Shark Tank India 4: Namita Thapar and Anupam Mittal feel undergarment detergent founders made a wrong pitch

Shark Tank India 4

The latest episode of Shark Tank India 4 featured an inspiring pitch by Prateek Vats and Deepesh Shrivastava, co-founders of Wanderlooms.

The duo, driven by their love for riding and exploration, turned their passion into a thriving adventure touring brand.

Their mission is to provide fellow travel enthusiasts with stylish, comfortable, and functional gear designed for those who embrace the wild at heart.

Prateek, a seasoned rider from Bhopal and founder of a riders’ club, embarked on his entrepreneurial journey in 2007. Deepesh, once an intern from Madhya Pradesh who endured a grueling 100 km daily commute, quickly climbed the ranks to become a co-founder. Together, they entered the Shark Tank India 4 stage, seeking ₹50 lakh for 2.5% equity in their company.

During their pitch, Prateek shared a life-altering experience that reinforced his commitment to adventure touring.

“I had a heart attack during one of my rides. It happened on July 5, 2020, while I was deep inside a jungle, nearly 15 km from the nearest road. I started feeling uneasy and immediately called a fellow rider who is also a cardiologist. He identified my symptoms and advised me to get to a hospital. With help from another rider, I was driven 40 km to the nearest medical facility, and that saved my life,” he recounted.

Namita Thapar, visibly shocked, asked if he had undergone surgery. Prateek confirmed, “Yes, I have two stents now.”

Despite these challenges, Prateek and Deepesh remained dedicated to their vision. Wanderlooms is more than just an adventure touring company—it’s about storytelling.

“We’re not just a touring company; we’re storytellers. Every journey is filled with emotions and connections, and we aim to create stylish, comfortable, and cool wearables that reflect that spirit. Presenting our brand on Shark Tank India 4 is a dream come true, as it allows us to scale and take adventure to the next level,” Prateek passionately shared.

Intrigued by their vision, Namita Thapar and Ritesh Agarwal jointly offered ₹50 lakh for 5% equity. Ritesh highlighted how he could connect Wanderlooms with multiple travel groups and motorbike companies to expand their reach.

Aman Gupta, impressed by their ‘passion to profession’ journey, matched the same offer.

Prateek countered with a proposal for 4% equity, to which both Aman and the Namita-Ritesh duo agreed.

Ultimately, Prateek decided to go with Namita and Ritesh’s offer.

Surprised by the decision, Namita remarked, “Usually, founders would have asked all three Sharks to join at this stage.”

Prateek candidly replied, “If I had, you would have increased the equity to 6%.”

Aman, amused, asked, “I gave you an offer, why didn’t you choose me?”

Prateek explained that Ritesh’s network in the travel industry could significantly benefit their company.

Aman laughed and acknowledged, “So today, I learned that when entrepreneurs pitch, Sharks also have to pitch themselves.”

Prateek playfully responded, “Nahi, aisa nahi bolna chaha, par aap samajh gaye toh achhi baat hai,” leaving everyone in splits.

Another pitch that sparked interest in the episode was by entrepreneurs Rahul Tyagi and Samiksha Yadav. They introduced India’s first undergarment liquid wash for hand-laundry, seeking ₹50 lakh for 2.5% equity at a ₹20 crore valuation.

However, the Sharks were initially skeptical. Anupam Mittal pointed out that the market already had several detergent options, and Aman Gupta questioned the product’s positioning.

Samiksha and Rahul clarified that their innovation prioritized women’s hygiene, making it more than just another detergent. However, Anupam and Namita critiqued their approach, arguing that the pitch should have focused on the serious issue of female hygiene instead of presenting it humorously as a "male best friend chaddi" washing detergent.

Anupam said, “There are many detergent options, including clean and green ones. Why are you complicating this? Your approach threw me off.”

Namita added, “You started your pitch with humor, but vaginal infections are a major concern. You should have led with that instead.”

During the discussion, Peyush Bansal asked, “Who is the CEO?”

Samiksha confidently responded, “I am.”

Peyush then asked, “Why are you the CEO?”

Before she could reply, Namita interjected, “Why not?”

Samiksha firmly stated, “Because I deserve to be the CEO.”

Her assertive response won applause from Aman, Namita, and Anupam. Rahul backed her up, adding, “She deserves it.”

Sharks Battle to Invest in the Product

Impressed by their conviction, Anupam offered ₹50 lakh for 5% equity. Namita and Aman teamed up with a counteroffer of ₹50 lakh for 6% equity.

The founders attempted to bring all three Sharks together, but Namita declined.

Anupam countered, “I’ll agree at 4%, but if you don’t decide now, I’ll tear the cheque.”

After a quick discussion, the founders accepted Anupam’s deal, securing a partnership that validated their passion and determination.

This episode of Shark Tank India 4 showcased the power of passion-driven entrepreneurship. Whether it was Wanderlooms revolutionizing adventure touring or India’s first undergarment liquid wash tackling hygiene concerns, the founders proved that determination and a strong vision can win over investors. The episode also highlighted an evolving shift in the investment world—where even Sharks have to pitch themselves to win deals!