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Circadian Optics has become one of Shark Tank's success stories with its current net worth estimated between $7-9 million. The company's founder Amber Leong pitched her light therapy lamps on the show and valued her business at $7.5 million while asking for a $750k investment to exchange 10% equity.
The company's growth story started before the Shark Tank appearance, with $7.4 million in lifetime sales and $4 million in annual revenue. The business has grown substantially since the show and now generates about $5 million in annual revenue. Their projected profits stand at $1.3 million. Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner's investment helped boost the company's website traffic and sales dramatically.
The company has strengthened its position in the light therapy market. This piece explores how the company transformed its worth from its original Shark Tank valuation to become a multi-million dollar enterprise.
How Circadian Optics Net Worth Grew from $500K to Millions
Circadian Optics' experience from a startup to a multi-million dollar enterprise shows what strategic investment and perfect timing can do. Let's get into how this light therapy company's valuation soared after its Shark Tank appearance.
Original valuation before Shark Tank
Circadian Optics stepped into the entrepreneurial spotlight with impressive numbers. The company had reached $7.4 million in lifetime sales since launching in 2016. On top of that, it reported $4 million in annual revenue for 2018.
Amber Leong pitched her company at $7.5 million, seeking $750,000 for 10% equity. She predicted $5.6 million in sales for 2019 with a profit of $1.3 million. The company's light therapy lamps sold at $57.99 on average with an impressive 70% profit margin.
Deal with Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner
The high valuation raised some eyebrows, but Leong's compelling story and solid business metrics drew multiple offers. Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner teamed up to offer $750,000 for 20% equity, valuing the company at $3.75 million.
Kevin O'Leary and Barbara Corcoran came in with similar terms. Cuban and Greiner's offer stood out with an extra $50,000 for Leong's parents who had funded her education. This personal touch won Leong over, and she accepted their offer.
Post-show exposure and sales spike
The "Shark Tank effect" hit Circadian Optics right after the episode aired. Website traffic, sales, and social media presence shot up immediately. The show gave the brand instant credibility, helping customers find the brand who might have missed it otherwise.
Major publications like The Wall Street Journal and Forbes featured Circadian Optics. The extra exposure strengthened the company's market position beyond its predicted $5.6 million in sales for 2019.
Circadian Optics net worth 2024 and beyond
The handshake deal with Cuban and Greiner might never have closed officially. Neither Shark shows Circadian Optics in their portfolio companies online. All the same, the company keeps growing on its own.
Thrasio, a company specializing in successful Amazon-based businesses, acquired Circadian Optics in 2021. The company now brings in about $4-5 million yearly. Industry growth patterns and a 20% yearly growth rate suggest the company's current worth sits between $7-9 million.
Amber Leong’s Journey and Vision
Circadian Optics' impressive net worth reflects its remarkable founder's story. Amber Leong turned her personal challenges into business wins through hard work and fresh ideas.
Early life and move to the U.S.
Amber Leong grew up in Malaysia with a dream to study in the United States. She made a bold move with just $1,000 and pure determination to pursue her American education dream. Her parents believed in her so much that they withdrew their retirement savings—about $20,000—to help pay for her studies.
Leong's American chapter began at Bemidji State University in Minnesota. She earned top grades while adjusting to new cultural norms and weather patterns. After graduation, she built a strong career in marketing and business development. Little did she know her life's biggest change was yet to come.
Health crisis and inspiration for the product
Life changed drastically for 23-year-old Leong when doctors diagnosed her with Toxic Shock Syndrome, a rare condition that could be fatal. The doctors gave her a 50-50 chance to live during her hospital stay. This close call with death made her think hard about what she wanted from life.
Her recovery period led her to research ways to boost her health. She found how light therapy could help regulate circadian rhythms. This knowledge proved valuable in Minnesota, where winter days stay dark longer. She saw a chance to create something new when she realized existing products in the market had limitations.
Building a business from scratch
Leong took a leap of faith in 2016 and left her corporate job to start Circadian Optics. She started small but focused on making light therapy lamps that worked well and looked good—unlike the clinical-looking options available then.
She developed quality products and smart marketing plans to grow her company step by step. Amazon became her first sales channel, which helped her reach customers without spending big on marketing. Her business sense paid off as sales kept climbing.
By her Shark Tank appearance in 2019, Leong had grown Circadian Optics from a small startup into a company with millions in sales. Her path from Malaysian immigrant to successful entrepreneur shows how personal struggles can lead to creating products that make real differences in people's lives.
Inside the Shark Tank Pitch
Amber Leong's 2019 Shark Tank appearance became a turning point that boosted Circadian Optics' net worth with a pitch that deeply engaged investors.
Amber's pitch strategy and product demo
Leong stepped into the Tank asking for $750,000 for a 10% stake, which valued her company at $7.5 million. She highlighted how Circadian Optics solved a common problem: people don't get enough natural light in their offices.
Her well-worded explanation showed how their stylish lamps matched the sun's brightness and color to regulate the body's internal clock. She asked the Sharks to picture themselves in a dark room versus a sunny morning. The minimalist lamp designs stood out against bulky, clinical alternatives in the market.
Shark reactions and emotional moments
The pitch became personal when Leong shared her trip from Malaysia to America. Her parents emptied their retirement funds to send her to college with barely enough money for one semester. She also survived toxic shock syndrome with a 50% survival chance while her parents couldn't visit because of visa problems. Her story touched the Sharks deeply—Kevin O'Leary had tears in his eyes, a rare sight. Mark Cuban called her "the embodiment of the American dream".
Breakdown of offers and final deal
The Sharks liked Leong's impressive numbers: $7.4 million in lifetime sales and 70% profit margins. Two pairs of Sharks made offers quickly. Barbara Corcoran and Kevin O'Leary offered $750,000 for 20% equity. Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner matched this offer but added $50,000 as a gift for Leong's parents.
Why Amber chose Mark and Lori
Both offers valued the company at $3.75 million—half her initial ask—but Leong picked Cuban and Greiner's proposal right away. She later told CNBC, "Lori and Mark were my target Sharks". The thoughtful gesture of including money for her parents struck a chord with her family values. She knew their strategic guidance would help expand beyond online sales into retail markets.
What Happened After Shark Tank
Circadian Optics saw incredible business growth after appearing on Shark Tank. Their story showcases an amazing journey of expansion, buyout, and fresh entrepreneurial paths.
Retail expansion and online growth
The company's website traffic, sales, and social media presence skyrocketed right after the show aired. They managed to keep a steady 20% yearly growth rate and landed spots in major retail chains like Walmart and Best Buy.
The business thrived on its own, even though reports hint the deal with Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner might not have materialized. The company hit around $4 million in annual revenue by April 2022, with projections showing a rise to $5.6 million.
Acquisition by Thrasio
Thrasio bought Circadian Optics in 2021. The company buys successful Amazon-based businesses with annual revenues between $1 million and $100 million. They help these brands grow internationally across multiple sales channels. Circadian Optics moved its website traffic to its Amazon store after Thrasio took over.
Product line development and reviews
The company added new lamp designs during this change. Their Lumos 2.0 Light Therapy Lamp became a customer favorite, getting over 6,000 ratings on Amazon with an impressive 4.6-star average. Users left thousands of positive reviews, saying the lamps helped with depression.
Amber Leong net worth and new ventures
Leong stayed with Circadian Optics under Thrasio until December 2021. She co-founded G-Works Venture Studio at General Mills in 2022, which tackles food-related consumer problems.
She also launched Nocturne, making solar-powered outdoor lamps with Bluetooth speakers, and started Bask Lamp, which creates rechargeable cordless lanterns. Her business motto "choose creativity over certainty" still drives her work today.
Conclusion
Circadian Optics shows how a startup can grow from $3.75 million to an estimated $7-9 million through mutually beneficial alliances and market expansion. Amber Leong's trip from Malaysia to America with just $1,000 in her pocket became an inspiring success story that brought Kevin O'Leary to tears. Her personal health crisis turned into a chance to fill a gap in the light therapy market with beautiful, working products.
The company's appearance on Shark Tank became a catalyst that sped up their growth. The original $7.5 million valuation seemed high at first, but the company grew to match and even surpass that number. Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner's investment, plus their touching $50,000 gift to Leong's parents, are a great way to get exposure and credibility.
The "Shark Tank effect" helped Circadian Optics expand beyond Amazon into mainstream retail channels. Thrasio's acquisition confirmed the company's strong market position. Their light therapy lamps still get thousands of positive reviews, which shows how much these products help customers with seasonal affective disorder and other light-related health issues.
Leong proved her original success wasn't just luck. She launched new ventures like G-Works, Nocturne, and Bask Lamp. Reports suggest the deal with Cuban and Greiner might not have closed officially, yet Circadian Optics grew strong on its own before being acquired.
This story teaches us that powerful personal stories combined with solid business basics attract the right investors and customers. Revenue grew from $4 million before Shark Tank to about $5 million today. Leong's support for choosing creativity over certainty paid off in both personal satisfaction and business value.
FAQs
Q1. How did Circadian Optics perform after appearing on Shark Tank?
Following their Shark Tank appearance, Circadian Optics experienced significant growth. The company saw an immediate surge in website traffic, sales, and social media exposure. They expanded into major retail chains and maintained a steady 20% yearly growth rate.
Q2. What is the current annual revenue of Circadian Optics?
As of recent reports, Circadian Optics generates approximately $4-5 million in annual revenue. This represents growth from their pre-Shark Tank annual revenue of $4 million.
Q3. Who invested in Circadian Optics on Shark Tank?
Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner partnered to invest in Circadian Optics. They offered $750,000 for 20% equity, plus an additional $50,000 as a gift for the founder's parents.
Q4. What happened to Circadian Optics after its initial success?
In 2021, Circadian Optics was acquired by Thrasio, a company that specializes in purchasing successful Amazon-based businesses. Under Thrasio's ownership, the company redirected its website traffic to its Amazon store and continued to expand its product line.
Q5. What is the estimated current net worth of Circadian Optics?
Based on industry growth patterns and estimated yearly growth rate, Circadian Optics' current net worth is estimated to be between $7-9 million. This represents significant growth from its initial Shark Tank valuation.
