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Sony Television's Shark Tank India has proven to be a game-changer for many emerging brands, offering them the ultimate platform to showcase their business ideas. The second week of this season was just as dramatic as the first, with a diverse range of unique products and passionate entrepreneurs stepping into the tank. From AI-powered wearables to YouTuber Gaurav Taneja, these entrepreneurs brought their A-game. While some secured deals and others didn't, each made a notable impact. So, grab your pen and paper, and let’s take note of the key lessons from the brands that set the tone for this thrilling season.
1. Kiwi Kisan Window
Kiwi Kisan Window, founded in 2017 by Nupur Agarwal and Abhinav Ahluwalia, is an organic food company based in Dehradun. The brand focuses on sustainable agriculture and ethical sourcing, offering a variety of traditional Indian snacks like dehydrated coconut chips, aam aachar, and thepla. With over 150 products, including beverages and snacks, their goal is to make organic food accessible to everyone. On Shark Tank India, the founders pitched their business, seeking Rs. 50 lakh for 1% equity, valuing their company at Rs. 50 crore. Despite impressive growth and a strong online presence, the sharks expressed mixed reactions, particularly regarding profitability. However, Kunal Bahl surprised everyone with an offer of Rs. 2.5 crore for a 10% stake, without royalties. After some negotiation, the deal was sealed—granting them an investment five times higher than their original request.
2. Personal Touch Skincare
Personal Touch Skincare, founded by siblings Ashish and Aditi Jawa, has gained attention in the skincare industry for building a loyal customer base and treating each customer like family. They showcased impressive year-on-year growth, claiming an 11x increase, and pitched for Rs. 1.2 crore for 1% equity. However, things took a dramatic turn when Vineeta Singh, co-founder of SUGAR Cosmetics, questioned the authenticity of their numbers. Despite presenting Shopify data to validate their claims, Ashish and Aditi left the tank empty-handed. This heated exchange sparked a debate on transparency in the startup world, with Vineeta’s scrutiny drawing mixed reactions.
3. Inner Gize
Inner Gize, a stress-relief gadget brand co-founded by 3 young entrepreneurs Dr. Siddhant, Shalmali, and Mitansh. Dr. Siddhant Bhargava is a renowned celebrity nutritionist who has worked with stars like Alia Bhatt, Ananya Pandey, and Sara Ali Khan, and was born out of his personal struggles. Diagnosed with lupus and stage two thyroid cancer at a young age, Dr. Bhargava turned his challenges into a source of inspiration, first launching the diet food delivery app Food Darzee before creating Inner Gize. During his pitch on Shark Tank India, he shared his emotional journey, which deeply resonated with the sharks. He requested Rs. 54 lakh for 1.5% equity, valuing the company at Rs. 36 crore. The sharks, moved by his resilience, responded enthusiastically, with Ritesh Agarwal and Azhar Iqubal offering Rs. 75 lakh for a 3% stake, the business owners were thrilled to notice the interest and asked for Rs. 1.08 crore in return for 3% equity. But Aman turned down Siddhant’s offer, and after some discussions, they agreed to pay Rs. 1 crore in return for 4.2% equity, which Dr Bhargava gladly accepted. This heartfelt pitch added a personal touch to the tech world, making it an emotional and inspiring moment for viewers.
4. Neosapien
Neosapien, an AI-powered wearable pendant, aims to revolutionise personal assistance and productivity. Founded by cousins Dhananjay and Aryan Yadav, the brand aims to enhance memory, decision-making, and focus. Born from a personal tragedy, the wearable acts as a "second brain" to bridge communication gaps. During their pitch, they requested Rs. 80 lakh for 2.5% equity. While some sharks questioned its potential in a smartphone-driven world, Namita Thapar saw its promise and offered Rs. 80 lakh for 4% equity. With Namita as an early investor, Neosapien is now set to transform how professionals manage information and boost productivity.
5. Miss Cheesecake
Miss Cheesecake, a Jodhpur-based cheesecake brand founded by Pooja Balani and Narpat Singh Rathore, has a heartwarming backstory that resonated deeply with both the Shark Tank India Sharks and viewers. Pooja started baking as a way to delay an arranged marriage despite having no prior experience. After several trials, she perfected her cheesecakes and decided to turn her passion into a business. In her pitch, she asked for Rs. 30 lakh for a 5% equity stake, hoping for support to grow her brand. While the Sharks saw potential, they felt it was too early for investment, with Kunal Bahl and Aman Gupta advising her to focus on scaling first. However, Ritesh Agarwal, impressed by Pooja's determination, offered Rs. 30 lakh for 7.5% equity. The founders countered with 5%, but Ritesh stuck to his terms. Although they didn’t seal the deal, Pooja and Narpat left with valuable mentorship, with Ritesh even offering his phone number to support their journey.
6. Tripole Gears
Founded in 2017 by Rohan Khanduja, Tripole Gears is a homegrown Indian startup specialising in high-quality rucksacks, backpacks, sleeping bags, and outdoor apparel at competitive prices. Starting from a modest room, it has carved a niche in the Rs. 8,500 crore Indian outdoor gear market, competing with giants like Decathlon. With an engaged Instagram community of 8.3K followers, Rohan pitched on Shark Tank India, seeking Rs.1 crore for 1.5% equity at a valuation of Rs. 65.22 crores. The sharks had mixed responses: Aman Gupta and Anupam Mittal declined, Namita Thapar proposed a hybrid deal, and Kunal Bahl offered Rs. 3 crores for 7.5% equity. Ultimately, Ritesh Agarwal closed the deal at Rs. 75 lakhs for 1.15% equity and Rs. 40 lakhs as debt at 9% interest, aligning with the Rs. 65.22 crore valuation, reflecting Rohan’s perseverance and vision for Tripole's growth.
7. Mudgar Club
MudgarClub, founded by the Suhag brothers, Anjit and Sanjeet, is bringing the ancient Indian fitness tool, the Mudgar back into the modern workout routine. Based in Rohtak, this innovative startup is redefining India’s fitness culture by reviving the Mudgar, a traditional tool that promotes grip strength, joint mobility, and holistic wellness. The brothers are on a mission to make fitness accessible and enjoyable for all, blending Indian heritage with contemporary fitness trends. During their pitch on Shark Tank India, they demonstrated the Mudgar's versatility, even daring the Sharks to try it. As the Sharks struggled to master the technique, the Suhag brothers emphasised its potential to revolutionise fitness, asking for Rs. 50 lakhs in exchange for 10% equity. While some Sharks were sceptical about the product’s market readiness, Ritesh Agarwal saw its value and offered Rs. 50 lakhs for 12.5% equity, sealing the deal. With plans to place a Mudgar in every household, the brothers are set to take MudgarClub beyond just a fitness product and turn it into a cultural movement. Their appearance on the show sparked a buzz, highlighting the appeal of rediscovering traditional fitness methods in the modern era.
8. Speed Kitchen
Speed Kitchen, founded by childhood friends Paurav Rastogi and Shamin Kapoor, is revolutionising the food industry by offering ready-to-use commercial kitchen spaces, licenses, and infrastructure under one roof. Based in Delhi, this innovative cloud kitchen platform makes it easier for food entrepreneurs to start their businesses with flexible, cost-effective solutions, replacing fixed rents with a revenue-sharing model. Since launching in March 2021, Speed Kitchen has expanded to four cities across India, with over 130 kitchens and 50+ brand partnerships. During their Shark Tank pitch, Paurav’s experience at OYO impressed the Sharks, especially when Ritesh Agarwal, his former employer, joined the discussion. Initially asking for Rs. 2 crore for 3% equity, the duo eventually sealed a deal with Ritesh Agarwal, Azhar Iqubal, and Kunal Bahl for Rs. 2 crore in exchange for 6% equity. The Sharks’ interest highlights the growing demand for scalable, plug-and-play solutions in the food sector, positioning Speed Kitchen to reshape the cloud kitchen landscape in India.
9. Imagimake
Founded in 2014 by husband and wife Ravi Kumar and Disha Katharani, Mumbai-based Imagimake has become a leader in innovative toys, games, puzzles, and DIY kits. With over 1 lakh products sold monthly, their bestsellers include the Mapology game and Spyrosity Quilling Kit, and 35% of their sales come from international markets, primarily the USA. During their pitch on Shark Tank India Season 4, they shared their remarkable growth, forecasting revenue to jump from Rs. 13 crore in 2021 to Rs. 90 crore by 2025. Seeking Rs. 1.5 crore for 0.5% equity, valuing the company at Rs. 300 crore, the couple impressed the Sharks with their success, though concerns over app functionality for some products were raised. After a fun demo, where the Sharks tried quilling, Vinita Singh offered Rs. 50 lakh for 0.5% equity plus Rs. 1 crore debt, while Ritesh Agarwal proposed Rs. 1.5 crore for 1.5% equity. However, the couple declined both offers, believing their company’s value was higher. Their pitch became a fan favourite, praised for both business acumen and entertainment value.
10. BeastLife
Gaurav Taneja, the YouTuber behind the family vlogging channel Flying Beast, pitched his fitness brand BeastLife on Shark Tank India, aiming to disrupt the supplement market with protein powders, creatine, and mass gainers. He revealed an impressive Rs.1 crore in sales within an hour of launching the website and, alongside business partner Raj Gupta, sought Rs. 1 crore for 1% equity. Despite the hype, the sharks raised concerns about Gaurav’s divided focus as an influencer and entrepreneur, with Anupam Mittal bluntly stating, "You can’t outsource entrepreneurship." Fragmented equity and doubts about long-term commitment led to no deals, but the pitch left fans curious about BeastLife’s future.
11. Havintha
Havintha, founded by Bharat Khatri in Indore, is a 100% natural hair and skincare brand offering chemical-free solutions in powder form, designed to be mixed with water to avoid preservatives. Sourcing raw materials directly from growers ensures authenticity, and the brand has served over 10 lakh customers through word-of-mouth marketing. Inspired by his own battle with hair fall in 2016-17, Bharat developed formulas that prioritise natural alternatives to chemical-laden products. On Shark Tank India, he sought Rs. 50 lakhs for 2% equity, valuing the company at Rs. 25 crores. While the sharks appreciated his perseverance and Rs. 5 crore sales journey, concerns about compliance, lack of Ayurvedic expertise, and regulatory issues were raised. Peyush Bansal offered Rs. 50 lakhs for 10% equity and 2% royalty until Rs. 1 crore was recovered, but Bharat declined, standing firm on his valuation. Despite challenges, Havintha’s commitment to transparency and natural solutions continues to attract a growing customer base.
12. Go Devil
Go Devil, a fashion startup founded by Vineesh Arya in January 2022, has delivered over Rs. 1 lakh orders by specialising in trendy garments, including non-regular sizes, to cater to diverse customer needs. With the ability to produce 5,000 pieces daily and launch new designs monthly, the brand is making its mark in the competitive fashion industry. Despite setbacks like the 2008 recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, Vineesh launched Go Devil after selling his house and taking loans to sustain the business. Quad sets dominate 50% of sales, while non-regular sizes contribute another 30%, tapping into underserved market segments. Appearing on Shark Tank India Season 4, Vineesh sought Rs. 80 lakhs for 2% equity at a valuation of Rs. 40 crores, but scalability and profitability concerns deterred the sharks, leaving him without an investment offer.
13. Nurturing Green
Nurturing Green, founded by Annu Grover in 2010, started with a simple idea sparked by a personal experience: gifting a plant instead of a bouquet. This led to the creation of a plant gifting business, which expanded into home décor and gardening, tapping into India's booming Rs. 1.2 lakh crore plant market. Despite facing resistance from his father and leaving a promising career abroad, Annu's persistence paid off, and Nurturing Green grew significantly, with projections of Rs. 28 crore in sales by year-end. With a focus on quality, all plants are grown in controlled polyhouses using a unique eight-step process. In 2019, Nurturing Green raised Rs. 50 lakh from Vijay Shekhar Sharma, founder of Paytm, and later sought Rs. 1 crore for 1% equity on Shark Tank India. Vinita Singh offered a deal of Rs. 50 lakh for 1.25% equity and Rs. 50 lakh as a loan at 10% interest for three years, valuing the company at Rs. 40 crore. in his company. Annu happily secured the deal.
14. Kyari
Kyari, an Indore-based décor brand founded in 2022 by Agam Choudhary and Saksham Jain, specialises in self-watering indoor plants that only require watering once a week. Seeking Rs. 80 lakh for 0.8% equity, valuing the company at Rs. 100 crore, Kyari pitched on Shark Tank India in a face-off with Nurturing Green. While Nurturing Green focused on plants as gifts, Kyari showcased its innovative plant care solutions, like self-watering planters and a Hydrating Pen. Despite failing to secure a deal, the founders gained valuable mentorship. The Jain brothers, at just 24 and 25 years old, turned down an offer of Rs. 4 crore, emphasising their vision for long-term growth. Kyari has grown quickly, with a projected Rs. 50 crore in revenue for FY-24. Initially offering 13 types of plants, it now boasts nearly 80 varieties, disrupting the online plant market with its low-maintenance products.