In a recent episode of 'Shark Tank India 4', Paurav Rastogi, an ex-employee of OYO, hinted at Ritesh Agarwal's temper, leaving other sharks surprised.
The fourth season of Shark Tank India has not only been serving up innovation but also featuring moments of surprise and intrigue. A recent episode added a dramatic twist as Paurav Rastogi, a former employee of OYO CEO, Ritesh Agarwal, pitched his unique startup idea and unexpectedly revealed Ritesh’s ‘moods and tempers’.
A recent Shark Tank India 4 episode featured one of the most unique and innovative startup pitches by two young entrepreneurs, Paurav Rastogi and his co-founder, Shamin Kapoor. They pitched the business of Speed Kitchens, dubbed ‘WeWork for cloud kitchens’, which offers shared kitchen spaces to streamline logistics for brands. With clients like Haldiram’s, Chaayos, and Daryaganj already on board, the duo sought Rs. 2 crore for 3% equity, valuing their company at Rs. 66 crore.
Paurav’s innovative concept and profitability impressed the Sharks, including Aman Gupta, Vineeta Singh, Kunal Bahl, Azhar Iqubal, and Ritesh himself. Kunal was heard praising the idea by saying:
“Normally, founders opt for businesses that are sexy, like creating an app. This is not a sexy business, and that’s why you’re profitable."
However, the pitch took an interesting turn when Paurav shared his professional journey, including a stint at his former employer, OYO. While recounting his experiences, he subtly mentioned having witnessed Ritesh’s different moods and tempers. Paurav shared:
“I’ve seen him very closely, I’ve seen his various moods and tempers, but there’s no gadbad."
In his revelation, Paurav seemed to subtly hint at the OYO founder’s temperament, which left all the ‘sharks’ at a loss for words. The owner of Sugar Cosmetics, Vineeta Singh could not hold back her surprise. She was quick to respond, “Hum toh maan hi nahi sakte.” Aman Gupta, co-founder of boAt, couldn’t resist commenting on the pitcher’s noticeable shift in demeanour when addressing Ritesh. With his signature humour, Aman quipped with a cheeky remark that left everyone in splits. He was heard saying:
“Kuch toh gadbad hai, Daya”
The Sharks were intrigued by Paurav’s decision not to approach Ritesh directly for funding. He explained that after leaving OYO, they lost touch despite his attempts to reconnect. Ritesh, visibly moved, remarked:
“I can’t tell you how happy I am seeing you here. There can’t be a better ambassador for OYO than you.”
The Sharks saw immense potential in Speed Kitchens. Ritesh, alongside Azhar Iqubal, offered Rs. 2 crore for 10% equity, while Kunal Bahl upped the ante with Rs. 3 crore for 10%. After intense negotiations, the co-founders secured a deal of Rs. 2 crore for 6% equity.
As Shark Tank India 4 continues to stir the pot of innovations, let us know your views on Paurav’s revelations of Ritesh Agarwal’s temper.
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