HandyPan Shark Tank Update: Did Lori Greiner’s Deal Close?

If you hate making a mess in the kitchen, the HandyPan probably caught your eye on Shark Tank. Pitched by childhood friends Adam Chaudhry and Josh Conway in Season 13, this clever frying pan featured a built-in strainer that popped up with the push of a simple button.

The founders walked into the Tank with one of the lowest asking prices in the history of the show. They only wanted $10,000 to help grow their business. It seemed like a total steal, and the “Queen of QVC,” Lori Greiner, quickly snapped up the deal.

But what happens when the cameras stop rolling? Did the HandyPan become a staple in kitchens around the world, or did the business burn out?

If you have been trying to buy a HandyPan in 2026, you might have noticed that they are incredibly hard to find. From failed television deals to dead websites, here is the full, updated story of what actually happened to HandyPan after Shark Tank.

What Is the HandyPan?

HandyPan is a ceramic-coated, non-stick frying pan that doubles as a food strainer. It was designed to solve a very common, everyday kitchen problem: draining grease, hot water, or cooking oil without accidentally dropping your meal into the kitchen sink.

Instead of forcing you to pull out a separate colander or balance a heavy lid over a pot of boiling water, the HandyPan relies on a clever mechanical trick.

The handle of the pan has a built-in button. When you push that button, a stainless steel strainer pops up on a hinge to cover the rim of the pan.

You simply tilt the pan to drain out the unwanted liquid, click the button again to lower the strainer, and keep cooking. It was designed to mean fewer dishes to wash and fewer messes on the stove.

HandyPan Product Specifications	Details
Main Function	Frying pan with an integrated, push-button retractable strainer.
Materials used	Aluminum alloy body, stainless steel base and strainer, white ceramic interior.
Safety Profile	Advertised as free of harmful forever chemicals like PFAS and PFOA.
Historical Pricing	Launched at $29.99, increased to $39.99, and peaked at $49.99 before being discontinued.

Who Invented the HandyPan?

HandyPan was invented by two childhood friends from Columbus, Ohio: Adam Chaudry and Josh Conway.

Unlike many entrepreneurs who dedicate all of their time to their startups, both Adam and Josh treated HandyPan as a passionate side hustle. Adam Chaudry is a highly educated lawyer.

At the time they pitched the product, he had been practicing law since 2014, working primarily as a criminal defense and civil rights attorney. Josh Conway was an experienced real estate agent and the general manager of a technology company.

The idea for the pan was born casually on Josh’s back deck. The two friends were talking about how annoying it is to wash multiple dishes just to brown a pound of ground beef. They sketched an idea for a pan with an attached strainer on a napkin and decided to make it a reality.

To bring their napkin sketch to life, they hired Priority Designs, a professional product development group. In June of 2018, they tried to raise $40,000 on Kickstarter to fund the very first batch of pans. Unfortunately, the campaign failed, bringing in only $9,277 from supporters.

However, the friends refused to give up. They paid for the manufacturing out of their own pockets and managed to get the product made anyway. Three years later, they found themselves standing in front of the Sharks.

HandyPan Shark Tank Pitch (Season 13, Episode 21)

Adam and Josh walked into the Shark Tank seeking an incredibly low investment: $10,000 in exchange for 20% equity in their company.

This put the total valuation of their business at just $50,000. The Sharks were completely stunned by the math. Mark Cuban actually laughed out loud and called the tiny asking price a “first” for the show.

Adam and Josh gave a great presentation, showing exactly how easy it was to drain hot grease from bacon and separate boiling water from vegetables.

The Sharks liked the physical product, and they liked the fact that it only cost $11.40 to manufacture. However, the pitch took a sharp turn when the actual business numbers were revealed.

Despite being in business for three full years, Adam and Josh had only sold $7,955.61 worth of pans.

The Sharks immediately wanted to know why the sales were so terrible. The founders admitted two major flaws in their business plan:

1. No Marketing Budget: They had only spent a total of $553 on Facebook advertising over three years.
2. No Retail Presence: They only sold the pan on their own private website. They had not even tried to sell the product on Amazon, which frustrated the Sharks immensely.

Kevin O’Leary bluntly stated that no one cared about the product and dropped out. Robert Herjavec was highly concerned that the founders were not fully committed to the business since they both had successful full-time careers in law and real estate.

While Mark Cuban and Robert Herjavec argued with the founders about their lack of effort, Lori Greiner cut in to save the day.

She told the room that she did not care about the low sales or the bad marketing. She saw a product that solved a real problem for home cooks. Because the asking price was so low, she viewed it as a risk-free gamble.

“You asked for $10,000 for 20%. I’ll give it to you. I have nothing to lose,” Lori said. Adam and Josh happily accepted her offer, and it looked like HandyPan was going to become the next big kitchen hit.

HandyPan Shark Tank Quick Facts
Founders	Adam Chaudry & Josh Conway
Episode Air Date	Season 13, Episode 21 (May 2022)
Investment Asked	$10,000 for 20% equity
Total Sales Before Show	$7,955.61
Deal Made On-Air	Yes ($10,000 for 20% with Lori Greiner)

Did the Deal with Lori Greiner Actually Close?

No. The deal between HandyPan and Lori Greiner never closed.

When you watch Shark Tank, the handshakes and hugs you see on stage are not legally binding contracts.

After the show finishes filming, the Sharks and their legal teams go through a strict “due diligence” phase. They check the company’s taxes, patents, inventory, and verify the actual sales numbers.

It is very common for deals to fall apart during this behind-the-scenes phase. In fact, estimates suggest that a large percentage of Lori Greiner’s on-air deals never actually materialize into real contracts once the cameras stop rolling.

While neither Lori nor the founders have publicly stated exactly why the deal died, the evidence is clear.

Lori never promoted HandyPan on her official social media channels, and the founders never mentioned her involvement on their website. Without her retail connections and funding, Adam and Josh were left to run the business on their own.

What Happened After Shark Tank?

Even without Lori’s official backing, HandyPan received a massive boost in web traffic just from appearing on national television. This is widely known as the “Shark Tank Effect.”

Right after the episode aired in May 2022, the company’s website was flooded with orders. They completely sold out of their inventory almost immediately.

Fans flooded their Facebook page, begging to know when the pans would be back in stock. The founders managed to get more inventory in time for the episode’s television re-run in August 2022, and they briefly managed to get the product listed on QVC for $29.

However, the excitement did not last long. By December 2022, the company made its final post on social media to announce a holiday restock. After that, the brand went completely silent.

Why Did HandyPan Fail?

In 2026, the cookware industry is fiercely competitive. Having a clever product is no longer enough to build a successful company. You need excellent marketing, smooth shipping, and a strong brand presence.

HandyPan failed to survive for a few very specific reasons:

1. Refusing to Sell on Amazon: In the modern shopping world, if you are not on Amazon, you are practically invisible. Despite the Sharks directly telling the founders to get on Amazon, they never officially launched a proper Amazon storefront. The product was occasionally sold by random third-party resellers, but the founders missed out on millions of potential customers by hiding the product on their own private website.
2. The “Side Hustle” Problem: Building a profitable business requires full-time dedication. Both Adam and Josh already had highly successful careers. When managing the complicated supply chain of a kitchen product became too difficult or time-consuming, it was much easier for them to simply step away and focus on their day jobs.
3. Lack of Marketing Budget: The founders admitted on the show that they were not good at digital marketing. Selling a product online requires running effective ads on platforms like Facebook and Google. Without Lori Greiner’s team to handle the advertising, the founders simply did not have the skills or the budget to keep the brand alive once the television hype faded.
4. Shifting Cookware Trends: Between 2022 and 2026, the cooking world became obsessed with high-end, beautifully designed, non-toxic ceramic pans. Brands like GreenPan, Our Place, and Caraway spent millions of dollars on influencer marketing to show off their sleek designs. While HandyPan was a ceramic pan, it only came in bright red and looked like a novelty gadget rather than a premium kitchen tool. They could not compete with the massive marketing budgets of their modern rivals.

Is HandyPan Still in Business in 2026?

No, as of 2026, HandyPan appears to be completely out of business.

There are several clear signs that the company has permanently closed its doors:

• The Website is Dead: The official company website (buyhandypan.com) is inaccessible and no longer loads.
• No Inventory: The product is completely sold out on QVC, and there are no signs that it will ever be restocked.
• Social Media Silence: The company has not made a single post on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or Instagram since December 2022.
• The “Handy Pot” Was Cancelled: During the pitch, the founders talked about releasing a larger pot version of their product. They even had a patent pending for it. However, the “Handy Pot” was never manufactured or released to the public.

Where Are Adam Chaudry and Josh Conway Now?

Both founders have moved on from the kitchen gadget world and are currently highly successful in their respective fields.

Adam Chaudry is currently a prominent lawyer. In 2026, he works as a Counsel and Junior Partner at Pierson Ferdinand LLP, specializing in cyber security, data privacy, and white-collar criminal defense. He also continues to run his own private practice, Chaudry Law, LLC. He no longer mentions HandyPan on his active professional profiles.

Josh Conway is thriving in the real estate market. He currently works as an Associate Broker and Realtor for his family’s business, Generations Realty, based in Marion, Ohio. Much like Adam, Josh’s professional profiles focus entirely on his real estate career, with no mention of his time in the Shark Tank.

What Is the True Net Worth of HandyPan?

Older articles claim that HandyPan is worth $250,000. In 2026, this is factually incorrect. The current net worth of the HandyPan business is effectively $0.

The $250,000 myth comes from a simple math equation used during the television show. Because Lori Greiner offered $10,000 for 20% of the company, that gave the brand a brief “implied valuation” of $50,000. Some writers assumed the business grew massively after the show and multiplied that number.

However, because the deal with Lori never actually closed, the company never received that funding. Furthermore, because the business has stopped selling products and abandoned its website entirely, the corporate entity holds no financial value today. The founders, however, are likely doing very well financially due to their successful primary careers in law and real estate.

Best HandyPan Alternatives in 2026

If you loved the idea of the HandyPan and are sad that you can no longer buy one, do not worry. The kitchen gadget market has evolved greatly, and there are plenty of excellent ways to safely strain your food today.

Here is a look at the best ways to get the HandyPan experience in 2026:

Alternative Solution	Why It Works
Clip-On Silicone Strainers	Products like the AUOON Clip-On Strainer attach tightly to the side of almost any pot or pan you already own. They are cheap, take up very little space in a drawer, and handle boiling water and heavy grease easily.
High-End Ceramic Skillets	If you just want a safe, non-toxic pan that is easy to clean, the 2026 market is full of them. The GreenPan Valencia Pro or the Circulon ScratchDefense offer incredible non-stick ceramic coatings without the harmful forever chemicals.
Multi-Purpose Pasta Pots	Products like the Gotham Steel Multipurpose Pasta Pot feature lids that have built-in strainer holes. You simply lock the lid in place and tip the pot over to drain the liquid. It completely removes the need for a separate colander.

Final Thoughts on the HandyPan Journey

The story of HandyPan is a classic example of reality television business. Having a great idea and getting a handshake on TV is only the beginning of the long journey to retail success.

Adam Chaudry and Josh Conway created a genuinely useful tool that solved a real problem in the kitchen. However, creating a physical product, managing a global supply chain, and running a digital marketing campaign is incredibly difficult—especially when you are doing it as a part-time job.

While HandyPan may not have become the next Scrub Daddy, the founders still achieved something remarkable. They took a simple sketch drawn on a napkin, turned it into a real product, and successfully pitched it to billionaires on national television. That is an entrepreneurial success story in its own right, even if the pan is no longer cooking today.