Shark Tank India S5: A Round-up of Week 3 Key Highlights You Can't Miss!

Shark Tank India Season 5 continues 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.

Neurapex AI

Neurapex AI presented itself as an advanced AI-powered assistive diagnostic platform designed to support medical professionals, particularly in the fields of neurology and dermatology. The platform focuses on aiding doctors by improving diagnostic accuracy and efficiency, rather than replacing clinical judgment. Its core value lies in using artificial intelligence to analyse medical data and provide structured insights that assist decision-making in complex cases. What set Neurapex AI apart was not just its technology but also its founder.

The platform was built by 13-year-old innovator Jaiwardhan Tyagi, whose technical understanding and clarity of purpose drew significant attention from the Sharks. The pitch highlighted how early intervention, diagnostic support, and scalable AI tools can play a meaningful role in addressing gaps within India’s healthcare system. Aman Gupta closed the deal at Rs. 60 lakh for 5% equity, signalling confidence in both the technology’s potential and the founder’s long-term vision.

Wrestlefanent

Wrestlefanent, founded by Nikunj, positioned itself as a digital platform created specifically for Indian wrestling and WWE fans. The brand focuses on original content, community-led engagement, and storytelling around wrestling culture and its athletes. Unlike traditional sports media platforms, Wrestlefanent aims to prioritise fan narratives and grassroots conversations rather than only match coverage or headlines.

During the pitch, the Sharks acknowledged the founder’s passion and deep understanding of the wrestling community. However, discussions centred on monetisation clarity, scalability, and long-term revenue models within niche fan-based platforms. While the concept resonated emotionally, the Sharks ultimately decided not to invest, citing the need for a clearer commercial roadmap. Despite the no-deal outcome, the pitch highlighted the growing opportunity for community-led digital platforms in underserved fandoms.

Ayuvya & Imfresh

Ayuvya and Imfresh were presented together as part of the founders’ dual-brand strategy. Ayuvya focuses on Ayurvedic supplements addressing specific unmet needs such as healthy weight gain and cognitive health, positioning itself within the growing demand for targeted, traditional wellness solutions. Imfresh, on the other hand, introduced a differentiated concept in personal care through a body-lotion deodorant, aiming to bridge skincare and odour protection in a single product.

The Sharks appreciated the founders’ entrepreneurial journey and their willingness to experiment across categories. The uniqueness of both brands drew positive feedback, particularly for identifying white spaces within crowded markets. However, concerns were raised around operational focus, resource allocation, and the challenges of scaling two brands simultaneously. While the pitch did not result in a deal, it stood out for its innovation-driven approach and clarity in product differentiation.

Every Morning Cartel

Every Morning Cartel entered the Tank as a Mumbai-based café brand redefining the Indian coffee and dining experience through an omakase-style format. The brand focuses on curated menus, controlled seating, and experiential dining, positioning itself as more than a traditional café. The founders highlighted how Indian consumers are increasingly seeking intentional food experiences rather than transactional dining.

The Sharks evaluated the brand on unit economics, repeatability, and scalability across locations. Aman Gupta and Ritesh Agarwal saw potential in the concept’s experiential positioning and operational discipline. The deal closed at Rs. 2 crore for 12% equity, reflecting confidence in the café’s ability to scale while maintaining quality and brand identity. The investment underscores growing interest in experience-led food and beverage businesses in urban India.

Cinefai

Cinefai pitched itself as a B2B AI storytelling platform that transforms audio content into emotionally realistic, lip-synced visual narratives. The platform enables audio-first brands to repurpose stories into visual formats without the high costs traditionally associated with video production. Cinefai has already worked with 17 brands, including Pocket FM, Kuku FM, and Amazon Web Services.

The Sharks focused on the platform’s applicability across content-heavy industries and its ability to reduce production friction at scale. Ritesh Agarwal closed the deal at Rs. 50 lakh for 5% equity, along with an optional anytime loan, indicating confidence in Cinefai’s commercial relevance and its role in the evolving content economy. The deal reflects growing investor interest in AI tools that enable efficiency rather than replace creativity.

Sampark.me

Sampark.me presented a civic-tech solution addressing a common urban problem: improper parking. The platform uses QR or barcode stickers placed on vehicles, enabling people to send polite call-or-message alerts to vehicle owners without exposing personal phone numbers. The founders shared that the platform handles between 1,000 and 1,200 calls daily and has sold nearly five lakh stickers.

The Sharks acknowledged the practicality and widespread applicability of the solution, particularly in densely populated Indian cities. However, concerns were raised around monetisation scalability and long-term defensibility beyond sticker sales. While the pitch did not secure investment, Sampark.me stood out for its simplicity, adoption metrics, and relevance to everyday civic issues.