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Amit Jain’s investment mantra on ‘Shark Tank Season 3’ through ‘Shark Tales’
Mumbai: Shark Tank India embarked on a journey into the world of investments, offering a sea of opportunities for Indian start-ups. Since its inception, Shark Tank India has taken the country by storm as the featured Shark Tank judges and Shark Tank pitches have had a significant impact on the business landscape of Bharat.
Committed to providing opportunities to young entrepreneurs, hailing from small towns, CarDekho founder and CEO Amit Jain joined this brand wagon in Season 2 and invested in ventures across sectors, narrating a unique story of determination, creativity and success. Some of the businesses Jain invested in the last season were Mopp India, Licksters, Maisha Lifestyle, Ekatra, and Gladful amongst others.
Season 3 started with a bang, with three opening pitchers and Jain investing in a sustainable start-up- The Honest Home Company, highlighting the demand for eco-businesses in India.
Read about Amit Jain’s learnings from the three opening pitches below:
The Honest Home Company:
First pitch of the season, and what a way to kick it off! Mayank from The Honest Home Company lives the essence of honesty in business, which aligns with my own value system as well. From plastic-free cleaning to sustainable paper products, his venture is not just about eco-friendly solutions but also about giving back to nature. Mayank’s enthusiasm, customer-centric and lean approach to building the business and dedication caught my attention, and I found my ‘Pehle Banda Fir Dhanda’ moment as I heard his pitch. His persistence to keep learning and improving despite 80 rejections from VCs is commendable. A great all-shark deal was on the table, but I chose to go solo as I believe I would be spending disproportionately large time with him to build this together. Glad that Mayank accepted my offer – looking forward to helping his venture scale heights that benefit the planet as well!
AdilQadri:
Adil, the face behind his premium perfume brand, presented a great pitch. With over 10 lakh orders processed, Adil’s entrepreneurial journey, from his backyard and a small town, is one of resilience and passion. The missing link for me was no visible brand leverage while scaling. I try to find founders who build 10x better products which get customer retention, which gets visible in the increasing profit pools and lower CAC over some time. The revenue growth was awesome but profitability was not increasing. This meant that the organic demand after trying the product was not getting visible in the numbers. Nonetheless, I wish him and Vineeta the best as they continue to leave a lasting fragrance in the market!
Conscious Chemist:
The founders from Rajasthan, Prakhar and Robin, brought a pitch for science-backed solutions to everyday skincare concerns. It is a large market with room for great effective products to be introduced and new brands to be built. While the packaging and products impressed me and all other sharks, I was looking forward to a deeper product innovation. To win, the obsession with creating great products which are visibly effective is critical in the skin care category. I am a mentor to one such company named “Be Minimalist” and have seen word of mouth play for them basis the great products they launched and the significant volume of repeat organic orders because of the effectiveness of the products. I was benchmarking with them in this pitch. I would have loved for founders to be passionate about building that 10x better product with a much closer consumer connection. Adding an accomplished R&D member to the team with deep expertise in skin care may help here.
This season’s first episode proved that passion, purpose, and authenticity can win over even the toughest Sharks. And the season is just getting started. Stay tuned for more Shark Tales!
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
