You've probably felt it. That soul-crushing slump at 2:00 PM when the office lights feel like they're sucking the life out of you. Or maybe it's those dark winter mornings where your brain just refuses to kick into gear. Amber Leong felt that too. But unlike the rest of us just grabbing a third espresso, she turned it into one of the most memorable pitches in reality TV history. When Circadian Optics hit the Shark Tank stage, it wasn't just another gadget. It was a visceral story about the "American Dream" that actually made the Sharks emotional.
The Circadian Optics Shark Tank episode—Season 11, Episode 2—is still a case study for entrepreneurs. It’s not just about the light. It's about how a tiny desk lamp meant to mimic the sun managed to spark a bidding war between some of the toughest investors on the planet. Honestly, light therapy wasn't a new concept in 2019, but the way Amber packaged it changed the game for the entire industry.
The Pitch That Made Barbara Cry
Amber Leong walked into the Tank asking for $750,000 for 10% of her company. That’s a massive valuation. $7.5 million for a company selling lamps? Usually, that’s when Kevin O'Leary starts sharpening the blade. But then she started talking.
She moved to the U.S. from Malaysia with nothing but $2,000 and a lot of grit. She survived a life-threatening bout of toxic shock syndrome. She talked about her parents liquidating their retirement funds just to get her an education. It was heavy. You could see the Sharks shifting in their seats. Mark Cuban, who usually sniffs out "sob stories" used for leverage, looked genuinely impressed.
But the numbers were the real kicker. Circadian Optics wasn't a struggling startup. They had already done $4 million in sales the previous year. They were projected to hit over $5 million. That is insane growth for a direct-to-consumer hardware brand. Most people think Shark Tank is where "ideas" go to get funded. Nah. It’s where proven machines go to get fuel. Amber had the machine.
Why the Sharks Fought Over a Lamp
The product itself is basically a high-intensity LED lamp. It puts out 10,000 lux of brightness. Why does that matter? Because your body has an internal clock—the circadian rhythm—that relies on blue-spectrum light to tell your brain to stop producing melatonin and start producing cortisol. Basically, it tells you to wake up and be a human.
Most light therapy lamps back then looked like medical equipment. They were ugly, bulky, and belonged in a doctor's office. Circadian Optics made them look like modern art. They looked like something you’d actually want on a desk next to an iMac.
💡 You might also like: How Much Followers on TikTok to Get Paid: What Really Matters in 2026
Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner teamed up. That’s the "Dream Team." Mark brings the tech and scaling brilliance; Lori brings the retail and QVC "Queen of QVC" magic. They offered $750,000 for 15% plus a pro-rata share of future distributions.
Kevin O'Leary tried his usual royalty schtick. He offered the money for 5% but wanted a $5 royalty per unit until he made $1.5 million. It was a classic Mr. Wonderful "sharky" move. Amber didn't flinch. She took the Cuban-Greiner deal. It was a smart move because, in the world of consumer electronics, having Mark and Lori in your corner is like having a cheat code.
The Reality of the "Shark Tank Effect"
So, did the deal actually close?
In the world of Circadian Optics Shark Tank lore, this is where things get interesting. Many deals fall apart in due diligence after the cameras stop rolling. But this one? It moved. The exposure from the show was astronomical. Within months, the brand was a staple on Amazon's best-seller lists. They became the "go-to" recommendation for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and general office malaise.
The company capitalized on something called "biological lighting." It's a niche but growing field. We spend about 90% of our time indoors now. That's a biological disaster. Our eyes crave the specific wavelength of the sun, and standard overhead office fluorescents just don't cut it.
Why the Science Isn't Just Marketing Fluff
Let’s get nerdy for a second. There’s a specific photoreceptor in your retina called the melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells. These cells aren't for "seeing" shapes; they are for "seeing" time. They send signals directly to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in your brain.
📖 Related: How Much 100 Dollars in Ghana Cedis Gets You Right Now: The Reality
When you use a 10,000 lux lamp like the ones from Circadian Optics:
- Your SCN suppresses melatonin.
- Your core body temperature rises slightly.
- Your mood-regulating neurotransmitters, like serotonin, get a boost.
It's not a "cure" for depression, and Amber was careful (usually) not to make medical claims that would get the FDA breathing down her neck. But for the "Winter Blues," it’s a legitimate, science-backed tool.
Where is Circadian Optics Now?
If you go looking for Circadian Optics today, you won't just find them on a dusty Shopify site. They've dominated the Amazon space. However, the brand was eventually acquired. In 2021, a company called Mojo (not the magazine, but a health-tech aggregator) scooped them up. This is the ultimate goal for many Shark Tank brands: the "Exit."
Amber Leong stayed on as a brand ambassador for a while, but the acquisition meant the company had reached a level of maturity where it could live without its founder's daily grind. It’s a success story by every metric.
But it’s not all sunshine. The market is crowded now. Since their appearance, dozens of knock-offs have flooded the market. You can find "sun lamps" for $20 now. Circadian Optics maintains a premium price point, which is a tough spot to be in when the technology—essentially bright LEDs and a plastic diffuser—is relatively easy to replicate. Their edge remains the design and the brand equity they built on the show.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Deal
People think Amber got "lucky" with a sentimental story. That’s a mistake. The Sharks are investors, not charities. They bit because she had $4 million in revenue and a 40% net profit margin. Those are "shut up and take my money" numbers.
👉 See also: H1B Visa Fees Increase: Why Your Next Hire Might Cost $100,000 More
Another misconception? That the lamp "heals" you instantly. It takes about 20-30 minutes of exposure, usually within an hour of waking up, to actually shift your circadian rhythm. You can't just turn it on for five minutes and expect to feel like you've had a week in Hawaii.
Lessons for the Average Person
You don't need to be an entrepreneur to take something away from the Circadian Optics Shark Tank saga. There are practical "life hacks" buried in this business story.
First, light hygiene is real. If you’re struggling with sleep or focus, look at your environment before you look at your supplements. Most of us are "light starved" in the morning and "light poisoned" at night with our phone screens.
Second, the power of a "Hero Product." Circadian Optics didn't try to sell a hundred different things. They sold one thing—light—in four or five different shapes. They owned a niche.
Actionable Steps to Fix Your Own Rhythm
If you’re feeling the slump that the Sharks were so eager to invest in fixing, here’s how to actually use the logic behind the brand:
- Get 10 minutes of natural sunlight within 30 minutes of waking up. If it's winter or you're in a basement, that’s where a 10,000 lux lamp comes in.
- Position the light at an angle. Don’t stare directly into it like a deer in headlights. Place it off to the side on your desk so the light hits the bottom of your retina—that's where the most "wake up" sensors are located.
- Stop the "blue light" intake at least two hours before bed. If you must use a screen, use filters, but physical darkness is better.
- Consistency is the only way it works. You can't use a light therapy lamp once a week and expect your brain to rewire itself. It’s a daily habit.
Circadian Optics proved that a simple solution to a modern problem, backed by a founder who knows her numbers inside and out, is still the winning formula. Amber Leong didn't just sell a lamp; she sold a way to feel human again in a world of cubicles.
Whether you buy the lamp or just go stand outside for ten minutes, the lesson is the same: your biology isn't meant for the dark. And neither is a good business.
Next Steps for Your Health and Business Knowledge
- Check your current workspace: Use a free "Lux Meter" app on your phone to see how much light you're actually getting. Most offices are around 300-500 lux. You need 10,000 to trigger a biological response.
- Watch the pitch: Re-watch Season 11, Episode 2 of Shark Tank. Pay attention to how Amber pivots from her personal story back to her profit margins whenever a Shark tries to get too emotional. It’s a masterclass in balance.
- Audit your sleep: If you’re using light therapy but still sleeping with your phone next to your face, you’re neutralizing the benefits. Fix the "dark" half of your cycle to make the "light" half more effective.