Gaurav Taneja appeared on Shark Tank India 4 with his brand, Beast Life. Even though his self-claimed sales were phenomenal, he was not able to secure a deal. Founder and CEO of Shaadi.com and People Group, Anupam Mittal, even told the influencer that "You cannot allot a set time in start-ups; you have to be available all the times", while choosing not to invest in the latter's fitness brand.
Gaurav Taneja appeared in the first week of Shark Tank India 4, with a valuation of Rs. 100 crores for his company and sought Rs. 1 crore for a 1 per cent equity. However, his lack of full-time commitment became a reason for the 'sharks' to opt out of the negotiations. Further, the judge's panel found the equity distribution between the influencer and Raj Vikram problematic, as they felt that the contribution he made to the latter's 11 per cent stake was unjustified. Especially when Gaurav and Varun Alagh were not fully involved in the venture, yet held 40 per cent and 30 per cent stakes, respectively.
After the episode was aired, Gaurav Taneja reflected on his experience on the show while stressing the importance of breaking conventional norms and redefining entrepreneurship. He recalled being asked by the 'sharks' if he would continue his YouTube channel after the success of Beast Life; Gaurav had, without hesitation, answered affirmatively. During the interaction, Gaurav, without taking Anupam Mittal's name, quoted his comment, "Aap ka focus nahi hoga, aap waha se paisa bana loge." and stated:
"But to me, that felt like a risky move — one that could hurt more than help. With over 8 years of digital marketing experience, I understand the power of organic reach and audience trust. We’re already EBIDTA positive, and because of the distribution we’ve built, we save nearly 90% of our total expenditure on marketing. That’s a huge advantage."
Gaurav Taneja, in the same conversation, made a comparison between his brand, Beast Life and Shaadi.com's social media presence. The influencer noted that while Anupam Mital's Shaadi.com had only amassed 125K Instagram followers since April 2015, Beast Life was able to cross 127K in just eight months. Gaurav was quoted saying:
"Shaadi.com might have spent millions to create this distribution. The rules of entrepreneurship are evolving. Maybe it’s time to explore and break traditional moulds."
Gaurav Taneja shared an insightful observation by Kunal Bahl, who is the co-founder of Snapdeal and Titan Capital. The influencer revealed that the entrepreneur had made a comment, which apparently did not make it to the final cut of the episode. Gaurav shared revealed that Kunal agreed with his ideology and had stated:
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"Har cheez ka pattern hota hai. Sab us set pattern mein comfortable hote hai. But kabhi kabhi time hota hai us pattern se nikalne ka."
Gaurav Taneja admitted to being new to the entrepreneurial journey and acknowledged that bold moves might lead to his failures. He added these failures would also pave the way for valuable learning experiences. He concluded by asking his audience what their thoughts were on breaking patterns and redefining entrepreneurship.
What are your thoughts on Gaurav Taneja's dig at Anupam Mittal?
Next Read: 'Leave Us Alone..' Kareena Reacts Angrily As Video Shows Taimur-Jeh's New Toys After Saif's Attack
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