The SHE-Os of Shark Tank India: The inspiring journey of these 8 female entrepreneurs

Women have outshone and stepped up their game across various sectors, and now it is quite evident when these women make their appearances on the reality TV show Shark Tank India. This outstanding show has brought inspiring female entrepreneurs into the limelight who are ready to break barriers, challenge new norms, and reshape industries.

These women are out to set powerful examples of leadership and resilience; therefore, join us as we delve into their fascinating stories and discover how they are transforming the entrepreneurial landscape in India with their vision, determination, and groundbreaking ideas.

Aishwarya Biswas is the mastermind behind Auli Lifestyle, a brand that successfully impressed the Sharks with its innovative approach to skincare. Auli’s items are rich and organic, intended to soothe and relax you.

Her concept and strong business strategies earned her an outstanding Rs 75 lakh investment from Shark Namita Thapar for a 15% stake, highlighting the potential of holistic beauty products in the Indian market.

Menstruation has been an ongoing topic of taboo for decades, but it is safe to say some stigmas attached to it are decreasing day by day. But one problem that still seems to pertain is the lack of awareness about periods in rural areas, especially amongst pre-teen girls who have no clue when puberty might knock on their door and yet, people refuse to change their mentality around this topic.

When Aditi Gupta was struck that she was once on the receiving end of this period-related stigma as a child, she decided to take the matter into her own hands along with her husband to come up with a solution, which led them to create Menstrupedia comics, which is India’s first comic book about periods with engaging storylines and characters., with the motive of changing people’s perceptions about menstruation. This wonderful concept dazzled Shark Namita Thapar to invest ₹50 lakhs in exchange for a 20% stake.

We might have seen men’s facewash, body wash, etc., in the market, but honestly, there are very few products in the men’s lifestyle products category, especially in the sanitation aspect. But no worries, as these two female founders added one product to the collection called Nuutjob.

Their pitch was also reasonably unique as they dressed themselves up like males scratching their groins and entered the sets as such, which, of course, raised the Shark’s eyebrows initially, but later, were enticed with their pitch and how it is related to the usual issues faced by men to promote their brand. Their products are designed to help guys keep their intimates clean and dry as the creams assist men in maintaining a decent pH balance down there to prevent chafing, sweating irritation, and thus preventing foul odour and itching.

The whole idea amazed three Sharks, Piyush Bansal, Namita Thapar, and Aman Gupta who readily invested ₹25 lakh in the company in exchange for a 20% stake. 

Everyone aspires to have the wedding of their dreams with their soulmate; although often the knot does not last long in some cases, the wedding destination is what matters at the end of the day. 

This was likely the approach of WedMeGood, founded by Mehak Sagar, who devised this platform to revolutionize the wedding planning industry. Moreover, her pitch had all the valid points, including the comprehensive services offered by WedMeGood, from vendor listings to wedding ideas, making wedding planning more accessible and organized for couples across India.

In the world of daily soap operas setting a narrative of an angsty and notorious relationship between mother and daughter-in-law, this duo left people amazed by how they came together to start this venture called Carrageen. The founders, namely Surabhi Shah and Chetna Shah, from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, started their company with the intent to eradicate the usage of plastic cutlery in our daily lives, as these items are biodegradable and environmentally friendly and offer unique solutions that are affordable and is a great help for disposable plastic.

Undoubtedly, Sharks Piyush Bansal and Anupam Mittal joined in to support the ecopreneurs and invested 50 lakhs for a 20% stake in the company. Carragreen’s items are biodegradable and environmentally friendly. Carragreen offers unique and cost-effective alternatives to disposable plastic.

When one bids farewell to school, the memories they carry into their future are expected to be memorable, or one may wish because not everyone has a good school experience.

This idea inspired Kavach’s founder, Anushka Jolly. She remembers her peer being humiliated at a school function not too long ago, which remains firmly in her mind. However, for this teenager, the experience served as a memo for launching a social movement to eradicate bullying and give students and parents a platform to anonymously report incidents.

 With the support of educational institutions, social organizations, and many professionals, the ‘Anti-Bullying Squad (ABS)‘ has received a positive response from over 2,000 students via 100 schools and universities, and Jolly is beyond glad that she founded the internet platform three years ago.

If you recall Pepsi popsicles from childhood, you really lived as a child. However, since they are discontinued today or found in scarce rural areas, as the many rumours behind them did not go unnoticed, one even included the popsicle made from unhygienic water.

But this nostalgic candy led Anuja Kabra and her husband, Ravi Kabra, to rescue most Pepsi lovers by launching India’s first ice popsicle brand, Skippi Ice Pops. Made from 100% natural ingredients, the duo created this brand with the goal of bringing back our childhood days and allowing parents to introduce today’s generation, the Gen-Z kids, to these lovely treats that are entirely made in hygienic conditions.

With their impressive pitch and creative marketing strategies, ‘Skippi Ice Pops‘ notably became the first brand to receive an “All Shark Deal” on Shark Tank India with investments of Rs 1 crore for 15% equity from all the Sharks, Ashneer Grover, Anupam Mittal, Aman Gupta, Vineeta Singh, and Namita Thapar.

Every mother wishes for her child’s best and utmost nourishment from the day they are born. From head to toe, new parents ensure they leave no spot unnoticed.

To support such parents, this duo thought of creating and giving away skilful, insightful, and fun activities for the kids. They developed an app called ‘Raising Superstars,’ where they provide several activities for parents and 5-minute sessions for kids. Keeping this aside, they also provide products that help nurture the skills of kids aged between 0 and 3 years.

The Sharks were impressed by the duo’s presentation of a 2-year-old kid who has been keenly learning new skills through their app. The kid’s smartness and the app’s user-friendly approach to new parents were the dealbreakers on Shark Tank India. The Sharks, Aman Gupta and Ashneer Grover couldn’t let this idea slip from their hands, so they mutually decided to invest Rs 1 crore for 4% equity in the company.

Wrapping up

Looking at the inspiring stories and business realms of these female entrepreneurs from Shark Tank India, they are nothing but a beacon of inspiration for us all. Despite all the hurdles they strived past, be it scarcity of funds, societal restrictions, gender disparity, or work-life balance, they proved that women could lead the business industry successfully using their willpower and skills.