The Sharks on Shark Tank took notice of a new educational resource designed for younger pupils. Laura Boccanfuso introduced Abii her inventive robot. Laura is from Columbia South Carolina, and she runs a business called Van Robotics that helps children get better at maths. When she appeared on Shark Tank, she requested a $300,000 investment in exchange for a 10% stake in her business.
Laura created Abii as a “smart robot tutor” that uses artificial intelligence to help children learn maths. Throughout the session, the robot engages with students, monitors their progress, and maintains their focus. Will the entrepreneur get a deal on Shark Tank? Check out Vän Robotics update to find out!
Vän Robotics Net Worth Shark Tank Update 2025
Laura Boccanfuso asked for a $300,000 investment in exchange for 10% equity in her company. This meant she valued her company at $3 million. She did not make a deal with any of the Sharks. After the show aired, Van Robotics saw a big increase in website traffic, sales, and social media exposure. With an estimated 10% yearly growth rate (typical business growth), the current net worth of Van Robotics is about $4.39 million.
The company is still operating today, in 2024, and its yearly revenue has grown to roughly $2–3 million. Abii’s popularity and recognition as Time Magazine’s Best Invention of 2020 contributed to its increased success. Van Robotics has now deployed Abii robots to schools in 38 states and 8 countries as a result of Laura’s continuing efforts to broaden the company’s reach.
Across multiple school levels, the robot’s courses now include life skills, maths, and reading stories. Additionally, Van Robotics is integrating STEM education and teaching older students about AI and robotics into middle and high school curricula. The Department of Education provided them with further assistance, enabling them to deliver the robots to sixteen school districts.
These days, Abii may be bought straight from Van Robotics and is included in learning kits for both the home and the classroom. Laura failed to secure a deal for Van Robotics after her Shark Tank pitch. Not a single Shark chose to put money into the business. According to Laura Abii is a special robotic instructor made to help children with particular learning difficulties particularly those who have trouble focussing and with maths.
She requested $300,000 from the Sharks in return for 10% of her company. Each Shark however had their own justifications for declining the offer. Competition in the sphere of educational technology was a concern for some Sharks. The challenge of marketing instructional products to schools worried others. Laura didn’t give up even though she left without making an investment. Rather she persisted in expanding Van Robotics which has since seen tremendous success.
| Shark(s) name | Offer & Demand | Counteroffer | Accepted? |
| Daymond John | Out | N/A | N/A |
| Lori Greiner | Out | N/A | N/A |
| Kevin O’Leary | out | N/A | N/A |
| Anne Wojcicki (Guest Shark) | out | N/A | N/A |
| Mark Cuban | Out | N/A | N/A |
Vän Robotics Shark Tank pitch
Laura Boccanfuso was passionate about technology and education. She was motivated to develop a program that would aid children in learning maths in an interesting and dynamic manner. Laura has expertise in social robots and a PhD in computer science and engineering. She was able to see the potential of technology in teaching because of her background.
Laura believed that a clever robot could remove obstacles to learning therefore, she focused on assisting children who had trouble with conventional teaching methods.
Early on, she struggled to create a product that was both economical and efficient while capturing the interest of young kids. Laura used her knowledge of how children use technology and her background in robotics to build Abii. She aimed to provide parents and educators with a tool to support children’s success in maths while also making learning enjoyable and approachable for students.
Laura demonstrated Abii, a clever robot that instructs children in maths, when she presented Van Robotics to the Sharks. She emphasised the necessity for innovative teaching strategies because conventional teaching tactics frequently fail, particularly when it comes to arithmetic proficiency. Laura led a session and engaged with students to show how Abii operates.
She explained that she wanted to make Abii available to schools for $999, which would cover all the curricular materials needed. The robot would cost $599 for at-home parents. Laura added that pupils demonstrated progress in maths and that the robot had been tested in 20–25 schools.
Laura described in her presentation how Abii uses AI to monitor each student’s development and focus on modifying the session accordingly. Her pitch was intended to convince the Sharks that Abii might revolutionise the way pupils study.
Abii raised a lot of questions for the Sharks. They were interested in how Abii would assess a student’s development and how it may help them become more proficient in maths. Laura clarified that Abii tracks the student’s right and wrong responses using artificial intelligence. Additionally, it records how much time each student spends on each course component. The Sharks wanted to know how Abii could tell if a pupil was listening.
Laura clarified that the robot determines whether the student is looking at the screen by using head orientation. The Sharks also enquired about the qualities of Abii and how it differs from other teaching materials. Laura emphasised the social connection that Abii provides.
Abii keeps track of each student’s preferences, such as whether they prefer a “wiggle break” over a “stretch break.” Students feel as though they are learning with a friend thanks to this personalisation. Laura was asked about her sales by the Sharks. Laura revealed that word-of-mouth and emails alone generated $140,000 in pre-sales.
She was also able to take Abii to other schools for testing, thanks to the Department of Education funding. Some Sharks were worried that the business was still too young, even with its early success. They believed that more time was needed for the product to prove its worth in the marketplace.
The Sharks responded to Laura’s appeal in a variety of ways. The first Shark to leave was Lori Greiner. She believed that it would be difficult to forecast Abii’s success because it was still in its infancy. Anne Wojcicki, the guest shark, likewise made the decision not to invest. She clarified that Laura’s pilot testing lacked sufficient data and that the market for educational technologies is competitive.
Kevin O’Leary, an expert in educational products, acknowledged the difficulty of the school market. He talked about his experiences selling other educational products and made the decision that he did not want to return to this difficult industry.
Daymond John has the same worries. He made the point that many schools could be hesitant to purchase new technology because they already have systems in place. Despite Laura’s enthusiasm for her offering, the Sharks were apprehensive.
They believed that Abii’s performance in the market was still uncertain. Even Mark Cuban, who appeared interested at first, stated that he did not think there was a compelling enough argument to make an investment. He wasn’t persuaded by Laura’s statement and wanted to know what made Abii unique from other items. Laura ultimately departed without a deal.
What Went Wrong With Vän Robotics On Shark Tank?
The Sharks wanted to know more about how Abii was different from other educational tools. The Sharks had a number of reasons for not investing in Van Robotics, including the difficulties of selling to schools, according to Kevin, who explained that working with schools can be challenging because they frequently have tight budgets and may be resistant to change.
Daymond pointed out that schools typically stick with the systems they already have. The Sharks also felt that the market for educational technology is crowded with many companies offering AI-based learning tools.
Laura attempted to clarify that Abii’s AI builds a social bond with students, but Mark didn’t think this was sufficient to support an investment. The Sharks recognised too many dangers to invest at the time, although they did think that Van Robotics had potential overall.
Product Availability
Van Robotics’ Abii is a unique robotic instructor that helps children with maths by using artificial intelligence. The robot tracks each student’s progress and maintains their attention while providing lessons that are tailored to their individual needs. The cost of Abii, which includes curriculum materials for several grades, is $999 for schools and after-school activities.
The robot Abii costs $599 for parents who wish to utilise it at home. Abii is available for direct purchase by educators and parents on the Van Robotics website. The robot teaches a range of subjects, such as life skills, maths, and reading great stories. The business has recently launched lessons for middle and high school kids and is still creating new features. Van Robotics wants to ensure that all students can access and enjoy learning.
Conclusion
During Laura Boccanfuso’s Shark Tank appearance, viewers learnt about Abii, a cutting-edge robotic educator who wants to revolutionise maths instruction for young pupils. Despite not landing a deal, Laura kept expanding Van Robotics. Abii is now available in homes and classrooms all around the United States and beyond. The business has added new subjects and grade levels to its portfolio after receiving recognition for its accomplishments.
Van Robotics demonstrates that success can be achieved even in the absence of Shark Tank funding with a clear vision and commitment. The business is excited to use Abii’s distinctive teaching methodology to reach more kids and support their academic success in maths and other areas.
Hi, I’m Laiba Khurram, a BBA student specializing in Marketing at FAST NUCES ISB. My background includes experience in finance, marketing, and event coordination. My skills include teamwork, time management, and Microsoft tools. Watching Shark Tank has always inspired me, as I admire the innovative pitches and entrepreneurial spirit showcased on the show. This passion drives my approach to finding creative solutions and understanding market dynamics. Read more About me.
