Shark Tank India Anupam Mittal’s Harsh Check to Influencer-Turned Founders!

In the latest episode of Shark Tank India, Anupam Mittal, one of the show’s most vocal judges, did not hold back as he criticized an influencer-turned-founder, Vijay Nihalchandani. His sharp words have sparked reactions, leaving viewers questioning the harsh reality of turning social media success into a profitable business.

Read what happens when social media fame doesn’t translate to business success!

The Pitch: Make My Payment

Vijay, a well-known business and finance influencer, appeared on the show with his startup, Make My Payment, an app designed to send automated payment reminders to defaulted debtors. His wife, brother, and business partner joined him, hoping to secure Rs 30 lakh in exchange for a 3% equity stake in their company.

The Reality Check: ‘Better to Start a Street Cart’

Despite the enthusiasm from the founders, the sharks were far from impressed. When asked about their user numbers, Vijay’s wife revealed that out of 3,500 sign-ups, only 200 paid subscribers, leading to a light INR 30,000 monthly revenue. Anupam Mittal was quick to point out the flaw in the revenue model, bluntly saying, “Isse acha thela laga lo”

Anupam’s comment echoed the frustrations of many who have watched influencers attempt to cash in on their social media fame without truly understanding the intricacies of building a sustainable business. His words stung, and his critique went beyond the startup’s viability, it questioned the whole influencer-to-founder model.

Gaurav Taneja’s Take on Shark Tank

This criticism comes just days after popular YouTuber Gaurav Taneja shared his thoughts on Shark Tank India in a LinkedIn post. Reflecting on his own experience at the show, Taneja revealed that one of the sharks had advised him to “shut down YouTube and go all in on one business.” Taneja, known for his successful YouTube career, disagreed, confidently asserting that he would continue creating videos.

Taneja’s experience, combined with Anupam Mittal’s harsh words to Vijay, highlights the underlying message of Shark Tank: social media followers and influencer status do not guarantee success in the startup world. It takes more than just a big following to make a business work.

The Sharks’ Divided Opinions

The rest of the sharks were equally sceptical. Namita Thapar, the executive director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals, questioned the app’s effectiveness. “Anyone defaulting on payments wouldn’t be persuaded by an automated voice message,” she argued. She highlighted how easy it would be for customers to ignore or block such calls.

Aman Gupta, the CEO of Boat Lifestyle, probed further, asking Vijay if he was involved in anything besides Make My Payment. Vijay mentioned his profitable hotel bookings business and a strong following on Instagram, where he earns about Rs 5 lakh per month.

While Lenskart’s Peyush Bansal seemed impressed by Vijay’s Instagram success, the other sharks remained unconvinced. They weren’t ready to take the risk on a business model that didn’t inspire confidence.

Fame Doesn’t Equal Success

Vijay’s pitch was a wake-up call for aspiring entrepreneurs, fame on social media is not a golden ticket to business success. While influencer culture may provide a significant audience, it doesn’t automatically translate into a sustainable, profitable model. Without a solid business plan and realistic revenue projections, even the biggest followers may fail to make it in the world of startups.

Being famous on Instagram is one thing, but building a successful business takes more than just likes and followers.