Merrick Maxfield presented the Probiotic Maker on Episode 19 Season 12 of “Shark Tank,” which aired on April 2, 2021. Maxfield pitched for an investment of $150,000 for 7% equity in his at-home yogurt maker, but was rejected over safety concerns and the declining popularity of yogurt.
Today, Maxfield is still in business, churning out contaminant-free yogurt with the Probiotic Maker. Although there's no current sales information regarding the product and Maxfield's company, per "Shark Tank," consumers are purchasing it for its user-friendliness and efficiency.
Maxfield originally launched the product in 2016 to cut the continued costs of purchasing yogurt for his own family. The Probiotic Maker is a heating pad that can easily heat different milk containers and varieties. A mixture of different probiotic strains is added to the milk, and the device thickens the milk to yogurt overnight.