Pratham Mittal is the newest "Shark" to join the panel on Shark Tank India for its fifth season, set to air in early 2026. He is an entrepreneur and education innovator known for his unconventional approach to business and learning. Mittal's addition to the show is anticipated to bring a unique perspective, with a focus on high-growth systems and practitioner-led entrepreneurship. He will be joining returning Sharks such as Anupam Mittal and Aman Gupta, seeking out founders who exhibit "founder-market fit" and a desire to disrupt traditional industries.
Mittal is best known as the founder of Masters' Union, a business school based in Gurugram that challenges the traditional MBA model. Mittal replaced traditional academics with industry leaders from companies such as Tata and McKinsey, building an institution where students "learn business by doing business". The school has gained recognition for its students achieving placement salaries that surpass the average of some of India's top IIMs. Building on this success, Mittal launched Tetr College of Business, a global undergraduate program where students study and build businesses across seven countries. Tetr College of Business aims to transform business education for aspiring entrepreneurs so that they may learn business by doing business.
Mittal's journey in the startup ecosystem began in 2011 with Neta. He is an alumnus of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied systems science and political science. Mittal's father, Dr. Ashok Mittal, is the Chancellor of Lovely Professional University (LPU). Prior to Masters' Union, Mittal co-founded Outgrow, a SaaS platform utilized by global companies like Nike and Tesla. As an angel investor, Mittal has invested in four companies, primarily focusing on the consumer goods and consumer sectors, with investments in India and the United States. His investment portfolio includes companies like PlaySuper and Serve Club. Mittal has also invested in COSMOSS.
Mittal's entrepreneurial roots extend back to his family history. His grandfather started by selling tea and biscuits to an army battalion and later founded Lovely Sweets. Mittal believes India needs a new template for how universities are built and run. Mittal's philosophy centers around the idea that students should learn by doing. At Masters' Union, students run live projects, build startups, manage investment portfolios, and learn directly from founders, CXOs, and investors. Mittal looks for students with a "DNA of curiosity" and a willingness to get their hands dirty.
Mittal expressed excitement and a touch of "imposter syndrome" about joining Shark Tank India. He views the show as a "powerful public classroom" that introduces students and families to the realities of building businesses. Mittal hopes to bring reality, honesty, context, and long-term thinking to the conversation on the show.
