Flora Plant Monitoring update: Where the Shark Tank Season 15 startup is now

The Flora Pod from Shark Tank Season 15 | Image via allsharktankproducts.com
The Flora Pod from Shark Tank Season 15 | Image via allsharktankproducts.com

One of the most notable pitches made on Shark Tank Season 15 was for Flora, a smart plant monitoring firm that uses a sensor-and-app system to demystify plant care. Founder Aabesh De sought $300,000 for 10% equity, and after tense negotiation, struck a deal with Lori Greiner, albeit on altered terms: 15% equity, 5% in advisory shares, and a $2 royalty per unit until her investment is recouped.

The show provided instant and dramatic exposure. Flora had a 500% increase in sales, thousands of new app users, and media interest from gardening and tech publications. In the meantime, the app is still being updated, the product has undergone new versions, and Flora's community is still active despite certain issues. Concerns regarding the Flora website's online presence are raised by technical problems, broken CSS, and security alerts as of early 2025.

We'll follow Flora's path after Shark Tank in this update, including how its product has developed, how sales and recognition have held up, what operational issues have surfaced, and whether it is still a viable player in the plant tech industry or if it runs the risk of withering despite its early momentum.


Flora after Shark Tank: Growth, struggles & what’s next

There is both promise and caution in Flora's post-Tank adventure. Although the "Shark Tank effect" provided it with an instant boost, a 500% increase in sales, new users, and buzz, the firm has been put to the test by the more difficult tasks of scaling, sustaining a digital presence, and keeping its word. Its course begs the question: Was the contract ever finalized? Did the hardware and app model be sustained over time? Let's examine the specifics.


Product, sales, & early gains

The Flora Pod, a smart sensor that measures temperature, humidity, light, and moisture and pairs with an app that supports over 10,000 plant varieties, was demonstrated by Aabesh during the pitch. With a base retail price of $49 and a cost per unit of about $28, the cost is expected to drop to $14 at scale.

Flora reported thousands of additional downloads and an approximately 500% increase in sales after the episode aired. Additionally, it raised its visibility by being selected as a finalist for the 2024 NEXT Awards. The app has both free and paid options; the former provides basic access, while the latter, known as "Plus," offers more features for $60 a year.

The product will now be available in actual locations thanks to a retail relationship that Flora established with Home Depot, which is a significant step toward widespread distribution. In order to obtain market connections and mentorship, founder Aabesh also enrolled in the Nashville Entrepreneur Center's InFlight program.


Challenges, technical issues, & unclear future

Flora faces significant obstacles despite its early pace. As of late 2024 and early 2025, the company's website has had extended outages, layout mistakes, and security alerts. In certain instances, browser warnings were triggered by the site's security certificates and CSS, thereby rendering it inaccessible.

The software is still updated and functional in the meantime; a bug fix was released for iOS in March 2025 and for Android in February 2025. Although some independent vendors continue to promote Flora pods as available, this hasn't resulted in increased visibility or growth.

It's unclear if the deal was formally consummated. According to reports from Shark Tank Blog, there was no proof of a completed agreement with Lori Greiner as of the middle of 2024. Another wrinkle: maintaining expansion necessitates constant marketing, customer service, and logistical management, yet consumer interest in smart plant technology may be niche.

Although Flora's app stats currently indicate usage, users, and community, the company's long-term survival hinges on rebuilding trust, fixing its website, and elucidating its hardware + subscription income model. Its tale serves as a warning: companies need to do more than just shine in order to thrive, even with Shark Tank support.


Binge more episodes of Shark Tank on ABC.

Edited by Gouri Maheshwari