Pratham Mittal: The Educator-Investor Who’s Bringing Heart to Shark Tank India
👨💻StartupTalkers
When we speak of Shark Tank India judges, we can easily visualize experienced venture capitalists or renowned startup founders with several decades of industry experience.
But Pratham Mittal brings a fresh and deeply meaningful perspective, that of an educator-entrepreneur who believes that entrepreneurship begins with learning by doing, not waiting for the “right age.”
As a founder of modern business education platforms and an advocate for student innovators, Mittal is redefining how India’s young generation builds ventures, and soon he’ll bring that philosophy to the national entrepreneurial stage as a judge on Shark Tank India Season 5 (Campus Special).
Let’s take a deep dive into his life, from his education and early business ventures to his role as a judge who aims to bring more heart and mentorship to young founders.
| Full Name: | Pratham Mittal |
| Birthplace: | India (exact city not publicly available) |
| Nationality: | Indian |
| Education: |
The Doon School (High School) The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (Systems Science & Political Science) |
| Occupation: | Entrepreneur • Educator • Venture Builder • Investor |
| Known For: | Founder of Master’s Union and Tetr College of Business, Judge on Shark Tank India Season 5 – Campus Special |
Pratham Mittal - Early Life and Education
Pratham Mittal received his early education at The Doon School, one of India’s most prestigious boarding schools.
From a young age, he showed strong interest in understanding how business interacts with society and systems.
He later pursued higher education at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, where he studied:
- Systems Science
- Political Science
This blend of the two disciplines had impacted the way he tackled complex organizational systems, a concept that he was to apply much later in the development of his novel approach to venturing.
Pratham Mittal - Career and Entrepreneurial Journey Early Startup: Outgrow (2011–2024)
Pratham's experience started with the founding of Outgrow in 2011. Outgrow is a SaaS platform with headquarters located in New York, engaging in content marketing with a focus on interactive content.
The platform developed by Outgrow enables the creation of quizzes, calculators, and other engagement pieces, used by millions of consumers globally. This formed the basis of understanding product-led growth, experience, and scaling for Mittal.
His time at Outgrow was a learning ground in building scalable products and influencing enterprise decisions, an experience he would later channel into building institutions rather than just products.
Damini Bhandary
Masters’ Union – Transforming Business Education
In August 2020, Pratham Mittal founded Masters’ Union in Gurugram, India.
Vision:
Modern business education should be:
- Practical
- Founder-led
- Experiential
- Industry-integrated
What Makes Masters’ Union Unique?
- Entrepreneurs teach alongside faculty
- Real-world business challenges
- “Learning by Building” curriculum
- Students launch real startups
Impact:
- Dozens of student-led startups launched
- Companies generating real revenue
- Significant grants and funding secured
- Personalized mentorship hours
Masters’ Union positioned itself as an alternative to traditional MBA programs in India.
Tetr College of Business – Reinventing Undergraduate Learning
Expanding on the idea that entrepreneurship should start as early as possible, Mittal founded Tetr College of Business in January 2024. Tetr breaks traditional education models by infusing venture creation into its undergraduate curriculum, allowing students to build real startups while they earn their degrees. Outlook Business
The program spans multiple countries, where students experience global markets firsthand, combining academics with live venture building. The acceptance rate is highly competitive, highlighting both the rigor and demand for this model.
Several successful student ventures have emerged, and the college has raised $18 million from leading global education investors to further scale this model.
Pratham Mittal - Philosophy and Vision
Mittal believes:
“Entrepreneurship is for everyone, at any age.”
He challenges the traditional notion that startups are only for seasoned professionals. Instead, Mittal believes that students, even those without work experience, can build transformative businesses when given the right mentorship and environment.
This philosophy is embedded in his educational ventures:
- Experiential Learning: Students launch ventures as part of coursework.
- Mentor-led Curriculum: Industry leaders teach alongside academic faculty.
- Startup First: Revenue, product development, and market traction are prioritized over grades and exams.
Mittal’s message is clear — “there is no right age to start building something meaningful.” This belief has resonated with young innovators across India and abroad.
Pratham Mittal - Role on Shark Tank India
In December 2025, it was announced that Pratham Mittal would be joining the judging panel of Shark Tank India Season 5, specifically for the Campus Special editions, which are centered on young founders.
This act is yet another way that supports his commitment to entrepreneurship for students and puts him front and center as a mentor and resource for young businessmen and women.
Mittal himself has stated that his intention with this television series would be positive and instructive, and would inject more Emotional Intelligence into the discussion on entrepreneurship and startups.
He believes that young founders should receive feedback that encourages growth and learning, not just harsh judgment.
Pratham Mittal - Impact and Industry Influence
Pratham Mittal is more than a judge or an educator; he’s part of a growing movement that’s reshaping India’s entrepreneurship ecosystem by:
- Democratizing innovation through education.
- Cultivating early-stage founders before traditional incubators.
- Blurring boundaries between education and business building.
His ventures show measurable outcomes, student startups with real revenue, venture funds backing early companies, and curricula that reflect the real pace of business today.
Muskaan Kapoor
Pratham Mittal - Challenges and Learnings
Launching unconventional educational models hasn’t been easy. Convincing parents and students to trust an experimental and practice-first model, rather than traditional elite business schools, posed early challenges. Mittal has noted the extensive effort required to persuade families that hands-on entrepreneurial education could be a superior pathway.
But these challenges have only strengthened him resolve to change the narrative around business education, proving that risk-taking, iteration, and real startup building are crucial parts of learning.
Pratham Mittal - Legacy and Continuing Mission
Today, Pratham is at the nexus of education, startups, and investments. Moving into Shark Tank India as he enters the nationwide stage, his tone is expected to represent a generation of startup founders who would rather build and share what they have learned publicly and focus on making an impact.
Mittal’s experience just goes to confirm that no matter what, entrepreneurism is not a function of age or a title; it’s all about doing, trying, and taking chances.
FAQs
Who is Pratham Mittal?
Pratham Mittal is an Indian entrepreneur and educator, founder of Masters’ Union and Tetr College of Business, and a judge on Shark Tank India Season 5 – Campus Special.
What is Masters’ Union known for?
Masters’ Union is known for its experiential, founder-led business education model where students build real startups as part of their curriculum.
What makes Tetr College of Business unique?
Tetr allows undergraduate students to build real ventures while studying across multiple countries, combining academics with global startup exposure.
What is Pratham Mittal’s philosophy on entrepreneurship?
He believes entrepreneurship has no age limit and that students can build meaningful businesses with the right mentorship and environment.
Must have tools for startups - Recommended by StartupTalky
- Convert Visitors into Leads- SeizeLead
- Website Builder SquareSpace
- Run your business Smoothly Systeme.io
- Stock Images Shutterstock
