Entrepreneur's Bold Move on Shark Tank India Leaves Aman Gupta Speechless
The latest episode of Shark Tank India Season 5 delivered a dramatic negotiation scene where entrepreneur Shubham Gupta from Ulhasnagar made a decisive move that caught the sharks off guard. The founder of streetwear apparel brand Bonker Corner entered the tank with a company valuation of Rs 300 crore, seeking Rs 1.5 crore in exchange for just 0.5 percent equity.
From Family Struggle to Business Success
Shubham shared an emotional backstory with the panel of sharks – Anupam Mittal, Aman Gupta, Kunal Bahl, Mohit Yadav, and Namita Thapar. His father, previously in the garment business, lost both his home and business during bankruptcy in 2011. Shubham joined his father in 2012 and eventually launched his own venture in 2020.
His brand targets consumers who aspire to purchase from international labels like Zara and H&M, offering products priced slightly below Westside's range. Remarkably, without any external funding over five years, Shubham has established 19 profitable offline stores.
Impressive Financial Performance
The entrepreneur revealed impressive financial metrics that immediately captured the sharks' attention:
- Net sales of Rs 125 crore in the previous financial year
- Projected sales of Rs 170-180 crore for the current year
- Expected profits in the range of Rs 30-35 crore
While Anupam Mittal and Aman Gupta questioned his design strategy, Namita Thapar demonstrated clear understanding and support for his vision. She advised him, "Suno sabki, karo apne mann ki (Listen to everyone, but do what you want)."
The Negotiation Standoff
Namita was so impressed with the numbers that she immediately offered the exact terms Shubham requested. "I'm not asking for royalty today because I want to make it too good for him to refuse," she declared. Anupam bowed out, acknowledging he couldn't match her deal, while Mohit Yadav presented an offer but reduced the valuation to Rs 200 crore.
Aman Gupta attempted to play mind games with his opening negotiation tactic: "I will give an offer and you will listen to other offers. Then I will say I don't want to negotiate. We will waste a lot of time doing this. Tell me what I should do?"
The Decisive Moment
Instead of engaging with Aman's psychological approach, Shubham took a deep breath, turned directly to Namita Thapar, and accepted her offer on the spot. The sudden decision left Aman Gupta visibly shocked as he protested, "Yaar, exit speech toh dene de (Let me give an exit speech)."
Kunal Bahl, who hadn't yet presented his offer, questioned whether negotiations were still ongoing, but by then Namita had already presented her cheque to Shubham. When Anupam asked if he wanted to hear other offers, Namita spoke on his behalf, confirming the deal was already sealed.
The Entrepreneur's Perspective
Shubham explained his reasoning after leaving the tank: "Koi de hi nahi raha hai valuation (Nobody is giving me my valuation)." He added perceptively, "Voh log nahi dene vale the. Maine shakal pe hi dekh lia tha (They were not going to give me my valuation. I could see it on their faces)."
This episode highlighted not just business acumen but also the psychological dynamics of high-stakes negotiations, demonstrating how entrepreneurs are becoming increasingly savvy in navigating the shark tank environment.
