Whatever Happened To FireAvert – Prevents Kitchen Fires After Shark Tank Season 7?

Firefighter and entrepreneur Peter Thorpe is the brains behind FireAvert, who invented a device that prevents stove fires. Since cooking is the leading cause of house fires in the United States, FireAvert was created to be a safety precaution that stops stove and oven fires in your home  — no more burning turkeys and ruining the holidays. Simply, plug your stove into the FireAvert monitor and insert the FireAvert into your wall outlet. When burning food triggers your smoke alarm, the safety device automatically turns off your stove.

With plans to get a FireAvert in every kitchen, Thorpe went on "Shark Tank." The entrepreneur pitched Mark Cuban, Daymond John, Kevin O'Leary, Lori Greiner, and Robert Herjavec. Thorpe came into the Tank seeking $300,000 for a 7% stake in his company, hoping to create a strong and strategic partnership with one of the sharks. However, he quickly found out how scary it is to stand in the "Shark Tank."

The Sharks loved FireAvert but had a problem with Peter Thorpe's share in the business. Despite being the company's creator and inventor, Thorpe owned about 30% of the equity. Mark Cuban felt that entrepreneurs needed a significant percentage in their company. Otherwise, they become disinterested. So, he went out. Daymond John agreed, arguing taking a piece of the business would put more pressure on Thorpe. He was the next Shark out. Lori Greiner followed suit, saying she'd be uncomfortable taking more of his business away.

Robert Herjavec and Kevin O'Leary were willing to give Thorpe back control by buying out his friend, the majority stakeholder who owned 60% of FireAvert. His friend was willing to dilute part of his equity but not to sell his entire share. O'Leary and Herjavec went out. Although all the Sharks were out, Thorpe made a final plea with Greiner, suggesting FireAvert would be the ideal shopping network product. In the end, Thorpe snagged a deal with Greiner. The QVC queen would loan the business $300,000 in exchange for a 10% royalty until she was paid $400,000. After the royalty ended, Griener would remain a partner with 10% equity in FireAvert. 

Unfortunately, Lori Greiner's deal with FireAvert never closed. Fortunately, Peter Thorpe and his company still benefited from their "Shark Tank" appearance. After the Season 7 episode aired, FireAvert's e-commerce sales went from $1k to $50k. "We saw a huge spike in online sales and even in our B2B customer sales," Thorpe shared with Trep Talks. "Each time it [the episode] re-airs, we see a spike in sales." Thorpe also landed a deal with Marriott Vacations Worldwide. The hotel enterprise placed a FireAvert in each of their rental properties and timeshares. 

The TV show boosted the FireAvert business and made Thorpe a mini-celebrity. "We go to trade shows every month, and people recognize us from the show," the entrepreneur told NBC. "They come up to you and want your picture, or they want to buy the product just because they saw it on Shark Tank." FireAvert's success lives on years after their national TV debut. 

FireAvert is still alive and well. At the taping of the Season 7 episode, FireAvert had one product, the original Automatic Shut-off for electric stoves. Now, the company has an extensive product line. Apart from the premiere device, there's now an Automatic Stove Shut-off for gas stoves and various electrical appliances like microwaves, space heaters, toasters, and air fryers. They also created a water sensor to detect flooding or leaks, a fire sprinkler quick stop talon to shut off sprinklers, a tamper sensor, three different smart fire alarms, a smart gas detector, and an upgraded alert system with text notifications.

Despite the deal with Lori Greiner, the QVC queen, falling through, the company still made it onto the home shopping network. On September 28, 2023, Peter Thorpe made his first QVC appearance selling the Automatic Stove Shut-off for gas and electric appliances. FireAvert's success wasn't always easy, especially with post-COVID increases in taxes and shipping. The CEO admitted materials that once cost $0.50 are now as high as $6. Items that took 30 days to ship took over 90 days during the pandemic. But with more than a decade in the business world, Thorpe shared on the Silicon Slopes podcast, "As long as we work hard, we can overcome anything." 

FireAvert's product list is growing. They are working on a new model that will dispatch your local fire department when the device is triggered. So you can worry less about hidden fire hazards in your house. This product will have a monthly fee, and Peter Thorpe predicts at least 10,000 customers will be a part of their FireAvert Pro rollout.

FireAvert's X page, formally known as Twitter, has not been updated since 2016. However, its Instagram and Facebook pages are up to date, featuring FireAvert's latest products and QVC appearance. Thorpe is still the CEO of FireAvert. Since starting the business in May 2011, he has led the company for over a decade. He still goes on trade shows where he promotes the products and is spotted by "Shark Tank" fans. Amazingly, he is not only the CEO of this small business but an active firefighter and paramedic. Two days a week, you can find Thorpe at his Utah fire station taking 911 calls.