No Fly Cone Failed on Shark Tank but Left an Unforgettable Buzz

In Season 4, Episode 8 of Shark Tank, viewers met Bruce Gaither, a cowboy and horse trainer from California. He stepped onto the carpet not with a sleek tech gadget or a trendy wellness product, but with a plastic cone-shaped fly trap designed to cover animal poop.

The idea behind the No Fly Cone was both simple and shockingly practical: place the sticky, transparent cone over dog or horse droppings, and let nature do the rest. The waste would attract flies, and the glue would trap them inside the cone where they couldn’t escape.

To add surprise power to the pitch, Seth MacFarlane, creator of Family Guy walked out beside Bruce to lend celebrity support. He joked in Stewie’s voice. The Sharks laughed.

But as the pitch continued, smiles turned into grimaces.

No Fly Cone Net Worth in 2025: What Is It Worth Today?

When Bruce Gaither pitched No Fly Cone on Shark Tank, he valued the company at $166,667, asking for $25,000 in exchange for 15% equity. It seemed like a modest ask for a potentially helpful invention, especially one backed by Seth MacFarlane.

But by 2025, that dream has faded. Today, the No Fly Cone is no longer in business.

After the episode aired, the product saw a small spike in sales. It appeared in some ACE Hardware stores and was sold on the company’s website. But over time, interest dried up. The website shut down by 2016. Social media accounts went silent by 2018. No further products were released.

No Fly Cone also didn’t receive any investments, didn’t strike licensing deals, and didn’t expand into new markets.

So, for those searching for No Fly Cone net worth, the truth is simple: it was an interesting invention that never became a successful business.

RELATED: Top 10 Failed Shark Tank Deals That Shocked Viewers

A Cowboy with a Fly Problem

Bruce Gaither’s story began not in a boardroom, but in the dust and dirt of horse barns. Flies are a daily nuisance around animals, especially when manure is involved. Traditional methods like chemicals, zappers, or constant cleanup either harmed the environment or didn’t fully solve the problem.

Bruce’s solution was smart in a rustic way: use the poop as bait, not a hazard. He developed a simple cone with sticky lining inside to trap the flies before they could spread. It worked on his farm.

But Bruce didn’t stop there. With encouragement from his wife and students, he believed this barnyard fix could work in homes, backyards, and public spaces.

He believed it so much, he brought it to Shark Tank.

RELATED: HOW SHARKS VALUATE A BUSINESS ON SHARK TANK

The Seth MacFarlane Factor: A Strange Celebrity Cameo

To most people, Seth MacFarlane is a comedy genius. What was he doing pitching a fly trap?

Turns out, MacFarlane was one of Bruce’s horseback riding students and a fan of the invention. He agreed to appear on Shark Tank to lend some star power. When he strutted onto the set doing Stewie Griffin’s voice, the Sharks were stunned.

But that excitement faded quickly. “I don’t even have a dog,” Seth admitted on air.

The very endorsement meant to elevate the pitch wound up backfiring. If the product’s biggest backer didn’t use it, how could the Sharks or the public take it seriously?

A Product That Worked… But Felt Wrong

Technically, No Fly Cone made sense. It used a non-toxic, chemical-free method to control flies. It was low-cost, disposable, and didn’t require electricity or setup.

But emotionally? It made people uncomfortable.

To use the product, you had to leave your pet’s poop on the ground and place a cone over it. Even though it trapped the flies, it also left waste sitting there longer than most people were willing to accept.

Sharks like Lori Greiner said the idea was simply too off-putting.

“I just can’t get over how it works,” she said. “I’m out.”

Daymond John was confused why anyone wouldn’t just pick up the waste. Kevin O’Leary found it ridiculous. Mark Cuban laughed off the pitch. And even Robert Herjavec, usually more empathetic, backed away from the idea.

Despite all that, Bruce held his head high and walked away with grace.

After the Show: A Quick Rise, a Quiet Fall

No Fly Cone did see a small burst of interest after Shark Tank aired. It was briefly stocked at ACE Hardware stores. Bruce attempted to sell the product via his website. There were a few online reviews, some praising the trap for its simplicity, while others criticized its effectiveness.

But that momentum didn’t last.

By 2016, the official website had gone offline. Social media accounts stopped posting by 2018. No trademark renewals or patent follow-ups were filed. No Fly Cone vanished quietly and completely.

The once-hyped fly trap that starred in one of Shark Tank’s most talked-about episodes became a ghost brand.

Conclusion

Bruce Gaither had the right intention. He created a product that was smart, simple, and rooted in real need. He even had a celebrity on his side. But No Fly Cone never became a household name. It never reached mass production. It never saw real revenue. It’s a story that reminds us: even on Shark Tank, the weirdest ideas sometimes buzz for a moment and disappear just as fast.