Aman Gupta Says Sponsors Can Pay to Be a Shark on Shark Tank India
Aman Gupta Says Sponsors Can Pay to Be a Shark on Shark Tank India
Aman Gupta reveals behind-the-scenes: sponsors can join as judges, BoAt moves to professional management, plus candid takes on pitches and valuations.
On a recent chat, Aman Gupta pulls back the curtain on Shark Tank India’s backstage dynamics. He explains that sponsors can actually join the judging panel by paying a fee, a practice that has been around for several seasons. He makes it clear he never pays to be a shark himself, but notes that some sponsors become part of the show and may show up for a weekend. The season features a familiar lineup of sharks, including Aman Gupta, Anupam Mittal, Namita Thapar, Vineeta Singh, Kunal Bahl, Amit Jain, Viraj Bahl, Ritesh Agarwal, Mohit Yadav, Kanika Tekriwal, Hardik Kothiya, Shaily Mehrotra, and Varun Alagh.
Separately, Gupta discusses a major strategic shift at BoAt: he stepped down as chief marketing officer days before the company’s IPO, emphasizing that the move was part of a longer-term plan to professionalize the business. He says the decision wasn’t made overnight; about three years ago, BoAt brought in an external CEO to run the company, and Gaurav Nayyar has since moved from COO to CEO. Gupta underscores that professional management can run the company more effectively than founders alone, signaling a new era for the brand.
On the show’s candid moments, a pitcher once admitted to unconventional financing, reportedly using his wife’s jewelry as collateral to fund a kids’ brand. Gupta’s response, and the broader discussion, highlight the high-stakes nature of the pitches and the tough financial realities guests face. The episode offers a glimpse into the mentoring dynamic on stage and the line between endorsement and investment.
Gupta also weighs in on valuation talk, noting that Lenskart’s lengthy Rs 70,000 crore figure wasn’t necessarily right, even as he stays in touch with founder Ashneer Grover. He adds that he didn’t like Anupam Mittal initially, revealing the honest, sometimes prickly, dynamics among the panel. Taken together, these remarks illustrate a show where sponsor roles, corporate moves, and on-air judgments shape the business conversations that captivate viewers.
Beyond the studio, the conversation points to a broader shift in how television business shows operate in India. As the season progresses, viewers can expect more blunt feedback, mentoring, and perhaps surprising collaborations that blur the lines between sponsor, judge, and investor.
