Aman Gupta Confirms Sponsorship Route to Shark Tank India Judging
Aman Gupta, the co-founder of boAt, has made a surprising revelation about Shark Tank India. In a recent interview, he confirmed that it is indeed possible to pay and become a 'shark' on the popular business reality show.
The Sponsorship Pathway to the Tank
Gupta has been a mainstay on Shark Tank India since its debut season in 2021. Over five seasons, he has invested in approximately 100 companies through the platform. While discussing the show's dynamics, he addressed a question many viewers have wondered about.
"I hope Shark Tank India makers don't scold me for saying this," Gupta told Humans of Bombay. "I think you become a sponsor and there are some sponsors of Shark Tank India who come on the show."
The entrepreneur clarified his own position while acknowledging the practice. "It's been happening for the last few seasons but I don't pay to be a shark," he explained. "Some of them become a sponsor and then come for a weekend."
Evolving Panel of Sharks
The revelation comes as Shark Tank India continues to feature a rotating panel of judges. While some original sharks like Gupta have remained constant, subsequent seasons have introduced numerous guest sharks. Many of these guest judges appear for only a handful of episodes each season.
Season five features an impressive lineup including Aman Gupta, Anupam Mittal, Namita Thapar, Vineeta Singh, Kunal Bahl, Amit Jain, Viraj Bahl, Ritesh Agarwal, Mohit Yadav, Kanika Tekriwal, Hardik Kothiya, Shaily Mehrotra and Varun Alagh.
Gupta's Recent Career Moves
The Shark Tank India revelation coincides with significant changes in Gupta's professional life. He recently stepped down as Chief Marketing Officer of boAt just days before the company's IPO launch. This move sparked widespread speculation about his motivations.
In an interview with Pinkvilla, Gupta explained the reasoning behind his decision. "It was not a decision which was made today," he stated. "Today, you see we are professionalising a company."
He detailed the company's transition toward professional management. "About three years ago, we brought in an external CEO to run the company," Gupta revealed. "Gaurav Nayyar had joined as COO and is now the CEO. We believe it is high time that professionally run management takes over."
The entrepreneur expressed confidence in this new direction. "That's our belief—that the company can now be run much better by professionals than by me, and that's the decision I took," he concluded.
Gupta's candid comments about Shark Tank India's sponsorship model provide rare insight into the business realities behind the popular television program. His simultaneous career transition at boAt marks another significant chapter for one of India's most recognizable entrepreneurs.
