Vikas D Nahar Success Story: From Happilo Founder to Shark Tank India Guest Shark

Vikas D Nahar is an Indian businessman who has made a name for himself in the healthy food industry. He is the founder of Happilo International, a company that specializes in offering high-quality dried fruits, nuts, seeds, dates, hampers, and more. Despite facing numerous rejections, Vikas persevered and successfully raised funds for Happilo, which has now become a well-known health food brand.

Vikas's inspiring journey is one that many aspiring entrepreneurs can learn from. So, let's read about the successful journey of the man who was rejected almost twenty times before his first fund raise for his company, Happilo, to appear as a guest judge on the popular television show Shark Tank India Season 2.

Vikas D Nahar - Biography

Vikas D Nahar - Early and Personal Life
Vikas D Nahar - Education and Career
Vikas D Nahar - Establishing Happilo
Vikas D Nahar - Shark Tank India
Vikas D Nahar - Investments
Vikas D Nahar - Awards and Recognitions
Vikas D Nahar - Interesting Facts

Vikas D Nahar - Early and Personal Life

Vikas D Nahar was born in Bangalore in 1984. He belongs to a business family that has a agricultural business, growing coffee and pepper. Vikas's father, Dhanmal Nahar, is a businessman. Right from his childhood, Vikas has always looked upon his father as his role model. By observing his father, he learned that patience, persistence, and fearlessness are the keys to success.

Talking about his personal life, Vikas married Sunita Bansal on March 2, 2014. The couple has one daughter.

Vikas has one brother, Veerendar Nahar, who is the Managing Director of Satvikk Speciality Foods Pvt. Ltd.

Vikas D Nahar - Education and Career

Vikas did his graduation in Computer Application from Bangalore University. Afterward, he attended the Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development, Pune, to pursue an MBA in Marketing from 2008 to 2010. Before he enrolled himself for an MBA, Vikas served as a Senior Import Manager - Asia at Jain Group Pvt. Ltd. for three years.

At Jain Group, Vikas successfully managed and maintained liaisons with international clients, specifically Asian clients. Besides this, he also implemented several procedures in the imports department, and he also handled customs clearance at the port in Chennai.

During this time, Vikas Nahar was selected to be a part of the induction team. He offered new hires and team members training. Not only this, but he also has trading expertise on the MCX, NCDEX, NMCE, NSE, and BSE terminals.

The seeds of entrepreneurship have always been buried in Vikas, since his preadolescent days, as his father was a businessman. After completing his studies, Vikas worked for a while in the family business. It was during that time that he understood his own qualities as an entrepreneur.

In 2010, Vikas joined the company Satvikk Speciality Foods Pvt. Ltd. as the Managing Director. It is a health-focused food store that opened its first branch in Bangalore in December 2011. It is during his tenure that he accelerated business expansion with a dedication to quality, nutrition, and health. Intending to offer a variety of nutrient-rich tasting products while upholding the highest standards of quality, he worked diligently with his team to innovate and improve its products and processes. They were experts in premium spices, chocolates, organic foods, sugar-free foods, dry fruits, healthy drinks, cookies, juices, and snacks. It was his idea that he began with a small selection and gradually increased it to include about 40 different types of dry fruits, 100 different kinds of chocolate, and 60 different kinds of spices, giving their customers almost everything they could want. Today, Vikas's brother, Veerendar Nahar, is the Managing Director at Satvikk Speciality Foods.

Vikas D Nahar - Establishing Happilo

After serving for almost five years at Satvikk and spending a few years at his family's business, Vikas decided to start his very own company. It was in 2016 when he founded his company, Happilo.

His initiative was to introduce a healthy way in which people would consume snacks. In the initial days, challenges were quite tough for Vikas. In an interview, he mentioned that he was rejected 20 times before he raised the first funding for his company.

After discovering various ways and finding the right passion, Vikas introduced "Trail Mix" as its first product. Very soon, the product became an instant hit. Since then, Vikas's Happilo hasn't stopped pushing its limits.

His company's success was spoken, and today his company ships its goods in 40-foot containers instead of hand-counted small passenger autos like they used to do in the past.

Vikas's intention rightly emerged with his company, Happilo, which is a well-known brand of gourmet healthy snacks today. He founded his company by keeping the fundamental ideas of happiness and love in mind.

His business also serves as the Rajasthan Royals' illustrious Indian Premier League team's title sponsor. It is commendable how he carried out his business within 7 years, starting with an initial investment of only Rs. 10,000, and now having an annual revenue run-rate of over Rs. 500 crores.

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Vikas D Nahar - Shark Tank India

The popular show Shark Tank India has Vikas D Nahar as its guest shark for the grand finale of Season 2. A special "digital-only" episode on SonyLiv called "Gateway to Shark Tank India 2" aired, wherein aspiring business owners got the chance to interact with Vikas and other sharks and pitch their ideas to them.

Being the founder of a leading health food brand in India worth Rs 500 crores, Vikas D Nahar is sure to add great value to the Shark Tank India team.

Vikas D Nahar - Investments

Vikas D Nahar made his recent investment on August 17th, 2022. He has invested in the company, The Health Factory, a Mumbai-based company that offers ‘pro-nutrition’ products and has created India’s first high-protein bread. Vikas made an investment of INR 2 crore in the company.

Vikas D Nahar - Awards and Recognitions

Vikas D Nahar has received numerous prestigious awards and recognitions, including:

• Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 by the Indian Achievers Forum
• ET Entrepreneur of the Year
• SIAL Innovation Awards 2022
• Times' 40 Under 40

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Vikas D Nahar - Interesting Facts

• Vikas Nahar is regarded as a polyglot as he can speak many languages like English, Hindi, Kannada, Marwari, and Spanish.
• He was rejected 20 times by investors before he raised his first funding.
• Vikas started his business with an initial investment of only Rs 10,000.
• In 2023, Vikas D Nahar appeared as a special guest shark on 'Gateway to Shark Tank India 2', the grand finale episode of Shark Tank India Season 2, which was a digital-only episode.

FAQs

Who is Vikas D Nahar?

Vikas D Nahar is an Indian businessman and the founder of Happilo International, a company that specializes in offering high-quality dried fruits, nuts, seeds, dates, hampers, and more.

When did Vikas D Nahar start Happilo?

Vikas D Nahar founded Happilo in 2016.

Who is the guest shark on Shark Tank India Season 2?

Vikas D Nahar, the founder and CEO of Happilo, appeared as the guest shark on Shark Tank India Season 2.