Season 4 of Shark Tank India is proving to be as fiery as ever, with gripping pitches and unfiltered reactions from the Sharks. One such moment that left viewers buzzing was Anupam Mittal’s sharp critique of a pitch by Vijay Nihalchandani, a business and finance influencer who presented his venture, Make My Payment.
Nihalchandani sought ₹30 lakh in exchange for 3% equity, valuing his company at ₹10 crore. However, his financials told a different story, with a meager monthly revenue of just ₹30,000. The glaring mismatch between ambition and execution sparked a barrage of questions from the Sharks.
Mittal, the founder of Shaadi.com, didn’t hold back his frustration. Questioning the viability of the business model, he delivered a harsh yet meme-worthy reality check: “Isse achha thela laga lo” (You’d be better off running a roadside stall). His comment resonated across social media, splitting opinions between those praising his blunt honesty and others calling it unnecessarily harsh.
Nihalchandani tried defending his startup, emphasizing its long-term growth potential. However, with numbers failing to justify the valuation, none of the Sharks bit. Aman Gupta, co-founder of boAt, echoed Mittal’s skepticism, pointing out that lofty valuations without solid revenue streams have been a persistent issue in the startup ecosystem.
While Mittal’s critique may have been cutting, it underscores the importance of realistic valuations and a scalable business model. The moment also serves as a reminder of the brutal scrutiny startups face in the real world.
As expected, the clip went viral, with fans of the show debating whether the harshness was warranted. Some argued that such honesty is necessary to drive founders toward improvement, while others felt Mittal’s delivery could have been more constructive.
One thing’s for sure: moments like these are what make Shark Tank India a must-watch, blending drama, lessons in entrepreneurship, and a dose of entertainment.
