Brands
Winston India records five times revenue within 12 months of Shark Tank
Mumbai: Winston India, the innovative lifestyle brand has witnessed a remarkable five times increase in revenue and a phenomenal five times increase in both profit and sales after its appearance on Shark Tank. This outstanding success shows the brand’s commitment to excellence, strategic vision, and the invaluable mentorship received from industry leaders.
Following Winston India’s appearance on Shark Tank, the brand successfully expanded its platform presence to Vanity Wagon, Tata 1Mg, Jio Mart, Tira Beauty, Net Mets, Ajio, BlinkIt, and Cred. Additionally, there has been a substantial increase in customer base, surging from 15,000-20,000 customers to an impressive 100,000 customers. Notably, the trimmers and skincare category has emerged as the flagship segment, demonstrating unparalleled success as the most sold product within the Winston India product portfolio.
Winston India co-founder Himanshu Adhlaka expressed his excitement and gratitude for the incredible journey, stating, “The experience on Shark Tank and the subsequent growth have been nothing short of phenomenal. We are immensely grateful for the mentorship provided by Vineeta and Anupam, their guidance helped us strategise, plan, and network. They not only helped us with better industry insights but also suggested where we should invest, and where we should not. This has been instrumental in guiding us on the right path.”
Sugar Cosmetics and Investing Shark co-founder & CEO Vineeta Singh in Winston India further congratulates the team, stating, “Congratulations team Winston on one year since Shark Tank. It was amazing to collaborate with Winston India and bring the brand from 5 cr to 15 cr, and I am sure 100 cr is not far away. Good Luck!”
Shaadi.com founder and investing shark Anupam Mittal, Winston India congratulates the team, stating, “Congratulations Winston India on this epic journey from Shark Tank and beyond. We are very proud to see how much your brand has grown and can’t wait to see it dominate the personal care market in the country.”
Additionally, to celebrate this milestone and express gratitude to its loyal customers, Winston India is currently hosting the Winston Shark Tank Sale on its website (www.winstonindia.com) where customers can enjoy discounts of up to 70 per cent off on singles, up to Rs 4000 off on combos, and uncover unlimited hidden freebies.
Looking ahead, Winston India aims to enhance customer satisfaction, drive continuous product development and expand the brand’s presence in the dynamic e-commerce landscape. The brand is additionally looking forward to exclusive launches with prominent e-commerce portals, marking the next chapter in Winston India’s success story.
Brands
UK’s OnlyFans seeks US investor at $3bn valuation after owner’s death
The adult video platform is seeking stability after the death of its billionaire owner
LONDON: OnlyFans is looking for a new partner. The London-based adult video platform is in advanced talks to sell a minority stake of less than 20 per cent to Architect Capital, a San Francisco-based investment firm, in a deal that would value the business at more than $3bn (£2.2bn).
The move is driven by an urgent need for stability. Leonid Radvinsky, the Ukrainian-American billionaire who owned OnlyFans, died of cancer last month at the age of 43, leaving the future of one of Britain’s most profitable privately held businesses suddenly uncertain.
The choice of Architect Capital is not arbitrary. The firm has deep expertise in financial services, which aligns neatly with OnlyFans’ ambitions to offer banking products to its creators, many of whom have long struggled to access basic financial services because of the nature of their work.
The numbers behind OnlyFans are, by any measure, staggering. The platform posted revenues of $1.4bn in the year to 30th November 2024, with a pre-tax profit of $684m, up four per cent on the prior year. Payments to creators totalled $7.2bn over the same period, a rise of nearly ten per cent. Radvinsky personally collected $701m in dividends from the business in 2024 alone, on top of more than $1bn in such payments he had already received. The platform, run through its parent company Felix International, hosts 4.6m creator accounts, with performers keeping 80 per cent of subscription proceeds and the platform pocketing the remaining 20 per cent. It has 377m fan accounts in total.
The current minority stake talks represent a notable scaling back of ambitions. In January, OnlyFans was reported to be in discussions with Architect about selling a majority stake of 60 per cent. Before that, the company had explored a sale to a consortium led by Forest Road Company, a Los Angeles-based investment firm. Neither deal materialised.
OnlyFans has built an enormously lucrative business on content that mainstream finance has long refused to touch. Now, with its owner gone and a $3bn valuation on the table, it is looking for the kind of respectable institutional backing that might finally persuade the banks to take its calls.
