The latest episode of Shark Tank India Season 4 featured an inspiring pitch by the Batra family from Gurgaon, who introduced their fashion brand Dorabi. Founders Vinod Batra, Ashima Batra, and Sonia Batra presented their company as India’s only 100% hand-dyed fashion label.
Alongside Dorabi, they also introduced their minimalist workwear brand, Aamili, with a vision to expand across all categories. Their ask was ₹75 lakhs for 3% equity at a valuation of ₹25 crores.
During the pitch, the Batras revealed that they had previously launched another brand, which failed, leading to a loss of ₹70 lakhs. This caught the attention of Shark Anupam Mittal, who asked about the reason behind the failure. Ashima explained that in 2020, they were approached by "brand architects" who promised to build a successful brand for them on Myntra. Lacking marketing experience, the Batras invested not only in the business but also in hefty fees for these so-called experts. Unfortunately, the venture failed, but the family gained valuable lessons from the experience.
When the Batras handed over samples of their clothing, Namita Thapar noticed that their sample bags still carried the logo of their failed brand. She advised them to remove it, warning that keeping it to save costs could create a negative perception among customers.
Discussing their sales, Ashima revealed that their website currently contributes to 100% of their revenue. Hearing this, Anupam Mittal jokingly asked, “If you are already saving ₹65 lakhs this year, why do you need external funding? Papa phir se nahi de rahe capital?” The Sharks burst into laughter, while Ashima confidently responded that her father would support her anytime, but she wanted to scale the business independently.
When Anupam questioned why her parents were still involved, Ashima smiled and said, “Papa mummy phir bhi lagenge because the idea is to grow very fast and quickly.”
Anupam Mittal was the first to offer a deal of ₹75 lakhs for 5% equity. Then, Kunal Bahl praised Ashima’s confidence and told her father, “I have an eight-year-old daughter, and seeing Ashima’s confidence moved me. You both are her pillars of strength. When I was listening to her answer so confidently, I wished that one day my daughter could pitch her business with the same conviction. Real entrepreneurs are those who learn from setbacks and bounce back.” However, despite his appreciation, Kunal decided not to invest.
Namita Thapar also backed out, stating that she felt the founders lacked focus. Ritesh Agarwal made an offer of ₹40 lakhs for 2% equity, along with ₹35 lakhs as debt at 9% interest for three years.
Finally, Aman Gupta matched the Batras' initial ask, offering ₹75 lakhs for 3% equity at a ₹25 crore valuation.
Ashima cleverly asked all three interested Sharks—Aman, Anupam, and Ritesh—to come together for a joint offer. However, Aman and Anupam chose to negotiate separately. They proposed a revised deal of ₹75 lakhs for 4% equity.
Ashima, displaying her negotiation skills, countered with a request for ₹1 crore for 4% equity. After brief discussions, Aman and Anupam agreed, sealing a successful deal for Dorabi.
This episode not only showcased a promising fashion brand but also highlighted the power of resilience, confidence, and smart negotiation in business.
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