Houston resident featured as inventor on 'Steve Harvey'

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Before Houston resident Cyndi Lee was featured as an inventor on “Steve Harvey,” she lost her job in 2014. The development inspired her to take a different direction with her life. After frequently burning her fingers when taking hot dishes out of her microwave oven, Cyndi invented a multi-functional silicone mat that can be used as a trivet, potholder, jar opener, utensil rest, splatter guard, food cover, placemat and more.

Lee was among six inventors who won the Disney Tomorrowland New Product Contest and she has sold out of her products twice on QVC. She sells the Micro Easy Grab in small retail stores throughout the U.S., but she would like to transition sales of the products into larger established stores.

During the March 23, 2016 episode of “Steve Harvey,” Lee, along with two other women, was featured in a segment called #PassionProject. After host Steve Harvey and entrepreneurial experts Heather Thomson and Amilya Antonetti advised the inventors, Harvey and the experts presented Lee with $5,000 from Green Dot Corporation. The other two inventors were each given $1,000.