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Exploring the Educational Backgrounds of All the Judges on Shark Tank India

Ria Sahni, Apoorva Bajj

24 Dec 2024 — 14 min read

Shark Tank India Judges and Their Education

In a world where each individual is a unique mosaic of experiences, passions, and goals, the path to success is as varied as the individuals themselves. The many educational backgrounds people bring are crucial to this variation fabric.

Every choice made on Shark Tank India is based on a wealth of experience and expertise fashioned by the different educational backgrounds of its respected judges. These diverse fields provide a thorough understanding of business principles and invaluable insights into various industries and market dynamics.

In this post, we'll look at all Shark Tank India judges' educational backgrounds and how they've applied their qualifications and expertise in the real world.

Vineeta Singh
Aman Gupta
Anupam Mittal
Namita Thapar
Peyush Bansal
Amit Jain
Ritesh Agarwal
Deepinder Goyal
Azhar Iqubal
Kunal Bahl
Ronnie Screwvala
Varun Dua
Viraj Bahl
Radhika Gupta
Ashneer Grover
Ghazal Alagh
Vikas D Nahar

Vineeta Singh

Name	Vineeta Singh
Position	Co-founder & CEO of Sugar Cosmetics
Education	B.Tech (IIT-Madras), MBA (IIM-Ahmedabad)

Vineeta Singh was born in Anand, Gujarat, India, in 1983 and is 40 years old as of 2023. She completed her schooling at Delhi Public School R. K. Puram, New Delhi, from 1987 to 2001. She graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, with a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering. While at IIT Madras, she did her three-month summer internship with I.T.C. Limited in Kolkata. In 2005, she graduated from the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad with an MBA She worked as an intern for three months at Deutsche Bank in both London and New York while she studied for her MBA. Vineeta Singh worked on projects with the strategic equity transaction group in New York and the emerging markets structuring team in London during her internship.

Aman Gupta

Name	Aman Gupta
Position	Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer at boAt
Education	Delhi University, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Indian School of Business, Kellogg Graduate School of Management

Aman Gupta finished his education at Delhi Public School, R. K. Puram, New Delhi. He later pursued a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons.) degree at Shaheed Bhagat Singh College. He attended the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India from 1999 to 2002 to pursue his studies in accounting, finance, and chartered accountancy. He then enrolled in the Indian School of Business to pursue an M.B.A. in Finance and Strategy. Following that, in 2011, he enrolled in Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management's student exchange program to pursue an M.B.A. in General Management and Marketing.

Anupam Mittal

Name	Anupam Mittal
Position	Founder & CEO of People Group and Shaadi.com
Education	MBA in Operations & Strategic Management (Boston College, US)

Anupam Mittal's widespread fame stems from his position as CEO and founder of Shaadi.com and the People Group. Having started internet enterprises before the internet bubble, Mittal is among the pioneering technology-driven entrepreneurs in India. In addition, he has produced Bollywood films Flavors and 99 under the banner of his parent firm, People Group. He was born in Mumbai, India, and completed his education at Jai Hind College. He earned his M.B.A. degree in operations and strategic management from Boston College in Massachusetts.

Namita Thapar

Name	Namita Thapar
Position	Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals
Education	Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Duke's Fuqua School of Business

Emcure Pharmaceuticals' Executive Director and Shark Tank India investor Namita Thapar is an incredibly successful businesswoman. Her professional accomplishments are matched by her ownership of luxurious mansions, a fleet of exquisite cars, and a net worth in the crores. She finished her primary and secondary schooling at a school in Pune. Namita gave up all extracurricular activities in school to focus solely on academics. She was an excellent student who consistently ranked top in her class. Following her education, Namita enrolled in the B. Com. program at Savitribai Phule Pune University in Pune. She also pursued her ICAI chartered accountancy degree in the interim. Namita then attended Duke University's Fuqua School of Business in Durham, North Carolina, to get an MBA.

Peyush Bansal

Name	Peyush Bansal
Position	Founder & CEO of Lenskart
Education	McGill University, Canada, IIM, Bangalore

Peyush Bansal, born in Delhi, India, began his education at Don Bosco School in New Delhi. Peyush Bansal has demonstrated his inventive energy and passion for value creation through his entrepreneurial experience. His academic aspirations led him to prestigious schools such as McGill University, where he earned a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering. He then enrolled in the Management Programme for Entrepreneurs and Family Businesses (MPEFB) at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.

Amit Jain

Name	Amit Jain
Position	Co-founder and CEO of Car Dekho
Education	IIT, Delhi

Amit Jain received his early education at St. Xavier's School in Jaipur. After finishing school, Amit passed the IIT entrance exam and was accepted into IIT Delhi in 1999.

Ritesh Agarwal

Name	Ritesh Agarwal
Position	Founder and CEO of OYO Rooms
Education	College Dropout, Sacred Heart School, and St. Johns Senior Secondary School

Ritesh attended Sacred Heart School in Rayagada, Odisha, and later graduated from St. Johns Senior Secondary School in Meerut Cantt, Uttar Pradesh, India. Then, to prepare for the IIT entrance exam, he traveled to Kota, Rajasthan. Following that, he enrolled in the Indian School of Business and Finance in Delhi's University of London International Program in 2011 and eventually dropped out. He became the first Asian recipient of the $100,000 Thiel Fellowship grant, equivalent to Rs. 55 Lakh at the time.

Deepinder Goyal

Name	Deepinder Goyal
Position	Co-founder and CEO of Zomato
Education	IIT, Delhi

During his school years, Deepinder Goyal performed below average and had difficulty passing his classes until he reached class 8. For the first time, Deepinder placed third in the class during his first semester of study sessions in class 8 when one of his teachers provided him with a solved answer sheet. Inspired by the praise he got from his parents and professors, he decided to continue his studies henceforth diligently. After two years of improved grades, his parents moved him to D.A.V. College in Chandigarh for classes XI and XII, where he studied science.

He was able to pass the Indian Institutes of Technology, Joint Entrance Examination on his first attempt despite the difficulties he encountered throughout his academic career. He subsequently attended the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, to pursue an engineering degree.

Azhar Iqubal

Name	Azhar Iqubal
Position	Co-founder and CEO of Inshorts
Education	Mathematics and Computer Science, IIT Delhi (Dropped out)

Azhar Iqubal is an Indian entrepreneur who co-founded and serves as the CEO of the news app Inshorts. After completing his schooling, he began preparing for the IIT JEE. He began studying at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi in 2009, pursuing engineering and computer science. In 2012, he left IIT to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams.

Kunal Bahl

Name	Kunal Bahl
Position	Co-founder of Snapdeal and Titan Capital
Education	B.S.E in Entrepreneurship, Operation & Information Management, Wharton B.A.S in Engineering

Kunal Bahl grew up in India and went to Delhi Public School R.K. Puram for his early education. He later studied at the University of Pennsylvania, where he joined the prestigious Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology. He secured two bachelor’s degrees—one in Entrepreneurship, Operations & Information Management from The Wharton School and another in Engineering from the School of Engineering and Applied Science respectively. He also completed an executive marketing program at the Kellogg School of Management to further build his business skills.

Ronnie Screwvala

Name	Ronnie Screwvala
Position	Co-founder of upGrad
Education	Sydenham College of Commerce & Economics

Ronnie Screwvala's name is synonymous with innovation and achievement in the realm of educational technology. As the founder of upGrad, he has transformed online education in India, enabling thousands of students to advance their careers and thrive in the digital era. He completed his education at Mumbai's Cathedral and John Connon Schools before earning his degree from Sydenham College. His father worked in the film business, instilling a passion for entertainment and media in him from an early age. Ronnie Screwvala's parents had other plans for him. However, he still aspired to start his own business while attending university in Mumbai.

Varun Dua

Name	Varun Dua
Position	Founder and CEO of Acko
Education	MBA from Mudra Institute of Communications Ahmedabad

Varun Dua is the founder and CEO of Acko. He is also the owner of CoverFox. Having worked in the insurance industry for over a decade, Varun was responsible for technology-enabled efficient customer service and marketing analytics for primary business acquisition. He earned a commerce degree from the R. A. Podar College Of Commerce & Economics in Mumbai, Maharashtra. After graduation, he took the C.A.T. exam. Later, he earned a master's in Strategic Marketing and Communications from Mudra Institute of Communications in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Viraj Bahl

Name	Viraj Bahl
Position	Founder & Managing Director of Veeba
Education	Industrial Marine Engineering at Singapore Polytechnic

Viraj Bahl is the Founder and Managing Director of Veeba (VRB Consumer Products Pvt. Ltd.), a leading consumer food brand. He will join the panel of Sharks for Shark Tank India season 4. Viraj is known for his deep understanding of the food industry. He is excited to share his knowledge and mentor entrepreneurs with great, scalable ideas.

His experience in building a successful business will help guide those looking for investments and advice. Viraj has studied Industrial Marine Engineering at Singapore Polytechnic.

Radhika Gupta

Name	Radhika Gupta
Position	Managing Director and CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Funds
Education	B.Sc in Economics

Radhika Gupta is the managing director and CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund, which established a mutual fund company worth Rs 1 trillion in just five years. Due to her father's transferable employment, Radhika Gupta finished her education at various institutions across multiple nations. She graduated from Delhi Public School in India, the American International School in Abuja, Nigeria, and Marymount International School in Rome, Italy.

She later graduated from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School with a B.S.E. in economics in 2005. She also finished the Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology.

Ashneer Grover

Name	Ashneer Grover
Position	Ex-founder and Managing Director of BharatPe
Education	B.Tech (IIT-Delhi), MBA (IIM-Ahmedabad)

Ashneer Grover is a graduate of IIM Ahmedabad and IIT Delhi. Ashneer Grover finished his schooling in Delhi. Following that, he received his B.Tech from the Indian Institute of Technology. While studying at IIT Delhi, he was chosen for a student exchange program at the National Institute of Applied Sciences, known as INSA Lyon, France. This engineering school is among the most prestigious and largest in Europe. With a €6,000 grant from the French Embassy, he relocated to INSA Lyon in 2002. Grover then attended the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad in 2004 to pursue an MBA in finance and graduated in the year 2006.

Ghazal Alagh

Name	Ghazal Alagh
Position	Co-founder and Chief Mama of Mamaearth
Education	BCA, Punjab University

Ghazal Alagh is an Indian businesswoman and the Chief Mama of Mamaearth, a natural, toxins-free cosmetics brand. Ghazal Alagh graduated from Punjab University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Applications. 2013 she completed a Summer Intensive Course in Modern Art in Design and Applied Arts. She also completed a rigorous figurative painting course at the New York Academy of Art that same year.

Vikas D Nahar

Name	Vikas D Nahar
Position	Co-founder and CEO of Happilo
Education	Bangalore University, Symbiosis Centre for Management & Human Resource Development, Pune

Co-founder and CEO of Happilo, Vikas D. Nahar is a Special Guest Judge on Shark Tank India. Nahar hails from a farming family that produces coffee and pepper. After completing his schooling in Bangalore, he attended Bangalore University to acquire a Bachelor's in Computer Applications in 2005. After that, he completed his MBA in marketing at Pune, Maharashtra's Symbiosis Centre for Management & Human Resource Development (SCMHRD).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the judges of Shark Tank India have a variety of educational backgrounds, which emphasizes the value of interdisciplinary knowledge and practical experience in the business world. Each judge contributes a distinct viewpoint influenced by their academic journey, drawing from famous institutions such as IITs and IIMs as well as international universities and specialized programs.

FAQs

Who is Aman Gupta?

Aman Gupta is the co-founder and Chief Marketing officer of the company boAt.

What is the education of Peyush Bansal?

Peyush Bansal began his education at Don Bosco School in New Delhi. His academic aspirations led him to prestigious schools such as McGill University, where he earned a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering. He then enrolled in the Management Programme for Entrepreneurs and Family Businesses (MPEFB) at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.

Who is Vineeta Singh?

Vineeta Singh is the co-founder and CEO of Sugar Cosmetics.

What is Shark Tank India?

Shark Tank India is a platform that provides opportunities to new entrepreneurs who will be able to entice the sharks with their ideas. The Sharks will invest in those businesses that they will find suitable.