5 Instagram-born startups that won hearts on ‘Shark Tank India’
New Delhi, Feb 17: Once again, ‘Shark Tank India’ is creating a storm of startup aspirations in the country.
From Delhi to Ahmedabad to Jaipur, people are pursuing their ambitions and becoming leaders in their own cities, towns and neighbourhoods. A lot of these entrepreneurs are ingeniously using platforms like Instagram to create awareness about themselves and showcase their journey.
Here are five such businesses that won hearts on the show and the way they use Instagram to share their story.
1) Zillionaire from Jaipur:
The second season of ‘Shark Tank India’ has highlighted the abundance of talented entrepreneurs in India, such as the young founders of Zillionaire India. This Jaipur-based startup, founded by Aaditya Fatehpuriya and Raghav Goyal in 2020, offers “bling jewellery” primarily made of silver and/or cubic zirconia, which has been popularized by rappers.
The company exclusively sells their products through their website and has a verified Instagram account with over 80.6k followers. During their appearance on the show, the founders requested an investment of Rs 50 lakh for 3.3 percent equity, but ended up securing an investment of Rs one crore for 10 percent equity from shark Anupam Mittal, the founder of Shaadi.com.
2) Girgit from Mumbai:
Binoy Shah and Pooja Bajaj Shah, the dynamic duo from Mumbai with a solid fan following of 13.6k on Instagram, revolutionized the market by introducing India’s first-ever store that offered colour-changing products for both kids and adults.
During their appearance on the show, they bravely asked for an investment of Rs 20 lakhs in exchange for 10 percent equity, valuing their company at Rs two crores and the deal was finally sealed with Namitha Thapar, Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals with an investment of Rs 20 lakhs for 20 percent equity, valuing the company at Rs one crore. The duo’s creative vision and boldness paid off, earning them a bright future in the industry and their Instagram profile is no less than magic.
3) House of Chikankari from Delhi:
With a vision to reinstall artisans’ craftsmanship and sustain it for the generation to come, the mother-daughter duo Poonam Rawal and Aakriti Rawa from Delhi built the House of Chikankari to introduce the ancient and traditional embroidery technique to the world. Adding a cosmopolitan touch to the Chikankari, the duo launched their business during the first wave of lockdown on Instagram and since then have successfully put it on the fore. The Sharks were won over by the duo leading them to win support and investment from Peyush Bansal and Aman Gupta.
With over 205k followers and more than three million views on reels, the duo not only update their latest collection on Instagram but also educates the viewers on the history and process of making Chikankari clothing.
4) Birds of Paradyes from Ahmedabad:
Much like the Bird of Paradise that charms human eyes with its vibrant colour on its features, ‘Birds of Paradyes’, founded by Yushika Jolly and Siddharth Raghuvanshi wants to give humans a shot at replicating the colours as India’s first semi-permanent hair colour brand.
Started on Instagram, the world as a cohort for young minds looking to explore, saw Birds of Paradyes quickly gain popularity with 97.3k followers on the platform in over two years and on an average their reels got more than 100k plays. Their vibrant approach to hair colouring intrigued Sharks, Aman Gupta and Vinita Singh and saw the duo invest in the brand as well.
5) Hoovu Fresh from Bengaluru:
In a recent episode of Shark Tank India, Aman Gupta and Peyush Bansal invested a whopping Rs 10 million into Hoovu Fresh. This revolutionary flower delivery service combines the timeless tradition of fresh flowers with the modern convenience of a subscription model.
With innovative methods to increase the lifespan of flowers, Hoovu Fresh ensures that customers receive blooms that are as beautiful as the day they were picked. Founded in Bengaluru in 2019, especially for worship purposes, Hoovu Fresh has rapidly expanded to over eight cities, completing over two million orders on Instagram and other online portals along with partnering with over 300 temples and 500 farmers.
