₹388 Crore, 436 Deals, 2,000 Founders: Anupam Mittal Reveals the Real Impact of Shark Tank India
Shark Tank India has come a long way from early scepticism to undeniable scale. And Anupam Mittal, Founder and CEO of People Group and one of the show’s original Sharks, believes the initial doubts no longer hold relevance.
In a recent LinkedIn post, Mittal reflected on the journey of Shark Tank India, four years and five seasons after it first aired. What began as an experiment, often questioned for its relevance to Indian households, has steadily evolved into one of the country’s most influential platforms for entrepreneurship.
“They said it will never work. They also said investing is too niche for Indian households,” Mittal wrote. “Both statements were technically correct. But four years and five seasons in, completely irrelevant.”
Shark Tank India Was Never Just About Investing
Mittal made it clear that the show was never designed to be just another investing reality programme. According to him, the intent was always broader and more cultural.
“Shark Tank India was never meant to be just an investing TV show,” he said. “It was about giving underdogs a place in our living rooms and shaping India’s dreams and aspirations.”
Over time, the show has helped bring entrepreneurship into mainstream conversations, reaching households far beyond traditional startup circles.
Four Years In, Shark Tank India’s Scale Surprises Even Critics
The numbers from the past four years underline how rapidly the show has scaled.
As per Mittal’s post, nearly 2,000 founders have stepped into the Tank during this period. Of these, 952 pitches were aired on television. The show has produced 250 episodes across five seasons.
Mittal also drew a comparison with the US version, noting that Shark Tank US took 16 seasons to reach around 350 episodes.
On the investment front, 436 deals have been closed on the show, with a total commitment of INR 388 crore from the Sharks.
“These are numbers people didn’t anticipate,” Mittal noted, pointing to how quickly the format found acceptance in India.
Beyond TV Deals: Startups That Turned Pitches Into Businesses
While episode counts and deal values are visible markers of success, Mittal stressed that the real impact lies beyond television.
According to him, more than 20 companies featured on Shark Tank India have crossed INR 50 crore in annualised revenue. Over 50 startups have grown five times or more after appearing on the show. More than 30 companies have gone on to raise institutional or strategic capital.
“These are not just ‘startup funding’ stories,” Mittal wrote. “They are thousands of real jobs and evidence of excellence, quietly upping the bar for our nation.”
He suggested that the show’s lasting contribution lies in business resilience, employment generation and long-term value creation.
Who Is Building India’s Startups Today?
One of the most notable shifts highlighted by Mittal was the changing profile of Indian founders.
He revealed that nearly 80% of pitchers on the show did not come from Ivy League or elite academic backgrounds. Around 43% of pitches featured at least one woman founder, compared to sub-10% representation typically seen outside the show. Around 30% of co-founders were family members.
“We’ve moved past the ‘VC stereotype’,” Mittal said. “The new Indian builders are not just male dorm-buddies with IIT degrees. They are everyday people who find a problem they refuse to ignore.”
This, he believes, reflects a broader evolution in how entrepreneurship is perceived and practised in India.
Founders, Sharks and Viewers: The Ecosystem Behind the Show
Mittal also credited the wider ecosystem that enabled the show’s success. He described the 2,000 founders who entered the Tank as “the real heroes”. He acknowledged the more than 200 people working behind the scenes, the original Sharks who took reputational risks, and the audience that allowed the format time to grow.
Ending on a personal note, Mittal dedicated the journey to those willing to challenge conventional thinking.
“To contrarians everywhere who dare to take the road less travelled,” he wrote.
As Shark Tank India continues to evolve, Mittal’s reflections suggest that its greatest impact may not be measured only in deals closed, but in the confidence it has helped build among India’s next generation of entrepreneurs.
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