmartPlate also has an Elite Coaching Program, though it notes online that "most applicants are not approved," without much of an explanation as to why.