Here are 10 brands that didn’t get funding on Shark Tank India but are writing their own success stories anyway.
1. Zypp Electric — The EV Giant the Sharks Let Go
Zypp Electric showed up on Season 1 asking for ₹2.2 crore for 1% equity, pitching a future where last-mile delivery in India runs entirely on electric two-wheelers. The Sharks didn’t bite — concerns around valuation, competition, and thin margins got in the way. But Zypp didn’t slow down.
The Gurugram-based startup went on to partner with BigBasket, Amazon, Blinkit, Rapido, and Swiggy. It raised $10 million in loan financing from Northern Arc to expand its EV fleet, and by FY2024, its annual revenue had crossed ₹303 crore. The company is now targeting 1.5 lakh electric scooters deployed across India. In hindsight, the Sharks may have passed on one of the most consequential clean-tech bets of the decade.
2. Pukaar AI — India’s First Digital Pediatric Guardian
Not getting a deal on Shark Tank India doesn’t mean the end — sometimes it’s just the beginning of a louder story. Pukaar AI is one such startup that left the tank without a cheque but walked away with something more valuable: national attention and undeniable conviction.
What is Pukaar AI? Most baby care apps tell you why your baby is crying. Pukaar AI tells you why they will cry — before it even happens. Built around QARA, its intelligent AI companion, Pukaar AI is not a baby monitor. It’s a proactive pediatric guardian that watches over your baby 24/7, ingests behavioral data and signals, and warns parents of potential health red flags — even before the first alarm bells ring.
Think of it this way: “Based on a 4% shift in movement patterns over 48 hours, there’s a 70% chance of a fever in the next 12 hours.” That’s not reactive parenting. That’s the future of it.
The Problem They’re Solving India’s new-age parents are caught between two worlds — drowning in too much information in Tier 1 cities, and starved of the right information in Tier 2 and 3. In both cases, the result is the same: panic, anxiety, and decisions made without the right knowledge at the right time. Age-old family advice isn’t built for today’s nuclear families, and pediatrician visits are reactive, not proactive.
Why QARA is a Big Deal What sets Pukaar apart from every other parenting app is its core philosophy: hardware light, intelligence heavy. No wristbands, no sensor socks, no expensive devices touching your baby. QARA works through your phone’s camera and microphone to proactively monitor patterns, flag anomalies, and share insights with pediatricians — using devices parents already own.
Today, parents upload data. Tomorrow, the data flows automatically. The dream? A full pediatric ecosystem where no emergency ever catches a parent off-guard.
Why They Have a Bright Future India has over 25 million newborns every year, and parenting anxiety cuts across every income group and geography. Pukaar AI isn’t chasing a niche — it’s building for every caregiver. Their vision isn’t just an app; it’s to rebuild the gold standard of raising India’s infants.
The Sharks may have passed, but with a mission this clear, a product this differentiated, and a problem this real — Pukaar AI isn’t looking for permission to grow. It’s already watching over the next generation.
“You focus on happy parenting. I am watching over your baby 24/7.” That’s not a tagline. That’s a promise.
3. Theka Coffee — Cold Brew Before It Was Cool
Bhupinder Madan walked into the tank asking for ₹50 lakh for 10% equity, pitching India’s first cold brew coffee brand. The Sharks passed. What happened next was anything but cold.
Theka Coffee secured ₹2.5 crore in funding from Dubai-based Zenith Multi Trading, reached a valuation of ₹120 crore, and attracted business proposals from both Microsoft and Reliance Retail. The brand that the Sharks didn’t believe in became one of the most talked-about beverage success stories from Season 1. Any Shark who had invested at that time would have made close to 20x returns in under a year.
4. Urban Monkey — Streetwear That Outlasted the Rejection
Founded by Yash Gangwal, Urban Monkey is a Mumbai-based streetwear brand that became a favourite among Indian celebrities including Raftaar and Rannvijay Singha. Despite asking for just ₹1 crore for 1% equity, the Sharks turned it down. The brand didn’t need their validation.
Urban Monkey went on to become a ₹100 crore startup, building a cult following through caps, backpacks, sunglasses, and apparel that speaks directly to India’s youth culture. It’s a reminder that consumer brands with strong identity don’t always need institutional money — they need community.
5. Qzense Labs — On Forbes Asia’s Radar After the Sharks Said No
Qzense Labs co-founders Ruhal Chib and Dr. Srishti Batra built an AI-powered device that detects rotten fruit — a breakthrough solution for reducing agricultural waste in a country where post-harvest losses run into thousands of crores annually. The Sharks were hesitant, citing low early-stage sales of ₹15 lakh.
The world disagreed. Qzense Labs made it to Forbes Asia’s prestigious “100 to Watch” list, recognizing the most promising emerging companies in the Asia-Pacific region. Today, the startup is valued at ₹400 crore, proving that deep-tech AgriTech with a clear problem to solve doesn’t need a Shark to validate its potential.
6. Moonshine Meadery — India’s First Meadery Expanding Across States
Rohan Rehani and Nitin Vishwas founded Moonshine in 2016 — India’s (and Asia’s) first meadery, producing mead from fermented honey, fruits, and spices, free from artificial flavours or colours. They walked into the tank with a ₹160 crore valuation, asking for ₹80 lakh for 0.5% equity. The Sharks let it pass.
Moonshine has since expanded across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, and Himachal Pradesh. In a market that’s rapidly warming up to craft alcohol, the brand’s early mover advantage in a genuinely unique category positions it well for the years ahead.
7. Recode Studios — 250+ Stores and Growing
Recode Studios, a beauty brand and online marketplace from Ludhiana, had impressive numbers when it pitched on Shark Tank India — ₹15 crore in net sales and ₹48 lakh in net profit for FY22. Yet the Sharks didn’t invest, reportedly due to perceived conflict with Sugar Cosmetics. Recode’s momentum didn’t miss a beat.
The brand now operates over 250 physical stores across India alongside a growing digital presence. By expanding its platform to include products from other brands, Recode has evolved from a single D2C label into a beauty retail ecosystem — a play that’s hard to ignore in India’s fast-growing cosmetics market.
8. Livofy (formerly Keto India) — From Rejection to $550K in Funding
Sahil Pruthi founded Keto India after his mother’s recovery from brain surgery sparked a deep interest in personalized nutrition. He pitched on Shark Tank India asking for ₹1.5 crore for 1.25% equity. Four out of five Sharks countered — but at terms he didn’t accept.
Rather than seeing it as a loss, Sahil used the exposure to rethink and expand. He rebranded as Livofy, broadened the health-tech focus, and raised $550,000 (approximately ₹4.5 crore) in subsequent funding. Today, Livofy is building a personalized health and nutrition platform for the growing Indian wellness market.
9. Torch-It — A ₹75 Crore Firm That Walked Out Empty-Handed
Torch-It’s deal on Shark Tank India didn’t materialize despite a promising pitch. The startup, operating in a space with clear market demand, went back to building — and built well. The company is now valued at ₹75 crore, demonstrating that execution after the show matters far more than the outcome in the tank.
10. Atmosphere Kombucha — Premium Fermentation in a Growing Market
Led by sisters Ariella Blank and Rebekah Sood, Atmosphere stood out with its premium Kombucha range — crafted through meticulous fermentation of green tea, yeast, and bacteria in flavours like Mango Peach, Exotic Lime, and Lychee. The Sharks passed, but the brand carved out a strong position as one of India’s leading Kombucha labels.
As India’s gut-health and functional beverage market accelerates, Atmosphere is positioned in exactly the right place at the right time. Premium, natural, and with a founder duo who clearly understand the science behind the product — the brand’s best years are likely still ahead.
The Real Lesson
Every brand on this list was told — directly or indirectly — that their vision wasn’t investable. None of them stopped building. Some went on to raise more money than the Sharks would have given. Some built loyal communities that no pitch deck could quantify. And some, like Pukaar AI, are still in their earliest chapters — solving problems so fundamental that the question isn’t whether they’ll succeed, but how big they’ll grow.
The Sharks are smart investors. But they don’t have a monopoly on spotting the future.
Sometimes, the brands that walk out empty-handed are the ones worth watching most closely.
