The business reality shows Shark Tank finally launched an India version that premiered on 20 December on Sony and its app SonyLIV. Infusing jet fuel into the country’s pop culture startup, the show connects entrepreneurs with angel investors or sharks. The founders pitch their business and growth plans to the sharks, in the hope of raising funds. The Shark Tank India judges include Aman Gupta, the co-founder and CMO of Boat; Vineeta Singh, CEO & co-founder of Sugar Cosmetics; Anupam Mittal, founder and CEO of People Group, that owns companies like Shaadi.com and Makaan.com; BharatPe co-founder Ashneer Grover, Ghazal Alagh CEO and founder of the skincare brand MamaEarth; Peyush Bansal, the founder and CEO of Lens Kart and Namita Thapar, CEO of pharma company Emcure Pharma. While many brands have appeared on the show, these are the ones that made the biggest impression on the judges and managed to receive offers.
1. Skippi Ice Pops
Skippi Ice Pops Remember the ice chuskis from your childhood? Inspired by those iced goodies, this Hyderabad-based company produces hygienic ice pops with the claims of no artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavours or colours. The pops are made from RO water and are available in a range of flavours such as lemon, cola, orange and bubblegum. Founders Ravi and Anuja Kabra managed to raise Rs1 crore for 15% equity of their company from all five shark tank judges on the show. It is India’s first ice popsicle brand. It was also the first brand that received an All Shark deal on the show. The brand claims that its products are made of 100% Natural flavours, colours, preservatives and sweeteners. Skippi Ice Pops are currently available in over 660 outlets in Hyderabad alone and 2,200 outlets across India. It is priced at ₹240 for a paper box of 12 pops and ₹666 for a box of 36 pops.
2. Hammer –
Hammer was founded in 2019 by Rohit Nandwani. The company makes high-quality audio devices, wellness bands and electric toothbrushes and is known for selling these gadgets at an affordable price. It is already listed on Flipkart. The startup received funding from Shark Aman Gupta, founder of BoAt for ₹1 crore for 40% equity
3. AAS Vidyalaya
AAS Vidyalaya is an educational start-up founded by the couple Vikas and Leena Kakawini. It stands for The Anytime Anywhere School and strives to take the school to those children who are incapable to attend school. Sharks Peyush Bansal, Namita Thapar and Ashneer Grover invested in the startup and this is by far the highest deal on the show of ₹1.5 crores for 15% equity
4. Get-A-Whey
Get-A-Whey This healthy ice cream brand founded by siblings Jash Shah and Pashmi Shah Agarwal, with their mother Jimmy Shah, provides a range of guilt-free dessert options to their customers. With 10gms of protein per scoop and just 4gms of fat per scoop, one can enjoy the ice cream without worrying about the extra calories or sugar. Jash and his mother Jimmy bagged an investment of Rs1 crore for 15% equity in the first edition of Shark Tank India. The investors included Ashneer Grover, Aman Gupta and Vineeta Singh.
5. Peeschute
The startup is perpetrated to enhance toilet hygiene in India and manufactures affordable unisex disposable urine bags. Its founder Siddhant Tawarawala from Maharashtra and impressed Shark Aman Mittal by getting a deal for ₹75 lakhs for 6% equity.
6. In A Can –
In A Can is a startup that manufacturers canned cocktails. Its founders Viraj Sawant and Sameer Mirajkar started the company during the pandemic in 2020. And crack a deal of ₹1 crore for 10% equity.
7. Bummer
Bummer is an Ahmedabad-based innerwear company that concentrates on manufacturing eco-friendly products. They use micro modal fibre and claim that each pair of theirs weighs less than 60 grams, they got an investment of ₹75 lakh for equity of 7.5% .
8. Beyond Water
Beyond Water, This Kolkata-based company started by siblings Devang and Shachi Singhania sells an ‘all-natural flavoured vitamin and flavour enhancer, sweetened with stevia. To get more vitamins, electrolytes and minerals into one’s diet, one can opt for a squeeze of the ‘liquid enhancer’ that promises to make water more enjoyable. The company also sells alcohol-free cocktail mixers that can be topped up with ice and the spirit of your choice. The siblings impressed judges Namita Thapar and Aman Gupta who together infused Rs75 lakh into the company for 15% equity.
9. Bluepine Foods
Bluepine Foods The Delhi-based food company founded in 2016 specialises in frozen momos with traditional Himalayan ingredients. The company also runs Yangkiez, a line of momo QSRs. When founder Aditi Madan moved to the capital years ago, she deeply missed the flavours of the Himalayas and her home. This prompted her to launch her own company that tapped into India’s love for momos. Bluepine bowled over the Shark Tank India judges Aman Gupta Vineeta Singh and Ashneer Grover to secure funding of Rs75 lakh for 16% equity of her business.
10. TagZ Food Brands
TagZ Food Brands is a Bengaluru-based startup that offers its customers popped potato chips. They claim that their products have 50% less fat as compared to regular potato chips. Anish Basu Roy and Sagar Bhalotia managed to impress Shark Ashneer Grover and crack a deal of ₹70 lakh for 2.75% equity.
