Namita Thapar Invests in Funngro on Shark Tank India 2: Empowering Teenagers to Learn & Earn

A Diverse Episode of Shark Tank India 2

The latest episode of Shark Tank India Season 2 showcased a range of innovative business ideas, from unique food products to skill-based earning platforms for teenagers. Investors, known as “sharks,” evaluated multiple pitches to find businesses with promising potential and profitability.

Funngro: Enabling Teenagers to Earn While They Learn

One of the standout pitches of the episode was Funngro, a platform designed to provide skill-based earning opportunities to teenagers. The brand caught the attention of Peyush Bansal, who compared it to Upwork and Freelancer. However, the founders emphasized their unique approach tailored specifically for young learners, making Funngro different from traditional freelancing platforms.

While some sharks, including Aman Gupta, raised ethical concerns about teenagers focusing on earning instead of learning, Namita Thapar expressed a contrasting viewpoint. She firmly believed that today’s teenagers are capable of balancing both learning and earning. This led to Namita Thapar and Amit Jain offering Rs. 50 lakh for 4.16% equity, which the founders accepted.

Other Exciting Pitches on the Episode

1. Where’s The Food (WTF): A Tough Reception

The first pitch of the episode came from a food brand called Where’s The Food (WTF). Despite the founder’s strong marketing and sales background, the sharks were unimpressed. They felt the entrepreneur lacked listening skills and provided him with strong feedback. As a result, no investments were made in the brand.

2. Aadvik: The Camel and Goat Milk Venture

Another interesting pitch came from Aadvik, a company specializing in camel and goat milk products, including chocolates. The sharks appreciated the company’s impressive sales figures but hesitated to invest, considering it a difficult niche category. However, Amit Jain eventually made an offer of Rs. 15 lakh for 1.5% equity and Rs. 45 lakh as debt at a 12% interest rate, which the founders accepted.

3. Oye Happy: The Naughty Gifting Brand

The final pitch of the episode was from Oye Happy, a gifting brand known for its humorous and unique product range. The pitch created a fun and lively atmosphere among the sharks. Despite impressive sales numbers, concerns about scalability and repeat purchases led the sharks to opt out of investing in the brand.

Shark Tank India 2: Judges and Broadcast Details

The panel of judges on Shark Tank India 2 includes:

• Anupam Mittal (Founder and CEO of Shaadi.com – People Group)
• Aman Gupta (Co-Founder and CMO of boAt)
• Peyush Bansal (Founder and CEO of Lenskart.com)
• Namita Thapar (Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals)
• Vineeta Singh (Co-Founder and CEO of SUGAR Cosmetics)
• Amit Jain (CEO and Co-founder of CarDekho Group and InsuranceDekho.com)

The show airs Monday to Friday at 10:00 PM, providing entrepreneurs with a platform to showcase their innovative ideas and secure funding from India’s top business leaders.

Conclusion

This episode of Shark Tank India 2 reflected the diversity of entrepreneurial ventures in India, from skill-building platforms for teenagers to innovative food and gifting products. The investment in Funngro by Namita Thapar and Amit Jain highlights the changing perspective on young entrepreneurs and their potential to contribute to the economy. With more businesses stepping into the spotlight, Shark Tank India continues to be a game-changer for Indian startups.

As the show progresses, it continues to inspire budding entrepreneurs to think outside the box and turn their visions into reality. The exposure and funding provided by the sharks enable startups to scale rapidly, proving that India’s startup ecosystem is thriving and full of potential.