Highlights
- Breathometer secured a $1 million investment from all five Sharks for 30% equity, a rare occurrence.
- The device later faced a regulatory settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which it found unreliable and ordered full refunds.
- As of 2025, Breathometer appears defunct and is no longer in business.
On Shark Tank Season 5, entrepreneur Charles Michael Yim introduced his device Breathometer.
This smartphone-plug-in Breathalyzer aimed at helping users determine whether they were over the legal driving limit. His goal was to turn any smartphone into a roadside BAC check and thereby reduce drunk-driving risk.
Yim is a Silicon-Valley startup founder who saw a gap in the consumer Breathalyzer market and launched a crowdfunding campaign before landing his pitch.
The concept was smart, the execution looked promising, and the cameras rolled.
Let’s examine what happened to Breathometer, where things went off-track, and what (if anything) remains of the business and its net worth.
Breathometer Overview
| Field | Info |
| Company name | Breathometer |
| Founder(s) | Charles Michael Yim |
| Industry | Consumer health-tech |
| Product name | Breathometer (smartphone breathalyzer) |
| Episode aired | Season 5, Episode 502 (2013) |
| Asking | $250,000 for 10% equity |
| Valuation | Implied ~$2.5 million at time of pitch |
| Result | Deal accepted: $1 million for 30% equity (all five Sharks) |
| Shark with deal | Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Kevin O’Leary, Robert Herjavec & Daymond John (all five) |
Net Worth: How Much Is Breathometer Worth Today?
At the time of the pitch, with $1 million for 30% equity, the implied post-money valuation was around $3.33 million.
However, due to the later FTC settlement, product shutdown and business collapse, the net worth of Breathometer today is essentially $0. The company is no longer in business and its assets/valuation evaporated.
Charles Michael Yim Net Worth
Charles Michael Yim’s personal net worth linked to Breathometer appears minimal given the company’s failure. In a past interview, Mark Cuban called the deal his “worst execution” on Shark Tank, suggesting the investment lost value.
Yim has been involved in new ventures since, but there is no public reliable net-worth figure for him tied to Breathometer.
Breathometer Shark Tank Pitch
Breathometer aimed to solve the problem of personal alcohol consumption safety: many people drink and then face the decision of whether it’s safe to drive.
Traditional breathalyzers are often bulky/expensive. Yim offered a compact device that plugged into a smartphone (via the headphone jack) and, paired with an app, displayed the user’s blood-alcohol content (BAC).
During his pitch, Yim served the Sharks champagne and asked them to test the device. The tone was confident; Sharks were intrigued by the novelty and safety-angle, though some raised liability and accuracy concerns.
He asked for $250K for 10% equity; the Sharks countered and ultimately offered $1M for 30%.
Yim claimed the device would retail for about $49 in pre-orders. He told the Sharks he planned to scale manufacturing and marketing quickly.
Did Breathometer Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
Yes — Yim accepted the offer from all five Sharks: $1 million for 30% equity. This was a rare all-Shark deal on the show.
That said, though the deal was announced on-screen, deep follow-through issues emerged: by 2017 only Mark Cuban reportedly ended up investing, with the others withdrawing their commitments.
Mark Cuban later publicly called the deal the worst execution of his time on the show.
What Happened to Breathometer After Shark Tank?
Immediately after the show, Breathometer saw a spike in interest and orders. Sources report the company had revenue of about $1 million within months of appearing.
The company later pivoted toward a related product — the “Mint” oral-health sensor — and announced a partnership with Philips to bundle Mint with Sonicare toothbrushes.
In 2017 the FTC found Breathometer had misrepresented its accuracy — saying the breathalyzer device frequently understated BAC levels and the company did not adequately fix the problem.
The company had to offer full refunds to customers who bought the device between 2013–2015. The app was disabled, retail sales ceased, and the business ultimately shut down.
How Is Breathometer Doing Today?
As of 2025, Breathometer is no longer active. The original product is discontinued, the website inactive, and the company appears dissolved.
There are no credible recent revenue figures, team size or active online presence. Essentially — it is no longer in business.
Where to Buy Breathometer
The original Breathometer device is discontinued and not available for purchase from the company or major retailers.
As an alternative, consumers interested in personal breathalyzers might consider other brands such as BACtrack but the original Breathometer is no longer on the market.
Breathometer Competitors
- BACtrack: A well-known portable personal breathalyzer brand, with multiple models, strong accuracy tests, and ongoing retail presence.
- AlcoMate: Another established brand in the consumer breathalyzer space with certification options and reputational standing.
What made Breathometer unique was its smartphone-plug-in concept and app integration, plus the Shark Tank hype. However, due to accuracy and regulatory setbacks, that promise was undermined.
Lessons from Breathometer’s Shark Tank Journey
- Even strong pitches and high-profile backing don’t eliminate the need for rigorous product testing — especially when public safety is involved.
- Regulatory risk matters: guaranteeing accuracy for a device that influences driving decisions carries high stakes.
- Execution and transparency matter: the Sharks invested based on assumptions; when follow-through and risk management were weak, the deal faltered.
Breathometer Timeline Recap
- 2013: Appeared on Shark Tank, secured $1 M deal.
- 2014-15: Product launches, Indiegogo campaign success.
- 2016: Featured at CES, launched “Mint” product.
- Jan 2017: FTC settlement requiring full refunds for breathalyzer device.
- 2022: Mark Cuban publicly decried the deal; company effectively defunct by 2025.
FAQs About Breathometer
Q: Is Breathometer still in business?
A: No — the company is not currently active and the product is discontinued.
Q: Who owns Breathometer now?
A: There is no public record of a sale or acquisition; the company appears to have ceased operations.
Q: How much revenue did Breathometer make?
A: Early reports suggest ~$1 million in sales soon after the show. Later sales numbers and revenues are not publicly verified.
Conclusion
From the high-point of securing a five-Shark deal to the low-point of regulatory settlement, the Breathometer journey is a dramatic startup arc.
The concept was innovative and media-friendly, but product accuracy and regulatory diligence were weak links. While the initial valuation and hype were strong, the company’s net worth now rests effectively at zero.
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