15 Shark Tank Indian Judges Entrepreneurial Journey
Shark Tank splashed into India in 2022, creating waves of excitement among viewers. The show's success surged with Season 2, and Season 3 followed suit with overwhelmingly positive responses from
Shark Tank splashed into India in 2022, creating waves of excitement among viewers. The show's success surged with Season 2, and Season 3 followed suit with overwhelmingly positive responses from Indian viewers.
While the show aims to highlight entrepreneurial stories, viewers are captivated by the judges' lives. It's natural to wonder about the net worth of Shark Tank India judges who are investing crores in newfound ventures and the path that led them to the coveted seats on the panel.
Curious about the Shark Tank India judges? Let’s discuss their stories - their education, businesses, and financial smarts. Learn what makes these successful investors tick and how their experiences shape their decisions on the show.
List of 15 Judges of Shark Tank India
1. Anupam Mittal
One of the most critical sharks in the show, Anupam Mittal has carved his fan following with his calmness and composure, as well as a scrutinizing eye that pin-points even the smallest inconsistencies in the pitch. Mittal is the founder and CEO of People Group as well as Shaadi.com
Entrepreneurial Journey
Mittal has an eye for businesses that go big. He has invested in over 250 different startups and some of them have even achieved the coveted title of being a ‘Unicorn.’ Mittal’s portfolio includes companies like Ola, Rapido, Bigbasket, and much more. What many people might not know about him is that he has also produced a few Bollywood movies as well.
Mittal found success after the success of his company Shaadi.com which led to the creation of other online businesses such as Makaan.com. Mittal is currently the CEO and founder of People Group and Product Manager at MicroStrategy.
Educational Background
Mittal did his education at Boston College in Massachusetts and spent a considerable time in the States, giving him a better understanding of how fast the business world moves.
Shark Tank India Investments
When it comes to Shark Tank, Mittal has one of the lowest investment percentages amongst all the sharks, investing in only seven startups out of twenty-four committed deals. This goes to show how serious Mittal is when it comes to investing his money, carefully analyzing every company, and making a calculated decision.
Some of Mittal’s notable investments on the TV show include Sunfox Technologies, Snitch Co., Hair Originals, VS Mani and Co, COSIQ, Skippi Ice Pops, Thinkerbell Labs, Heart Up My Sleeves, Refit Global, The Sass Bar, Watt Technovations, WiseLife, Nasher Miles, Honey Twigs, Gud Gum and the Quirky Naari.
Net Worth
While Mittal’s net worth is estimated to be around INR 185 crores, this excludes the value of his shares in companies such as Ola and Rapido.
2. Namita Thapar
Namita Vikas Thapar is one of the OG sharks of the show and has become famous for her regular phrase of ‘expertise’ in the show. Thapar is also known for her reluctance to invest in different startups unless she is very certain about the business. But what might surprise many viewers is that she has the highest percentage of investment commitments in the show, investing in 13 companies out of 22 committed deals.
Entrepreneurial Journey
Namita Thapas is a qualified Chartered Accountant and also has a Master's degree in business administration from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business. She is the Chief Financial Officer of Emcure Pharmaceuticals, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in India. Thapar also runs another company called Incredible Ventures, which focuses on educating future entrepreneurs by giving them practical advice and training in the field of business.
Educational Background
Namita Thapas completed her undergraduate studies at the Savitribai Phule Pune University. She went to the States to complete her post-graduation from Duke University.
Shark Tank India Investments
Namita Thapar is very picky when it comes to investing in companies in Shark Tank. Her most notable investments include Brainwired, Rare Planet, Skippi Ice Pops, Janitri Innovations Pvt. Ltd., Bummer, Snitch Co, Thinkerbell labs, Sunfox Technologies, Wakao Foods, Funngro, Gladful, Watt Technovations, WiseLife, Nasher Miles, Eva Scal Cooling System and Medulance.
Net Worth
Namita Thapar has an estimated net worth of INR 600 crores, most of which comes from shares in established and successful companies.
3. Aman Gupta
Aman Gupta is known to be one of the most fun-loving sharks in Shark Tank, keeping the mood of the show light with his quips and banters with other sharks. Aman Gupta understands the way of creating his audience, a skill that has been very useful for his company. Gupta was recently awarded the ‘Best Celebrity Creator’ award, further showing his understanding of communicating with the audience and creating content.
Entrepreneurial Journey
Aman Gupta’s CV is full of notable achievements in the field of business. He has been the Director of Sales at HARMAN International, Senior Management Consultant at KPMG, Assistant Manager at CitiBank, and ex-chairman of the D2C council of Internet and Mobile Association in India.
But out of all his achievements, the one that stands out from the rest is his company Boat. Gupta is the co-founder and CMO of Boat as well as Advanced Telemedia Pvt. Ltd. Boat brought a revolution of budget truly wireless earphones in India and created a booming market for low-budget tech products such as smartwatches.
Educational Background
Aman Gupta holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Delhi University, and he is also a qualified Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Many people might not know this, but he also has an MBA degree from the Indian School of Business.
Shark Tank India Investments
Aman has made some notable investments in Shark Tank India, some of which include FastBeetel Logistics, SNITCH, Bummer, Paradyes, Gladful, Skippi Icepops, What’s up Wellness, Namhya Food, Get-A-Whey Desserts, Deeva Sarees, WiseLife, Yes Madam, Nasher Miles, Eva Scal Cooling System, Blix, Gud Gum, and EventBeep.
Net Worth
Aman Gupta has an estimated net worth of around INR 720 crore.
4. Peyush Bansal
Peyush Bansal is one of the most respected and loved sharks on the show, known for his calm and composed demeanor as well as for providing constructive criticism to entrepreneurs. Bansal is known for his vision and strong ethics in innovation and improvement. All of his ventures have a target social problem that he aims to fix in some way.
Entrepreneurial Journey
Bansal started his entrepreneurial journey at a very early age, working with classified ads and understanding the various strategies of sales and marketing. Despite having a great job as an engineer at Microsoft, Bansal decided to start his own venture and do something different.
Peyush Bansal founded Lenskart with a modest investment but a great vision. Today, Lenskart is Asia’s largest eyewear company, serving more than 40 million people with its chain of thousands of stores across the country. Apart from that, he has also started other sub-brands that deal with eyewear products, such as John Jacobs, Aqualens, Lenskart Vision Fund, Lenskart Plus, etc.
Educational Background
Peyush Bansal completed his graduation from McGill University in Canada and then obtained an MBA degree from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore.
Shark Tank India Investments
Bansal has invested in multiple promising startups in the show. The list of his investments includes Dorje Teas, SNITCH, HairOriginals, Nuutjob, Humpy Farms, Brainwired, KG Agrotech, Dharaksha Ecosolutions, Thinkerbell Labs, Aroleap, Chefling, Mintree, Gold Safe Solutions Industries, Yes Madam, Kibo, WITHOUT, Watt Technovations, Honey Twigs, Dil Foods and Sunfox Technologies.
Net Worth
Peyush Bansal’s net worth is estimated to be INR 600 crores.
5. Vineeta Singh
Vineeta Singh is one of the first five sharks in Shark Tank India and has been consistently present in all three seasons. Vineeta is known for her calm personality and her effort to understand the business properly before making an investment. She is also famous for her friendly and helpful nature towards the entrepreneur with a genuine passion for their business.
Entrepreneurial Journey
Vineeta Singh is one of the most successful female entrepreneurs in India. She is the co-founder and CEO of Sugar Cosmetics, a cosmetics company that has made great quality make-up items affordable for people. Apart from running a successful company, she is also an angel investor who has been awarded both the Star Retailer in 2007 and Retail Startup of the Year by Entrepreneur in 2019.
Educational Background
Vineeta Singh completed her electrical engineering from IIT Madras and then completed her post-graduation from IIM Ahmedabad with an MBA degree.
Shark Tank India Investments
Vineeta Singh has made some calculated investments in Shark Tank. She has the habit of betting more on the founder than the startup. Vineeta’s Shark Tank portfolio includes Dorje Teas, SNITCH, Watchout Wearables, Paradyes, Skippi Ice pops, COSIQ, Get-A- Whey Desserts, Wakao Foods Heart up my sleeves, Refit Global, Nasher Miles ORBO AI, Yes Madam, Adilqatri Attars, Dil Foods, RodBez Gud Gum, Dharaksha Ecosolutions and Gold Safe Solutions Industries.
Net Worth
Vineeta Singh’s net worth is estimated to be around INR 300 crores.
6. Ashneer Grover
Ashneer Grover is arguably the most polarising shark in Shark Tank India, dividing the viewers into two groups; fans of his harsh criticism sometimes bordering on verbal attack, and the other group who criticize his lack of empathy towards the entrepreneurs and improper treatment of them on national television. Ashneer Grover was only part of the show for one season, after which he had to take a leave due to personal issues.
Entrepreneurial Journey
Ashneer Grover is the co-founder of BharatPe in 2018. BharatPe is one of India’s largest fintech companies and has helped Grover’s net worth reach a peak. Before starting the company, Grover worked with other well-known companies such as Kotak Investment Bank, PC Jeweller Ltd, Grofers, and American Express. So it is safe to say that he had a great understanding of the financial aspects of a business.
Apart from BharatPe, he is also the co-founder of CrickPe. Grover has invested in other successful business ventures such as BIRA, Meddo, Nazara, IndiaGold, etc. He has invested in around 55 different startups outside of the show.
Educational Background
Ashneer Grover completed his graduation from the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi and then acquired another degree from Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon, France. He then acquired an MBA degree from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.
Shark Tank India Investments
Ashneer Grover used to invest only in companies that had a proven business plan. He has invested a total of INR 2.95 crores in eleven deals. Some of the startups he has invested in Shark Tank India include HairOriginals, Tagz Foods, Get A Whey Desserts, Skippi Ice Pops, Brainwired, Kerala Banana Chips, and EventBeep.
Net Worth
Ashneer Grover has an estimated net worth of INR 700 crores.
7. Amit Jain
Amit Jain has been one of the new additions to Shark Tank Season 2 and even in a short period, he has managed to garner a large fan following. Known for his calm way of criticizing entrepreneurs and providing valuable feedback, Amit Jain has become a fan-favorite shark. Amit Jain
His expertise in technology, business strategy, and market dynamics, combined with a keen eye for innovation, has made him a respected figure among aspiring entrepreneurs and startups. Amit is admired for his insightful feedback, strategic investment decisions, and his commitment to mentoring budding entrepreneurs, thereby fostering a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship across the country.
Entrepreneurial Journey
Amit Jain struck gold with the launch of CarDekho, a popular website that tells users all the news and information about cars. Apart from that, Jain is also the co-founder of GirnarSoft. He is also a prominent angel investor helping new businesses get off the ground. He is also a staunch supporter of women entrepreneurs and wishes to promote entrepreneurship in less-developed parts of India.
Educational Background
Amit Jain completed his graduation from Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi.
Shark Tank India Investments
Amit Jain invests more in the investors than the businesses. Some of the startups he has invested in Shark Tank India include Gladful, Nishhair, Aroleap, Chefling, Funngro, MOPP Foods, Ekatra, Refit Global and Maisha.
Net Worth
Amit Jain has an estimated net worth of over INR 3,000 crores.
8. Ghazal Alagh
Ghazal Alagh has been a part of Shark Tank India for a brief period but even in that small amount of time, she did make some substantial investments in many startups. Alagh is a successful entrepreneur and achieved a lot of recognition for her work in the business field. She has been awarded the Business World 40 Under 40 Awards for bringing a big change in society.
Entrepreneurial Journey
Ghazal Alagh co-founded the skincare brand Mamaearth along with her husband intending to create safe-for-skin products that are free of toxins and harmful chemicals while keeping the price low to ensure people can afford it.
She has also worked with NIIT as a corporate trainer and actively invests in startups and other businesses.
Educational Background
Ghazal Alagh has a bachelor’s degree in information technology and has done courses in Modern Art, Design, and Applied arts from New York Academy.
Shark Tank India Investments
Ghazal Alagh has invested in many startups from Shark Tank including Humpy Farms, Sunfox Technologies, Wakao Foods, Gold Safe Solutions Industries, Nomad Food Project, The Sass Bar, and Watt Technovations.
Net Worth
Ghazal Alagh has an estimated net worth of INR 150 crore.
9. Ritesh Agarwal
Ritesh Agarwal came to Shark Tank India in season 3 and yet he has managed to surpass many other sharks in terms of popularity and impact. Agarwal has invested in multiple startups in the show and people like his calm and composed nature with a way of communicating with the founders. What people like about him is that he tries to help businesses rather than just invest in them for profits.
He is a prominent angel investor and was featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Asia.
Entrepreneurial Journey
Ritesh came from a very small town in Odisha but his dreams have always been big. His entrepreneurial journey started very early in his life. He started selling SIM cards at the age of 13 and then founded Oravel Stays during college, which offered a service similar to Airbnb but at a small budget.
He is the founder & group CEO of OYO which allows people to turn their houses into hotels for people to stay and earn money from. OYO has allowed a lot of people to earn money and even become entrepreneurs.
Educational Background
Ritesh Agarwal completed his schooling at Sacred Heart School and then at St. Johns Senior Secondary School. He dropped out of college to start his venture.
Shark Tank India Investments
Ritesh Agarwal has invested in multiple startups featured on Shark Tank India. Some of the startups include Toffee Coffee Roasters, Deeva Sarees, WiseLife, Yes Madam, Nasher Miles, DaakRoom, Honey Twigs, Eva Scal Cooling System, Gud Gum, Dil Foods, RodBez and Blix.
Net Worth
Ritesh Agarwal has a massive net worth of around INR 16,000 crore. In terms of the Shark Tank India Judges net worth, Ritesh is the richest shark among his colleagues.
10. Azhar Iqubal
Azhar Iqubal is one of the newest sharks in Shark Tank India, making his debut in season three. Despite his short time in the show, he has managed to capture viewers' attention with his positive nature, delivering constructive criticism and providing helpful feedback to entrepreneurs with a contagious smile.
Azhar is also one of the most successful entrepreneurs in India, featuring in the 20 under 30 list in 2016. Iqubal is also an active angel investor, helping young businesses grow.
Entrepreneurial Journey
Azhar’s entrepreneurial journey is the definition of starting small with big ambition. He is the co-founder and CEO of Inshorts, a news aggregation application that curates different news sources and presents them to the user the way the user wants.
Inshorts started as a simple Facebook page but grew over time. The service was later developed into an application, and then it took off. ‘In short,’ Azhar made it easier for people to find a variety of news all in one place, summarised.
Educational Background
Azhar Iqubal started his graduation journey at the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi but cut it short as he took a dropout to launch Inshorts.
Shark Tank India Investments
Azhar has kept his investments in startups featured in Shark Tank small but sharp. He analyses the startups and their founders carefully and then makes a decision. His portfolio includes Aroleap, Chefling, Mintree, and Turms.
Net Worth
Azhar Iqubal has an estimated net worth of INR 500 crore
11. Deepinder Goyal
Deepinder Goyal is also one of the newest judges on the panel for Shark Tank India season 3. Known for his quiet and pensive look, and his ability to find out even the smallest of inconsistencies in an entrepreneur’s pitch, Goyal has been very vocal in criticizing entrepreneurs. But while his tone is harsh, he is generally liked for giving the right advice to entrepreneurs. Goyal has only appeared in a handful of episodes and is not a regular on the show.
Entrepreneurial Journey
Deepinder Goyal is the founder and CEO of the popular online food ordering service Zomato. Before the idea of Zomato popped into his head, Goyal used to work at Bain and Company in New Delhi.
A fun fact; Zomato was called Foodiebay during the early days of its operations. Today, what began as a small service from Goyal’s apartment has a market cap of almost 17 billion USD.
Educational Background
Goyal graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, with a degree in mathematics and computing in 2005.
Shark Tank India Investments
Due to his shrewd assessment and only a few appearances on the show, Goyal has invested in just one startup called Goenchi Feni.
Net Worth
Deepinder Goyal has an estimated net worth of INR 2,030 crores.
12. Ronnie Screwvala
With multiple successful companies and a portfolio of investments in dozens of massive businesses, Ronnie Screwvala is a whale in the sharks. He is one of the most influential angel investors in India, investing not only in businesses but also in high-budget movies.
Screwvala has been featured on Esquire’s List of the 75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century. Not only that but he was ranked 78 out of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time in 2008. To put it simply, Ronnie Screwvala carries accolades as an accessory.
Entrepreneurial Journey
Ronnie Screwvala is the co-founder and chairman of upGrad.com, one of India’s leading edu-tech platforms offering online tuition and coaching to students. He is also the founder of Swades Foundation, Unilazer Ventures, and UTV network, something many people must be familiar with. He is also the owner of RSVP movies and has produced movies such as Chennai Express, Uri: Surgical Strike, Paan Singh Tomar, etc.
Educational Background
Ronnie Screwvala holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai, India. However, he did not pursue formal education beyond his undergraduate studies. Instead, he ventured into various entrepreneurial endeavors, particularly in the media and entertainment industry.
Shark Tank India Investments
Kibo and WITHOUT
Net Worth
net worth of Rs 12,800 crore.
13. Varun Dua
You might not have heard of Varun Dua, but if you own a car, then you might have used his company. Varun Dua is the CEO of Acko General Insurance, an insurance company that has recently seen a boom in popularity due to its low charges and easily accessible services.
Varun Dua is one of the new sharks in the show, joining others in the third installment of the show. Dua is known for his sharp questions, scrutiny of the startup, and complete understanding of the business and the founders before making an investment.
Entrepreneurial Journey
Dua started his career by being a trainee at Leo Burnett Advertising and then moved to Tata AIG Life Insurance and worked as a marketing manager. Perhaps it was here that he got the idea of starting an auto insurance company that is made for the younger generation. Varun Dua then founded Acko General Insurance and is currently the CEO of both Acko and Coverfox Insurance.
Educational Background
Varun Dua graduated from the University of Mumbai and then completed his Master’s degree from Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad.
Shark Tank India Investments
Due to his limited appearances in the show, Dua has not invested in many startups. His Shark Tank portfolio only includes two companies; Tohands and Plus
Net Worth
Varun Dua’s net worth is undefined.
14. Radhika Gupta
Radhika Gupta is one of the newest sharks in the show and has made only a few appearances in Shark Tank India Season 3. Known for her positive personality and perpetual smile, Gupta is India’s only female head of a major asset management company and has set up India's first domestic hedge fund.
Entrepreneurial Journey
Radhika Gupta is the Chief Executive Officer of Edelweiss Asset Management Ltd and heads the company in almost every decision; from investment decisions to distribution and platform operations.
Educational Background
Radhika Gupta graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in Management and Technology. She also holds a joint degree in economics from the prestigious Wharton School and a degree in computer science and engineering from the Moore School.
Shark Tank India Investments
Due to her limited appearances in the show, Radhika Gupta has not been able to invest in a lot of startups featured in the show. Some of the businesses she has invested in include Deeva Sarees, Dil Foods, and Tohands.
Net Worth
Radhika Gupta has a net worth of INR 41 crores.
15. Vikas D Nahar
Vikas D Nahar is a prominent angel investor from Bengaluru who primarily invests in the food and beverage industries. Nahar appeared on the finale episode of Shark Tank season 2, which was a digital-only episode (meaning it aired exclusively on the Sony Liv App and not on television).
Nahar was awarded the title “Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2021 by the Indian Achievers Forum. He also appeared on the Times’ 40 under 40 list.
Entrepreneurial Journey
As a young graduate, Vikas was employed as the Senior Import Manager (Asia) at the Jain Group. After working with the Jain Group for three years, he served as the Managing Director at Satvikk Specialty Foods Pvt. Ltd. for five years.
During this time he was actively involved in his family business as well. In 2016, Nahar founded Happilo intending to introduce healthy snack options to the Indian market.
Educational Background
Nahar enrolled at Bangalore University for his undergraduate studies in 2002. He later went on to pursue post-graduation at the Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development (SCMHRD), Pune, in 2008.
Shark Tank India Investments
Since Nahar has only appeared in one Shark Tank India episode, he has yet to make any investment in the show.
Net Worth
The net worth of Vikas D Nahar is presently unavailable from any trustworthy source.
Know Your Sharks
With each new season of Shark Tank India, viewers eagerly await the introduction of new angel investors ready to make an impact. While many turn to a quick web search for basic information about these sharks, reliable details can be scarce.
YNOS Angels steps in to fill this gap, offering a comprehensive resource detailing the backgrounds, education, investments, and preferred industries of all these sharky investors. Our platform provides accurate and reliable information, ensuring that viewers can gain a deeper understanding of the individuals behind the investment decisions.
As the show progresses and new Sharks join the ranks, we commit to keeping our audience informed with timely updates. Keep returning to this space for the complete Shark Tank India judges list and their investments.