Shark Tank India 4: Tikitoro Founder Prasanna Vasanadu Stuns Sharks with Risky Investments; Namita Thapar Offers Strategic Guidance

The latest episode of Shark Tank India 4 featured an intense and insightful pitch by Prasanna Vasanadu, the founder of Tikitoro, a skincare and haircare brand for children and teens. Prasanna, an engineer and MBA graduate from Symbiosis, Pune, presented her business with a bold ask of ₹25 lakhs for 0.5% equity at a valuation of ₹50 crores.
Tikitoro, launched in December 2021, boasts dermatologically tested and pediatrician-verified products for children aged 4–16. The brand has reached over 1 lakh customers and generated significant sales, with ₹8.5 crores in revenue year-to-date for FY 2024-25. Despite its impressive growth, Prasanna revealed the business’s financial challenges, including a -49% EBITDA in FY 2023-24 and heavy losses stemming from inventory mismanagement.
Prasanna shocked the Sharks by admitting she had invested her family's entire savings—₹14 crores, including ₹6.5 crores on inventory—and taken a bank overdraft of ₹2 crores. Her risky decisions, including maintaining a 12-month inventory due to shipping crises and geopolitical issues, raised concerns among the Sharks. Vineeta Singh called the strategy “suicidal,” while Viraj Bahl labeled the business “unfundable” due to its poor financial metrics compared to other startups like Mamaearth.
Peyush Bansal advised Prasanna to focus on accountability and reduce operational costs, adding, “You need someone to make you accountable.” He opted out, encouraging her to stabilize the business with ₹2 crores before seeking further investments.
Vineeta offered ₹25 lakhs for 3% equity, contingent on no fundraising for two years, valuing the company at ₹8.33 crores. Namita Thapar presented a counteroffer of ₹25 lakhs for 1% equity plus a 0.5% royalty until recovery, provided Prasanna meets specific sales and profitability targets.
Ultimately, Prasanna accepted Namita’s offer. Namita praised her resilience, calling her the “turnaround success story” of the season. Peyush added that Namita’s involvement would instill the discipline needed to refine and grow Tikitoro further. This episode highlighted the risks entrepreneurs face and the importance of financial discipline and strategic planning in scaling a business.