IIT Graduate Who Secured 1 Crore Deal on Shark Tank India, Talks About The 'Dark Side Of Make In India'

Image Credits: X/@officialAroleap

An IIT Delhi graduate and entrepreneur, Aman Rai recently shared his struggles with bureaucratic hurdles while attempting to secure a factory license for his startup. Rai had earlier gained national attention when his home gym startup, Aroleap, secured a 1 crore deal on Shark Tank India. However, his recent experience highlights the challenges of navigating red tape in India’s business environment.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Rai revealed that a vendor he approached for assistance in obtaining the factory license quoted an “out-of-pocket expense” of Rs. 70,000. This prompted Rai to question the government’s claims of promoting the “Make in India” initiative and improving the “Ease of Doing Business.”

Determined to avoid paying a bribe, Rai decided to apply directly for the license. However, he encountered further obstacles when officials demanded Rs. 1 lakh as a bribe to process his application. “Dark side of Make in India! Went and filed for the license directly. Being asked for ₹1L as a bribe to get the license now!" he wrote in his post.

Rai’s post on X gained over 7 lakh views online. The widespread attention eventually led a senior official from the Ministry of Commerce to contact Rai and offer assistance in resolving the issue. Rai later updated his followers, stating that the matter would likely be resolved quickly thanks to the intervention.