Where Is iFork From Shark Tank Today?

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

A fork is a fork. There can't be any room for improvement, right? Wrong — at least, that's what iFork asserts. Unless recently cleaned, surfaces like counters and tables are among the dirtiest places in your kitchen — and should be added to the list of dirty kitchen areas that deserve more attention. Set your fork down for one second, and the prongs quickly collect germs. That's why there's a bump on the bottom of the iFork handle to keep its prongs elevated even when you set your utensil down.

The appeal of iFork goes beyond just that, though. The iFork company also developed the iCup and iPlate, which combine with the iFork to form a handy, interlocking dining setup. Imagine you're at a classic backyard barbecue. Usually, you're stuck holding a cup in one hand while the other holds a plate and fork. The iFork product line allows customers to carry their whole meal with a single hand, leaving the other hand free to eat and drink while standing up or shaking hands with other guests.

Kyle Donovan, iFork's creator, has always been a go-getter. He grew up in a poor part of Brooklyn, where he collected discarded bottles to exchange them for money. Later, at just 19 years old, Donovan opened his own photography studio, operating it out of his one-bedroom apartment. So, Donovan didn't let doubt get in the way of revamping something as classic as the fork, nor did he let nerves stop him from going on "Shark Tank."

In Season 9 Episode 15 of "Shark Tank," Kyle Donovan swam into the tank pretty well prepared, seeking $100,000 in exchange for 5% of his company. He arrived with a practiced demonstration, a catchy jingle, roughly a dozen design patents, pending utility patents, and a previous 500-store deal with Wal-Mart. The Sharks didn't particularly care for the iFork on its own, but thought that there was a lot of value when combined with the iCup and the iPlate. Despite concerns about the combination needing to be demonstrated to show potential consumers its value, Barbara Corcoran made a counteroffer. 

Corcoran proposed $100,000 for 20%, with the caveat that Donovan redesign the products' outdated packaging and redesign the iPlate so that it could hold standard plastic cups instead of the iCup specifically. At first, Donovan was reluctant to concede to the idea of allowing other cups to fit the iPlate, but the other sharks agreed with Corcoran and he was eventually persuaded. With the other sharks having respectfully bowed out, Donovan agreed to Corcoran's deal, but not before deftly lowering the equity to 15%.

After the deal, Donovan got emotional about the success. He said, "Being a one man show for so long, it took blood, sweat, and tears. So, to have someone like Barbara as part of this is nothing short of amazing." 

A verbal agreement on "Shark Tank" doesn't necessarily guarantee pen will be set to paper. Looking at the company's iFork line and iCup/iPlate products, it seems as if the iFork's packaging has indeed been changed, but the iCup's and iPlate's packaging has not. Plus, it's telling that the iCup is still included on the website, which indicates that the iPlate was never updated to work with any plastic cup. Further, iFork is not included on Barbara Corcoran's list of "Shark Tank" investments on her website. It's all mere speculation now, but could this possibly indicate that Corcoran and/or Donovan had second thoughts and the agreement fell through. Still, at least iFork isn't considered to be one of the biggest food fails of "Shark Tank."

Details remain elusive, but Donovan's Linkedin page suggests that he personally has shifted focus away from iFork. While it does mention founding iFork and appearing on "Shark Tank," iFork is not listed under the "Experience" section of his profile. Instead, the only job listed is founder of The Incc, a social media networking platform that Donovan founded in 2019. It specifically states "full-time," which indicates that he is no longer involved in iFork.

This isn't Donovan's first foray into media — he had previously launched a business-related magazine — but this effort aims to connect multicultural entrepreneurs in a cutting-edge way. To be honest, it's unclear if that's more or less ambitious than reinventing the fork. The real question is — will Corcoran be signing up for the service?

When looking at its website, it appears that iFork is still in business. However, the iCup and iPlate combo packs – which are the only way to purchase these items, as they are not sold separately — are completely sold out. And, before they sold out, they were being sold on a steep discount. Meanwhile, the cutlery packs – a set of an iFork, an iSpoon, and an iKnife — are still available to purchase (and no issue arises when adding a set to your cart).

Despite availability on the site, all social media accounts of iFork have been inactive for some time, which certainly throws some doubt into just how active the company is. The last post on X was in May 2023, while the last Instagram post dates back to November 2023. The most recent activity was on Facebook, when the company changed its cover photo in October 2024. Before that, the latest Facebook post is from December of 2023 — this post references iFork's appearance on "Shark Tank" and encourages consumers to buy the flatware.

With all this in mind, it may be that iFork is on its way out. This is simply speculation, but it may be waiting to sell its remaining inventory before announcing an official closure — this would explain the social media inactivity. Considering that something that you may not know about cutlery is that it's been around for centuries, it may be that forks didn't need an upgrade after all.

"Shark Tank" is available for purchase on Prime Video.