Bharat Ke Super Founders: India's Indigenous Business Reality Show Takes Center Stage
The digital entertainment landscape in India is witnessing a fascinating clash of business reality shows, with Bharat Ke Super Founders emerging as a powerful homegrown contender. Premiered on MX Player on January 16, this indigenous series is rapidly gaining traction and posing a significant challenge to the established global brand, Shark Tank India. In an exclusive conversation with Livemint, actor and entrepreneur Suniel Shetty, who serves as both host and mentor on the show, elaborated on how Bharat Ke Super Founders transcends the conventional focus on mere funding.
Bharat Ke Super Founders vs Shark Tank India: A Distinctive Vision
When asked about the inevitable comparisons, Suniel Shetty acknowledged the strengths of the competition while highlighting the unique ethos of his show. "Shark Tank India has a global appeal because it is a global brand which is brought to India. Naturally, they have great reach, great following; everything is great about them," Shetty remarked. Interestingly, both programs are currently streaming online simultaneously, creating a direct rivalry for viewership.
What Sets Bharat Ke Super Founders Apart?
The 64-year-old Shetty passionately described the core philosophy driving the show. "What is important for us is to touch the interiors of India. Today, the belief is abuse is views. For us, content is views," he stated, emphasizing a commitment to substance over sensationalism. He further explained, "We are the difference between the virtual and the real world. In the virtual world, the right photo with the right colour correction and the right food is used to show that you are happy. We, in the real world, are saying daal chawal kha k bhi insaan khush reh sakta ha. We are actually the real show of India, hitting the interiors of India to show the actual, real founders of successful stories. Not just by funding them, but by making sure that the strength of the tycoons is used to reach their end goal."
Shetty added a crucial distinction: "It's not the valuation, but the value of the product that will matter. It's not the presentation, but it's the person who will matter. Bharat Ke Super Founders is not just about investors." This people-centric approach forms the bedrock of the program.
Show Synopsis and the Tycoon Panel
Officially described as a high-stakes business reality show, Bharat Ke Super Founders features "India's boldest founders pitch for real, pre-vetted investments with ₹100 crore committed across the season. Guided by Suniel Shetty and backed by credible tycoons, it's where conviction, execution and courage decide who builds next." The impressive panel of tycoons includes:
- Dr A VeluMani (Creator, Thyrocare and Director, AVMSmile)
- Nitish Mittersain (Founder & CEO, Nazara Technologies)
- Dr Aarti Gupta (Chief Investment Officer, Anikarth Ventures)
- Shanti Mohan (Founder & CEO, LetsVenture Trica)
- Aditya Singh (Co-Founder, All In Capital)
- Ankur Mittal (Partner, Physis Capital and Co-Founder, Inflection Point Ventures)
Focusing on creating tangible impact, Shetty revealed that the show has already facilitated the distribution of ₹138.5 crore to promising entrepreneurs. "It doesn't matter whether you are international or not. What matters is the impact we are creating," he asserted, defining the show's target audience.
Tycoons Weigh In: Ideology and Inclusivity
Tycoon Shanti Mohan offered her perspective on the competitive landscape. "I don't think we should do a comparison because India needs more shows like Bharat Ke Super Founders. Ours is a very Indian contextual show. We have gone to tier 2-3 founders. The distribution platform, MX Player, is free for everyone. There's a difference in ideology here. We want to keep it an open platform. It is built for Bharat, from Bharat. This has been designed to last," she explained, highlighting accessibility and local relevance.
Dr A VeluMani echoed this sentiment, stating, "We are not here to replicate someone else's doing. When you look at it, global views will not get any benefit to the local, and if you are focused locally, probably you will miss global; covering both is not possible. As a programme, we are more into creating multi-millionaires than billionaires." This clarifies the show's focused mission on scalable, grounded success.
Ankur Mittal shared insightful observations about the changing entrepreneurial landscape in India. He noted that successful founders are no longer emerging exclusively from metropolitan or even tier-2 and tier-3 cities. "Several businesses are being built in unheard parts of India, running successfully thanks to social media," he pointed out. Mittal emphasized the show's commitment to inclusivity: "Good businesses are getting funded. Their location, educational background or even language does not matter anymore. In the show, one founder was only comfortable talking in his mother tongue. The show literally continued in his language. We needed a translator," he chuckled, illustrating the program's authentic embrace of India's diversity.
Looking Ahead: Season 2 on the Horizon
Buoyed by the success of its debut season, applications for Bharat Ke Super Founders Season 2 are already open, inviting a new wave of Indian founders to step into the spotlight. The show stands as a testament to the growing appetite for business narratives that are deeply rooted in the Indian ethos, prioritizing real stories and substantial impact over mere glamour and global appeal.
