As Shark Tank India returns for its highly anticipated fifth season in early 2026, a fresh face has joined the panel of seasoned investors. Pratham Mittal, a disruptive force in the Indian education sector, is stepping into the “Tank” as the newest Shark.
Known for his unorthodox approach to business and learning, Mittal brings a unique perspective focused on high-growth systems and practitioner-led entrepreneurship. Sharing his excitement about joining the show on LinkedIn, Mittal posted: “I’ll be joining Shark Tank India this season as a shark. I was super excited when I first heard. Then, almost immediately, an imposter syndrome doubt followed: Do I truly belong here? Will I be able to contribute meaningfully? Shark Tank, of course, isn’t how real investments actually happen. Anyone who has built or funded companies knows that.
But it is a powerful public classroom. It introduces students and families to the terms, the trade-offs, & the reality that building is hard, uncertain, but still worth attempting. So if my role there is to bring a little more reality, honesty, context, and long-term thinking to that conversation, I’ll consider it meaningful. I would really love to hear what you’d like to see more of on Shark Tank. I’ll be starting my prep from today. And for entrepreneurs who are building something crazy in college – I’m extremely excited to meet you.”
The visionary behind Masters’ Union and Tetr
Pratham Mittal is best known as the founder of Masters’ Union, a Gurugram-based business school that made headlines for challenging the traditional MBA model. By replacing career academics with industry titans – including MDs and CXOs from companies like Tata and McKinsey – Mittal built an institution where students “learn business by doing business.” Under his leadership, the school gained fame for its students surpassing the average placement salaries of some of India’s top IIMs.
Building on that success, Mittal recently launched Tetr College of Business, a global undergraduate program where students study and build businesses across seven different countries. His educational ventures reflect his core belief: that entrepreneurship isn’t just a subject to be studied, but a skill to be practiced. This “practitioner-first” philosophy is exactly what he is expected to bring to the negotiation table this season.
From Wharton to the start-up ecosystem
Mittal’s entrepreneurial roots are deeply international. According to his LinkedIn profile, he is an alumnus of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied systems science and political science. He grew up in a family with deep ties to education; his father, Dr. Ashok Mittal, is the Chancellor of Lovely Professional University (LPU).
Before shaking up the education sector, Mittal co-founded Outgrow, a SaaS platform used by global companies like Nike and Tesla. As per his investment portfolio, he has also backed several promising startups in the consumer goods and tech sectors, including brands like PlaySuper and Serve Club. On Shark Tank India Season 5, Mittal joins returning favorites like Anupam Mittal and Aman Gupta, where he is expected to hunt for founders who demonstrate high “founder-market fit” and a drive to disrupt traditional industries.
