The latest episode of Shark Tank India Season 5 witnessed a heated exchange between sharks Aman Gupta and Anupam Mittal. The confrontation occurred during the pitch of Emomee, an educational and emotional intelligence toy brand founded by husband-wife duo Varun Duggirala and Pooja Jauhar.
The founders of Emomee, a Mumbai-based company, entered the Shark Tank stage with a catchy song for kids. They sought ₹1 crore for 2% equity in their company. Varun and Pooja have a background in the creative and advertising industry, having shaped brand stories for some of India's most influential consumer brands. Aman revealed that Varun's company, Glitch, was instrumental in developing BoAt's creative programs, production, and strategy in its initial phase.
After the Emomee founders finished their pitch, Namita Thapar was the first to make an offer of ₹1 crore for 2% equity. Aman Gupta, along with Mohit Yadav and Kunal Bahl, followed with similar offers. Anupam Mittal, while impressed, pointed out areas where the pitchers needed to improve. He offered ₹2 crore for 5% equity, expressing his passion and experience in the field, including producing films and building an IP store.
As the sharks tried to convince Varun and Pooja to accept their respective offers, Aman took a dig at Anupam, questioning why some of his companies had closed down. Anupam retorted by saying that Aman doesn't even have a job anymore. Aman had recently resigned as the CMO of boAt days before their IPO. Namita intervened to calm the situation, suggesting that all the sharks make a joint offer. However, Aman refused, stating he no longer liked Anupam and did not want to participate in a five-shark deal with him. Ultimately, Varun and Pooja returned with a counteroffer of ₹2 crore for 4% equity and closed the deal with Aman and Namita.
The episode also featured another pitch by Manoj Das, the founder of Lewisia Wellness, a natural skincare and haircare brand. Das sought ₹1 crore for 1% equity, valuing his company at ₹100 crore. However, the sharks quickly questioned his claims, business practices, and use of the title "doctor" without proper qualifications. Anupam Mittal warned Das of potential legal consequences, while other sharks accused him of misleading consumers. The pitch ended with a unanimous rejection and no deal.
