What happened to the EmergenSee app from Shark Tank Season 6?

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It is always worth keeping your safety in mind. Although virtually everyone nowadays has a smartphone that can be configured to handle emergencies, there is always a risk that phone reception in your location is poor or difficult for authorities to detect. The EmergenSee app aims to solve this problem by providing a secure platform that gives users peace of mind no matter where they are.

EmergenSee allows users to connect with emergency contacts in a variety of ways. When you open the app, it automatically streams live video and audio and provides accurate GPS location tracking. This information is immediately sent to designated contacts, which may include friends and family, campus safety officers, and local safety authorities. Users can choose from a free or paid version, which also includes EmergenSee officials as part of your contacts.

The genesis of the app comes from a near-death experience. While driving with his children on a Maui road on a dark night, Pennsylvania native Philip Reitnour became involved in an intense fight when an angry truck driver suddenly appeared and aggressively tried to run Reitnour off the road. The attack lasted 20 minutes and ended when Reitnour was lucky enough to encounter an ambulance crew in a nearby parking lot. Realizing how difficult it would be to call the police and ask for their whereabouts in such a situation, Reitnour set out to find a security solution that would be easily accessible and functional in all circumstances. The app quickly gained attention, even being featured on the “Today Show,” and his family suggested that Reitnour apply for a spot on “Shark Tank.”

What happened to the Emergensee app on Shark Tank?

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Philip Reitnour and his COO Jason D. Friedberg entered the picture, asking for a $250,000 investment for a 10% stake in EmergenSee. The two began with a presentation and then went into detail about how the app communicates with the emergency monitoring center and the comprehensive ways users can contact authorities. They added that the app’s speed, connectivity and use of video give it an advantage over traditionally contacting 911 by phone.

They shared with the sharks that their app has 211,000 users. However, the vast majority used the free version, with approximately 130 users using the $8.99 monthly plan. However, the company partnered with many college campuses, companies and agencies that used their geofence security system for an annual fee of $25,000. EmergenSee brought in total sales of $185,000, although the company was not yet profitable, largely due to the exorbitant amount Reitnour had invested in developing the technology. The team only had $68,000.

Ultimately, none of the sharks bit. Mark Cuban and Robert Herjavec felt they had pumped too much money into the venture. They also didn’t like the fact that there was no technology expert running the company to help anticipate changes, so the team decided to outsource the app development work to third parties instead. Kevin O’Leary, Barbara Corcoran and Lori Greiner did not believe in the business and its structure. Reitnour and Friedberg therefore left the tank without a contract.

EmergenSee app after Shark Tank

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In some cases, an entrepreneur who fails to land a “Shark Tank” deal will express natural disappointment and even anger at their situation, such as Bill Shuey after his infamous Amber phone charging station reveal from Season 6. However, EmergenSee’s Philip Reitnour he had a much more optimistic approach. Not only did he express gratitude for investors’ advice in an interview after the show’s presentation, but even after the episode aired, Reitnour managed to make lemonade out of lemons.

Thanks to the huge audience that regularly listens to “Shark Tank”, even players who leave the field empty-handed have a chance for success. After an episode airs, companies featured on the show typically see a significant increase in website traffic and sales for a short period of time, a phenomenon commonly referred to as the “shark tank” effect. This seemed to be a top priority for Reitnour as he moved on to “Shark Tank,” telling the Philadelphia Business Journal: “I was never looking for an opportunity. I went to make a name for myself.”

Suffice it to say, Reitnour got the notoriety he expected. Hours after his segment premiered on October 24, 2014, the company saw hundreds of thousands of new users download the app and sign up for the service. Additionally, talks have begun with other investors and conglomerates offering to buy out EmergenSee.

The founder of the EmergenSee app met a gruesome end

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Despite the growth rate EmergenSee experienced after the debut of “Shark Tank,” the company’s days were numbered. EmergenSee has been defunct since 2017 and there is no downloadable app or website available. At the time of writing, the company’s only online presence is abandoned accounts on Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter, the latter of which has not been updated since August 2017.

While there is no word on whether the company’s status had anything to do with its closure, an unexpected tragedy involving EmergenSee founder Philip Reitnour most likely contributed significantly to its closure. On October 12, 2017, officials discovered Reitnour’s body floating in the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. No definitive explanation for his death has been made public, although a gunshot wound to the head was discovered upon further examination.

Reitnour was reportedly $3 million in debt, declared bankruptcy and faced further legal problems. Nearly a year after his death, Long Island resident Maureen Mitchell sued Reitnour’s four remaining children for $6.1 million lent to their father. Some of the money was used to pay for college expenses, although the case itself was ultimately dismissed after going to court.

What’s next for the remaining EmergenSee founder?

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It’s hard to say where EmergenSee would be today if its founder were alive. Philip Reitnour had a clear passion for providing everyone with a comprehensive and fast-acting security option. He has also shown a genuine interest in improving and improving his business, as seen in his grateful reaction after his failed “Shark Tank” pitch. With a dedicated technology expert on board in a management position and a strategic plan for expansion and debt elimination, there is no telling how much EmergenSee would improve as a company. It’s easy to see that the app has a solid reputation on college campuses and businesses, and has the potential to grow and work with some of the best home security systems on the market.

EmergenSee’s chief operating officer (COO), Jason Friedberg, left the company in 2017. It is unknown whether his departure occurred before or after Reitnour’s death, as Friedberg’s LinkedIn only lists the years he was active at EmergenSee, not specific months. However, as of May 2017, the former COO was working elsewhere, with all issues related to security and public safety. From May 2017 to August 2022, Friedberg served as Chief Commercial Officer for Cities and Public Sector at Genetec, a Montreal-based software development company that focuses its efforts on creating innovative physical and public security technologies. At the time of writing, he served as vice president of sales and marketing at Blue Line Solutions, where he helps develop solutions to ensure traffic safety in public areas such as schools and construction zones.