'Shark Tank' Season 15: Internet slams Chefee founder for $50K home robotic chef 'not practical for most kitchens'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Automation has also made its way into the food industry, improving procedures in restaurants and fast-food businesses. Chefee Robotics took a novel and ambitious strategy by also entering the culinary area, but 'Shark Tank' viewers are skeptical about the gadget being worth the $50,000 price tag.
In 2021, founder Assaf Pashut joined Chefee Robotics, a business dedicated to creating tiny home robotic chefs. Assaf committed three years to research and development, motivated by a desire to enjoy his grandmother's beloved meals delivered fresh and ready when he returned home from work.
The end result is a machine that fits effortlessly into any modern kitchen, capable of ordering groceries on its own, preparing a variety of recipes from scratch, and working independently in a variety of ways.
However, the Sharks found the functioning complicated, and so did the viewers, who were a little taken aback by the $50K price point as well.
On Reddit, a critic wrote, "'What if I want a baked potato?' 'well you need to buy a 2nd stove, our 40,000 dollar super stove can't do everything sheesh' What a joke."
One user wondered, "If you can afford this, you can afford a private chef I’m also shocked no one has asked about the preparation portion - does it cut, slice, etc? Or do you have to do that yourself when loading the ingredients?"
Another person noted, "It looked incredible at first but the Sharks have made excellent points. This isn’t practical for most kitchens." A fourth person wrote, "This is one of the stupidest looking products ever on this show." One user argued, "This has to be a gag. is it gonna take four hours to cook a curry lmao."
"I'm just concerned about cleaning it and attracting bugs," wrote another.
An X user claimed: "This has to be the worst sharktank pitch and product I’ve ever seen @SharkTankABC."
This has to be the worst #sharktank pitch and product I’ve ever seen @SharkTankABC
— oh em g (@emilyrgasper) March 9, 2024
What is the cost of 'Shark Tank' product Chefee?
If the idea of a highly functioning robot that can cook all your meals and handle all your grocery shopping sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The Chefee pre-sale portal lists a base model pricing of $17,995 and an advanced unit with built-in refrigeration and seamless installation for $58,995.
A mid-range option will be released for $35,995. The models are available in four distinct hues and will include installation services.
You may escape some of the sticker shock by purchasing a Chefee during the pre-sale period, which will save you between $3,000 and $9,000, depending on the model you select. The first 100 orders will also receive additional benefits, such as a tour of the Chefee Robotics headquarters and $1,000 worth of food for their new cooking equipment.
Pre-orders demand a $500 payment, which the business says is fully refundable.
Who is the founder of Chefee?
Assaf began his academic career at Santa Clara University in 2002, with a focus on Business Administration and Management. His quest for knowledge included neurobiology and neurosciences at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to his schooling.
He then studied Cognitive Science at the University of California, beginning in 2005. This wide intellectual background paved the way for his extensive ideas.
Over time, he absorbed information from many areas and finally found his specialty in the food sector. Assaf opened The Flying Falafel in San Francisco in 2005, and it immediately became one of the region's most successful eateries.
The enterprise grew to four sites in three separate cities, generating nearly $7 million in lifetime sales. However, the restaurant faced issues with the advent of the Covid-19 epidemic, which had an influence on its long-standing community involvement.
Following the shutdown of The Flying Falafel and a less-than-successful experiment with a mobile food truck, Assaf focused on robotics in 2020. In November 2020, he founded 7D Robotics, a startup dedicated to creating and programming completely automated kitchens specifically for restaurants.
This was a strategic shift in his career, as he embraced the revolutionary world of robots to reshape the culinary scene.
Chefee raised $500K before 'Shark Tank' appearance
While Chefee Robotics' groundbreaking robotic chef is not currently for sale, the business is working hard to get its website fully functioning soon. Chefee Robotics is now in the pre-seed financing stage, having successfully received around $500,000 so far.
The new kitchen buddy promises to reduce food waste while also saving consumers time.
Did Chefee get the deal on 'Shark Tank'?
In the Tank, Assaf was aiming for $500k for 4%. A $500K offer was made by Kevin O'Leary for 15% of the business.
With an 8%, Assaf attempted to rebut the offer. Assaf offered 12% after receiving a firm no.
Assaf eventually gave up to Kevin's first offer of 15% after trying to get Kevin to change.
'Shark Tank' Season 15 airs on Fridays on ABC at 8 pm ET. For those who missed the episode, it will be available on demand the following day and on Hulu. Additionally, viewers can explore past seasons and episodes on Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.