On a recent episode of "Shark Tank India" Season 5, viewers witnessed a heated exchange between Shark Aman Gupta, co-founder of boAt, and a pitcher from a healthcare business named Cosmo, after the pitcher chose to accept a deal from Anupam Mittal. The incident, which involved Aman Gupta jokingly "threatening" the pitcher, has since gone viral, sparking discussions about the competitive environment and dynamics among the Sharks.
The Cosmo team, consisting of co-founders Dr. Shivansh Bhalla, Atul Jain, and Himanshu Mewara, presented their healthcare app designed for gated communities. The app allows residents to access various healthcare services, including ambulance calls, doctor consultations, lab tests, and medicine orders. They sought ₹1 crore for 4% equity, valuing their company at ₹25 crore.
The pitch impressed several Sharks, including Kunal Bahl, Anupam Mittal, Kanika Tekriwal, Aman Gupta, and Mohit Jain, leading to competing offers. Anupam and Kanika made a joint offer of ₹1 crore for 10% equity. Aman and Mohit matched this offer, while Kunal Bahl presented a solo offer with the same terms. The pitchers expressed their preference for Anupam, Kanika, and Kunal, which visibly upset Aman.
Negotiations grew intense, with Anupam Mittal reportedly threatening to tear up his check if the pitchers didn't accept his offer within a minute. Aman Gupta took a dig at Kanika Tekriwal, who emphasized her industry connections, by retorting that everyone on the panel had a strong network. The pitchers requested time to consider the offers amidst the rising tension.
Ultimately, the Cosmo team chose to partner with Anupam Mittal, Kanika Tekriwal, and Kunal Bahl, closing the deal at ₹1 crore for 9% equity. Aman Gupta, seemingly in jest, responded to the pitchers' decision with, " Tu Gurgaon mein ghus ke dikha," which translates to "Just try entering Gurgaon," followed by "Shut up" as they exited the tank.
While some found Aman's reaction humorous, others interpreted it as a display of poor sportsmanship. The incident underscores the high-pressure environment of "Shark Tank India," where the Sharks fiercely compete to invest in promising startups. This season features an expanded panel of Sharks, including both returning faces and new additions like Kanika Tekriwal (JetSetGo), Shaily Mehrotra (Fixderma), Varun Alagh (Honasa Consumer), Mohit Yadav (Minimalist), and Hardik Kothiya (Rayzon Solar), increasing the competition and making negotiations more demanding for the entrepreneurs.
Beyond this particular incident, Season 5 has showcased a range of businesses and entrepreneurial pitches. The Sharks this season include Anupam Mittal (Shaadi.com) Aman Gupta (boAt), Namita Thapar (Emcure Pharmaceuticals), Vineeta Singh (Sugar Cosmetics), Peyush Bansal (Lenskart), Ritesh Agarwal (OYO Rooms), Amit Jain (CarDekho), Kunal Bahl (Snapdeal, Titan Capital) and Viraj Bahl (Veeba). The show continues to serve as a platform for startups to gain funding, mentorship, and national visibility.
