Shark Tank India S5: A Round-up of Week 1 Key Highlights You Can't Miss!

Shark Tank India Season 5continues to evolve into a serious reflection of the country’s startup landscape rather than just a televised pitch arena. Aman Gupta, Anupam Mittal, Namita Thapar, Vineeta Singh, Peyush Bansal, Ritesh Agarwal, Kunal Bahl, Viraj Bahl, and Amit Jain, alongside new faces including Varun Alagh, Mohit Yadav, Kanika Tekriwal, Shaily Mehrotra, and Hardik Kothiya, with Pratham Mittal joining for campus episodes, bringing diverse expertise in consumer goods, tech, skincare, aviation, and energy. This week’s episode demonstrated how varied Indian entrepreneurship has become—ranging from consumer fintech and food brands to children’s intellectual property, agri-tech, robotics, and indigenous defence technology. What united these otherwise different businesses was a common challenge: translating vision into scalable, defensible execution.

The Sharks were notably sharper in their questioning, probing not just revenue and margins but also long-term differentiation, capital intensity, regulatory exposure, and execution discipline. Some founders arrived with strong traction and numbers, while others leaned on future-facing innovation and ambition. Deals were made where confidence met clarity, and withheld where uncertainty outweighed readiness. Together, the pitches offered a clear snapshot of what investors are prioritising in today’s Indian startup ecosystem.

1. SaveSage

SaveSage addressed a common but under-optimised aspect of Indian consumer finance—credit card rewards. Despite over 11 crore credit cards in circulation, most users lack clarity on which card to use for specific transactions or how to redeem points effectively. “SaveSage helps credit card users get real value from the money they are already spending,” said Ashish Lath, Founder & CEO. The platform brings multiple credit cards and more than 75 loyalty programs into one interface, analyses spending behaviour, recommends the most rewarding card for each transaction, and guides users towards high-value redemptions such as flights, hotels, and vouchers.
The idea emerged from Ashish’s decade-long habit of optimising credit card usage. “Over the last ten years, I’ve taken 350 domestic flights, 80 international flights, and stayed over 100 nights in hotels without paying cash,” he explained. During the pitch, SaveSage focused on proof, with Ashish revealing that he earned nearly 23 per cent returns on his spending over the last two years. At the time of filming, SaveSage had over 6,300 paying subscribers and Rs. 2.5 crore in year-to-date revenue. The Sharks questioned scalability, data privacy, and competition from banks, but early traction and a clear value proposition led Anupam Mittal, Namita Thapar, Mohit Yadav, and Kunal Bahl to jointly invest Rs. 4 crore for 9 per cent equity.

2. EMOMEE

EMOMEE entered the Tank with a long-term vision rather than a revenue-heavy pitch. “Children’s IP can shape how kids think, feel, and see the world,” the founders stated. EMOMEE positions itself as an IP universe where characters, stories, content, and experiences work together to teach real-life skills through entertainment. On Shark Tank India Season 5, the founders emphasised trust, storytelling, and long-term brand equity rather than immediate monetisation. The Sharks responded positively to this IP-first approach, focusing on the potential to build a scalable, global brand rooted in Indian values. Since the episode aired, EMOMEE has seen sustained growth in subscribers and viewership, particularly from Indian audiences. A notable shift has been the increase in viewers actively searching for EMOMEE rather than discovering it through algorithms, signalling growing brand pull and parental trust. Looking ahead, EMOMEE aims to expand into a multi-language, multi-market children’s IP that travels across screens, products, and live experiences while remaining grounded in emotional intelligence.

3. Kalam Labs

Kalam Labs delivered one of the most purpose-driven pitches of the episode. Founded during the team’s second year at BITS Pilani, the startup is focused on building indigenous defence and aerospace technologies from first principles. “Deep, indigenous technology can shape the future of any nation,” the founders said, framing Kalam Labs as a modern-day Bell Labs for India. The pitch focused on long-term national capability rather than short-term commercial returns, highlighting the importance of independent technological development in defence and near-space systems. The Sharks appreciated the clarity of vision and technical depth, with Aman Gupta offering funding. The capital is planned to be deployed toward setting up a dedicated research and development facility at a leased airstrip, enabling end-to-end design, testing, manufacturing, and iteration under one roof. Since the episode aired, Kalam Labs has seen a surge in interest from engineers, defence professionals, and young builders eager to contribute.

4. Goat Life

Goat Life entered the Tank with oat-based breakfast options designed for modern Indian lifestyles. The brand aims to bridge the gap between convenience and nutrition, positioning itself as an everyday breakfast solution rather than a niche health product. The Sharks viewed Goat Life as operating in a high-frequency consumption category with strong potential for scale. The deal reflected confidence in the brand’s ability to integrate into daily routines, especially as Indian consumers become more conscious of long-term health and diet consistency.

5. Croffle Guys

Croffle Guys built its pitch around popularising croffles—a croissant-waffle hybrid—by blending global food trends with mass youth appeal. The brand highlighted visual appeal, operational simplicity, and scalability across formats and locations. The Sharks saw potential in the brand’s ability to capitalise on trend-led consumption while maintaining execution discipline. The Rs. 2.5 crore investment reflected continued interest in food brands that combine cultural relevance with clear unit economics.

6. Planyt

Planyt introduced fogponics technology, a soil-less farming method that uses nutrient-rich mist to grow food ingredients with minimal water usage. The pitch focused on sustainability, efficiency, and climate resilience—key challenges facing modern agriculture. While the Sharks acknowledged the environmental importance of the technology, concerns around capital intensity, scalability, and commercial readiness resulted in a no-deal outcome. Nonetheless, Planyt’s appearance highlighted the growing role of agri-tech solutions in future food systems.

7. Avishkaar

Avishkaar positioned itself as a deep-tech startup focused on building innovative humanoid robots. The pitch generated curiosity but also raised questions around development timelines, funding requirements, and market readiness. Although no deal was closed, the discussion reflected the broader challenges faced by robotics startups operating at the frontier of technology, where innovation often precedes clear commercial pathways.

8. Guugly Wuugly

Guugly Wuugly presented a kidswear brand focused on comfort, durability, and playful design. The founders emphasised functionality and movement-friendly clothing as key differentiators. Despite the clarity of concept, concerns around margins, competition, and long-term differentiation led to a no-deal decision. Even so, the pitch underscored growing consumer demand for practical, child-centric apparel.

9. Loopie

Loopie entered the Shark Tank with a clear understanding of how modern parenting has evolved, positioning itself as a baby gear brand designed for new-generation parents who value safety, convenience, and aesthetics equally. While the sharks acknowledged the growing demand in the baby care segment, the discussion quickly moved beyond the product to questions of scalability, differentiation, and long-term brand defensibility. Despite a no-deal outcome, Loopie’s pitch reflected a deep awareness of parental pain points and a desire to simplify early parenting without overwhelming choices. The brand walked away without funding, but with valuable feedback on pricing strategy, market positioning, and the competitive realities of a crowded baby gear ecosystem. 

10. Panteazy 

Panteazy brought a straightforward yet relatable proposition to the tank—reimagining men’s innerwear and everyday clothing for comfort, affordability, and accessibility through an online-first model. The pitch highlighted a space many overlook but use daily, opening a candid conversation around brand loyalty, margins, and how difficult it is to stand out in a category driven by price wars and established players. While the sharks appreciated the honesty and market understanding, concerns around differentiation and customer acquisition costs ultimately led to a no-deal decision. Panteazy’s appearance, however, underscored how even seemingly basic categories require sharp branding and strong unit economics to scale successfully.

11. Capture A Trip

Capture A Trip stood out by tapping into the evolving mindset of modern travellers who seek personalised, experience-led journeys rather than cookie-cutter itineraries. The founders articulated how technology and human curation come together to simplify travel planning while keeping experiences authentic and flexible. Sharks resonated with the clarity of the business model, the traction shared, and the brand’s ability to adapt to changing travel behaviours post-pandemic. Securing a deal of Rs. 75 lakhs for 5%, Capture A Trip’s pitch reflected confidence, preparedness, and a strong grasp of both storytelling and numbers—proving that in travel, experience truly is the product.