Shark Tank India has stormed the Indian entrepreneurial world. It has not only inspired budding entrepreneurs but also taken business ideas into the living rooms of millions. In its unique format, Shark Tank India has inspired many towards big dreams of success. However, the show is not without its criticism. Right from controversies related to valuation to complaints about favoritism, Shark Tank India has been targeted on several fronts.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most notable controversies surrounding the Indian version of this global phenomenon, supported by real examples that stirred debates.
- Ashneer Grover’s Harsh Feedback and “Doglapan”
- Valuation Clashes and Unfair Deals
- Favoritism Claims
- Shark Tank Sparks Debate Over Branding and Business Priorities
- Rejected Pitches That Later Succeeded
- Judges’ Personal Controversies
- Copyright Issues Faced by Entrepreneurs
- Over-dramatization and Emotional Exploitation
- Missed Opportunities with Innovative Ideas
- Judges’ Social Media Issues
Ashneer Grover’s Harsh Feedback and “Doglapan”
Ashneer Grover, the previous co-founder of BharatPe, was considered one of the most spoken-about personas in season one of Shark Tank India. As much as his blunt criticism won some fans, it outraged many.
The “Doglapan” Incident
Ye Sab Doglapan Hai! | Shark Tank India Controversy
During a presentation by Bummer, a D2C innerwear brand, Grover tore into its branding and financials, rounding off his critique with that now-legendary phrase, “Yeh sab doglapan hai.” If some applaud him for coming out bluntly, many others feel he was rudely dismissive. In a curious twist of fate, the phrase soon went viral, became a meme, drew attention to the show, but also brought into question the Sharks and their treatment of participants.
Grover’s Critique of EventBeep
Shark Tank India Controversy
EventBeep, a platform connecting students with events, faced similar sharp criticism from Grover. He labeled their business model as impractical, leading to a heated exchange. Post-show, the founders revealed that they received funding from other sources and proved their critics wrong, which sparked discussions on whether Grover’s feedback was constructive or discouraging.
Grover’s Post-Show Controversies
Even after he left the show, Grover was involved in financial scandals related to BharatPe that tainted his credibility as an investor. His straightforward attitude on and off the show irked a section of viewers.
Bharath
Valuation Clashes and Unfair Deals
Valuation debates have been a consistent theme on Shark Tank India, with many entrepreneurs feeling that their startups were undervalued.
Hammer Lifestyle’s Valuation Dispute
Hammer – Shark Tank India Controversy
The Sharks offered INR 1 crore for a 40% stake in Hammer Lifestyle, a D2C electronics brand. The founder went on to say that his company was already profitable and did not need to dilute such a large stake once the episode aired. This incident sparked debates about whether the Sharks were undervaluing businesses to secure favorable deals for themselves.
JhaJi Store’s Funding Dilemma
Jhaji Store – Shark Tank India Controversy
JhaJi Store, a pickle and chutney brand from Bihar, was another business that faced valuation challenges. While the Sharks admired the product, the founders felt their offered valuation didn’t reflect the business’s growth potential. After the show, the company secured external funding at a much higher valuation, reinforcing concerns about the Sharks’ evaluation methods.
Snitch’s Missed Opportunity
Snitch – Shark Tank India Controversy
Snitch is another fast-fashion men’s wear brand that received a no from the Sharks then, citing scalability issues; it grew by leaps and bounds, ultimately achieving a huge turnover of INR 100 crores inside a year fact that makes this question arise again if the Sharks were too focused on short-term metrics.
Favoritism Claims
Favoritism has been another recurring criticism of the show, with some Sharks accused of backing businesses from their comfort zones or personal networks.
Peyush Bansal’s Investments in Tech Startups
Peyush Bansal, founder of Lenskart, was often seen favoring tech-enabled or SaaS-based startups. For instance, his investment in a smart footwear brand raised eyebrows, as other Sharks felt the product lacked immediate market readiness. This led viewers to speculate whether Bansal’s preferences were overly influenced by his expertise in tech.
Aman Gupta and Lifestyle Brands
Aman Gupta, co-founder of boAt, often showed a bias toward lifestyle and consumer-tech brands. For example, his interest in certain audio or wearable brands, despite limited innovation, led to discussions about whether he was favoring businesses aligned with his own industry.
Sarika Anand
Repeat Regional Bias Allegations
Several viewers pointed out that businesses from metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru received more attention compared to startups from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. This pattern sparked debates about whether regional biases were influencing investment decisions.
Shark Tank Sparks Debate Over Branding and Business Priorities
YouTuber and fitness influencer Gaurav Taneja, also known as Flying Beast, pitched his supplements brand BeastLife on Shark Tank India Season 4 but faced criticism from the Sharks. He valued his company at INR 100 crore and asked for INR 1 crore for 1% equity. The Sharks questioned if he could focus on the business while still running his YouTube channel, with some advising him to quit YouTube. Taneja refused, calling it a risky move.
In a LinkedIn post, Taneja questioned Shark Tank India’s branding impact, revealing just 22K website visits from the episode—far less than his brand launch and Instagram promotions. He suggested the paywall and absence from TV broadcasts in Season 4 might have hurt its reach. Taneja also compared his brand to Shaadi.com, noting that BeastLife surpassed Shaadi.com’s Instagram followers (127K vs 125K) in just 8 months, highlighting the power of organic reach and cost-effective marketing.
Rejected Pitches That Later Succeeded
Several businesses rejected by the Sharks went on to thrive, challenging the credibility of their judgment.
Moonshine
Asia and India’s first meadery, was founded by 2016 by Nitin Vishwas and Rohan Rehani. The founders appeared on Shark Tank India with a valuation of INR 160 crores and wanted INR 80 lakhs in exchange for 0.5% of equity. Sadly, the founders did not like any of the counteroffers and rejected the deal.
Urban Monkey
Urban Monkey is a streetwear fashion brand built by Mumbai-based Yash Gangwal. Aimed to target the younger crowd, the brand appeared on Shark Tank India for INR 1 crore in exchange for 1% equity. But even though the brand was already popular with celebrities like Rannvijay Singha and Raftaar, the Sharks did not accept the deal.
Torch-it
Founded in 2016 by Hunny Bhagchandani and Mohit Chelani, Torch-It creates disability assistive devices that fosters a sustainable ecosystem. The startup creates devices that uses ultrasonic sensors to highlight the proximity of objects to help visually impaired people navigate their everyday lives. The founders wanted INR 75 lakhs in exchange for 1% equity but sadly none of the Sharks accepted.
Muskaan Kapoor
Judges’ Personal Controversies
The personal lives and professional actions of the Sharks have sometimes overshadowed the show itself.
Ashneer Grover’s Financial Scandals
Grover’s controversial exit from BharatPe, amidst allegations of financial impropriety and verbal abuse, dominated headlines during Shark Tank India’s airing. This raised questions about whether someone with such allegations should be representing ethical business practices on national television.
Namita Thapar’s Social Media Gaffe
Namita Thapar, the executive director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals, faced backlash after a cryptic tweet appeared on her account accusing her of hypocrisy. Thapar later claimed her account was hacked, but the incident led to speculations about internal family or professional conflicts.
Sarika Anand
Aman Gupta’s Viral Comments
Aman Gupta was criticized for his overly casual remarks during certain pitches, with some viewers feeling he didn’t take all entrepreneurs seriously. For instance, his comment about a pitcher’s product being “not cool enough” was seen as dismissive.
Copyright Issues Faced by Entrepreneurs
Several entrepreneurs reported legal challenges after appearing on the show.
Dorje Teas’ Copyright Infringement Claim
Sparsh Agarwal, founder of Dorje Teas, was served a copyright infringement notice for using clips of their Shark Tank pitch for promotional purposes. This led to widespread criticism of the show’s restrictive policies toward entrepreneurs.
Social Media Account Closures
Other businesses, such as Fit & Flex, faced challenges when their social media accounts were temporarily disabled after using show-related content. Such actions led to questions about whether the show prioritized protecting its brand over supporting entrepreneurs.
Damini Bhandary
Over-dramatization and Emotional Exploitation
Critics argue that Shark Tank India often prioritizes emotional backstories over business discussions to attract viewers, leading to accusations of over-dramatization.
Emotional Pitches Taking Center Stage
Many episodes focused heavily on founders’ struggles rather than their business models. For example, a pitch about a family-run food startup turned into a sentimental story about the founder’s hardships. While touching, critics felt it diverted attention from assessing the product’s market potential.
Manipulative Editing
Some contestants claimed that their pitches were edited to emphasize emotional moments, making their businesses seem less viable. Entrepreneurs argued that this focus on theatrics undermined the show’s mission to support serious startups.
Dramatic Music and Narration
The use of dramatic music and exaggerated narration during pitches also drew criticism. Viewers noted that these elements sometimes overshadowed the core business discussions, making the show more about entertainment than entrepreneurship.
Damini Bhandary
Missed Opportunities with Innovative Ideas
The Sharks have faced backlash for rejecting unconventional or niche businesses that later achieved significant success.
Agri-Tech Innovations Rejected
Several agri-tech startups such as ‘Pure-Holidayism’ and ‘Green Protein’ pitching innovative solutions were dismissed for being “too early.” One notable example was a company offering AI-based solutions for farmers, which struggled to secure funding despite its transformative potential.
Eco-Friendly Ventures Overlooked
The few eco-friendly startups rejected included those on sustainable packaging such as PDD Falcon and renewable energy such as Zypp, for instance, because they seemed unscalable. These later became successful, calling into question the Sharks’ willingness to take risks on ideas that were not mainstream.
Gaming and E-Sports Startups Ignored
With India’s growing gaming industry, the rejection of gaming-related startups such as Dacby surprised many. Critics argued that the Sharks were overlooking emerging markets in favor of safer, more traditional sectors.
Judges’ Social Media Issues
The Sharks’ off-screen behavior has also led to controversies, particularly their public spats on social media.
Ashneer Grover vs. Aman Gupta
Ashneer Grover and Aman Gupta kept pulling each other’s legs on social media post-show. While Grover attacked Gupta’s investment strategy, Gupta responded with some cryptic tweets. These only hinted at the friction between the judges on set.
Namita Thapar’s Tweet Controversy
Namita Thapar’s cryptic tweet, which accused someone of “hacking” her account, triggered speculation over internal family disputes. Although she later came forward to clarify the situation, this raised questions over the professionalism of the judges.
Judges Responding to Criticism
Several Sharks, including Anupam Mittal and Peyush Bansal, have publicly responded to viewer criticism on X, sometimes engaging in heated debates. While this showcased their accessibility, it also fueled unnecessary drama.
Manav Makhija
Conclusion
Shark Tank India has opened a doorway for young and emerging entrepreneurs to get investments for their ideas. Yet, with a lot of controversies surrounding the judges themselves and the show, much is to be improved in terms of eliminating biases and questions of credibility. Though it will continue to inspire future entrepreneurs, it needs to take care of these concerns if it is to retain credibility and present a balanced view of business and entertainment.
Lesson-tucking from such controversies will lead Shark Tank India down the road to creating a fairer and more inclusive platform, fostering innovation but not at the cost of an entrepreneurial spirit.
FAQs
What is Shark Tank India?
Shark Tank India is an Indian business reality television series based on the popular global format Shark Tank. It has budding entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas to a panel of potential investors called ‘Sharks’ to secure investment deals.
Who are the sharks in Shark Tank India?
Vineeta Singh, Peeyush Bansal, Namita Thapar, Anupam Mittal, Amit Jain, Deepinder Goyal, Varun Dua, Radhika Gupta, Ronnie Screwvala, Azhar Iquabal, Ritesh Agarwal, and Aman Gupta are the sharks in Shark Tank India. Season four features two new sharks, Kunal Bahl and Viraj Bahl.
Which are the top startups rejected in Shark Tank India?
Some of the successful startups rejected in Shark Tank India are:
- Moonshine
- Morriko Foods
- Urban Monkey
- ExperientialEtc
- Agri Tourism
- Torch-it
- Shades of Spring
- Green Protein
- PDD Falcon
- Kunafa World