In a country where millions of people look up to startup founders like rockstars, the latest episode of Shark Tank India delivered a story that felt less like a business deal and more like a family reunion. Kunal Bahl, the man who built Snapdeal and now mentors countless entrepreneurs through Titan Capital, found himself in a surreal position: judging a pitch from a guy who used to be his right-hand man.

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From managing schedules to managing a startup

Ashish Lath, who once worked as Bahl’s Executive Assistant at Snapdeal, stepped into the tank to pitch his own dream, an AI startup called SaveSage. The app is basically a ‘cheat code’ for credit cards, helping users figure out which card to use for what purchase to rack up the most points. Lath didn’t just talk the talk; he proved his system works by revealing that he and his wife haven’t paid for a flight in ten years. They’ve taken over 430 flights and stayed 100 nights in luxury hotels, all on the bank’s dime.

While shark Anupam Mittal initially called it a “naya totka” (a new gimmick), the room fell silent when Lath broke down the math. He’s essentially getting a 23 per cent return on every rupee he spends. The pitch turned into a masterclass, with Aman Gupta even challenging Lath to a live flight-finding contest and losing miserably.

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The deal of a lifetime

The emotional core of the episode, however, was the bond between Bahl and Lath. When it came time to talk business, Lath referred to Bahl as “bade bhaiya” (big brother), a title that usually doesn’t show up on a term sheet. Bahl later shared on social media that watching this “arc” from team member to founder was one of the most fulfilling moments of his career.

Lath walked in asking for Rs 1 crore but walked out with a massive Rs 4 crore deal for 9 per cent equity. The investment was a joint effort between four sharks: Kunal Bahl, Anupam Mittal, Namita Thapar, and Mohit Yadav. It was a clear signal that they weren’t just betting on an app, but on a founder who had the “conviction and humility” to build something real.

The internet weighs in

Since the episode aired, the story has blown up online, but not without some drama. The app was reportedly flooded with 1-star reviews by users who were annoyed to find a paywall. Lath had to jump on X (formerly Twitter) to remind everyone that he’d explicitly mentioned it was a paid platform during his pitch. Despite the noise, the overwhelming sentiment remains positive. As one user put it, in an age where professional relationships can be cut-throat, seeing a mentor and mentee celebrate each other on national TV is “the kind of heartwarming stuff we need.”