Shark Tank India Season 5 has seen a diverse array of pitches. From fashion brands to EV innovations, founders have brought their best to the tank. Standing out from the rest of the pitches so far, Manish and Sunil Prajapati from Mumbai pitched their product to Shark Tank judges Anupam Mittal, Mohit Yadav, Namita Thapar, Aman Gupta, and Kunal Bahl. Solving a truly grassroots problem from the farms, they made a censor-based scratching tool made specially for cows, bulls, and goats.
Borrowing from an innovation in the West, the founders sought Rs 20 lakh for 1 per cent equity, one of the lowest asks witnessed this year. Their product, Sparsh Brush, was followed by a construction business, which brought in a revenue of nearly Rs 70 lakh a year. Finding no personal satisfaction in the work, the brothers decided to wrap it up. Amused at this decision, Shark Tank judge Anupam Mittal questioned this risky financial decision. Aligning with their mission and elaborate explanation, towards the end, Mittal overtly asked founder Manish to ‘speak less’ and shorten the answers to his questions, leaving the rest of the Sharks with laughs and smiles.
Cattle scratcher and massager – Shark Tank India pitch
The brothers from Mumbai pitched their product, ‘Sparsh Brush’, as an ideal tool for cattle scratching. However, their main goal was to help the bovines avoid fatal diseases like lumpy disease, in turn helping the farmers with their cattle’s longevity. Often caused by infections in bruises, it leaves the cattle battling for life within a few days of contact. However, the censor-based brush proved not only cost-effective, but also medically tested to have increased milk production by 10 per cent. The founders claimed that their product would also reduce the medical expenses of the farmer by 25-30 per cent.
A large section of their customers are either cow shelters or dairy farmers, more than 40 per cent. A basic machine, which would normally cost in lakhs to export, costs Rs 42,000 with a replacement facility. Another wall-mount brush starts from Rs 3800. Yet another model, he explained, cost Rs 12000, while the censor-activated device would cost nearly Rs 52,000 to a farmer.
The boAt founder also noticed Manish’s capacity to talk and asked his brother Sunil if he played a role in the company. “Nhi sir, ye he zyada bolta hai [No sir, he talks a lot],” replied Sunil as the Sharks shared a candid moment with the pitchers.
The final deal
The founders were confident that by the end of this financial year, they would have earned Rs 8 crore, with an estimation of Rs 90 lakh in profits. While Aman, Kunal, and Mohit Yadav backed out, the pharma giant Namita Thapar and Shaadi.com founder Anupam Mittal had an offer to make.
“Tu offer lene aaya hai ya baatein krne aaya hai, [Are you here to take an offer or have a chat?],” questioned Mittal as Manish faced an array of questions from the founders. “Mujhe interest hai, par mujhe 1-2 questions poochne hain. [I am interested but I have 1 or 2 questions],” explained Mittal. Expressing that he fears Sunil he said, “Kasam kha le, short mei bolega [Swear by it first that you will speak concisely].”
He questioned what motivated them to come to this platform and why their ask was merely Rs 20 lakh. “Clearly, you don’t need the money. What will a Shark do for you?” he asked. Manish manoeuvred through the question tactfully and said that their name would add a trusted face to the brand, across cow shelters and cattle farmers. He then confidently added that in 2 years, he would make a Rs 100 crore business, and given a Shark’s investment, he promised a 5x growth of Rs 500 crore.
Making his offer, Mittal said, “For my Rs 20 lakh for 2 per cent royalty with Rs 1 crore recouped.” Raising eyebrows, Thapar made her offer for Rs 20 lakh for 1 per cent with no royalty. In a turn of events, Mittal tried to convince the founders to take her deal, while another negotiation from the founders left the sharks shocked. While the cattle scratcher founders asked to match the offer, they asked Thapar to increase the royalty. Expressing how Sunil was a true fan of Mittal, the sharks decided to join hands and secure themselves a deal.