Dhriti, a spirited young girl with Down syndrome, took the spotlight in the season finale of Shark Tank India 4, accompanied by her mother and sister. Her mother shared their journey, revealing how Dhriti began expressing herself through art before she could even speak, only finding her voice at the age of five. This creative spark led to the birth of their brand, Tickle Your Art, which turns Dhriti’s vibrant artwork into jewellery and household items.
The family asked for Rs 21.3 lakh in exchange for 7% equity, valuing the business at Rs 3.04 crore. When questioned about the specific valuation, Dhriti’s mother explained, “It’s the number for Down syndrome.” This emotional significance touched the hearts of the sharks.
The judges were visibly moved, especially Anupam Mittal and Aman Gupta. As Dhriti confidently corrected misconceptions, she said, “It’s not a disease, it’s a condition.” Her mother proudly displayed their products, including notebooks and stationery, while Namita Thapar received a piece of their jewellery.
Dhriti’s mother proudly declared, “We’ve been profitable since day one,” sharing that the brand earned Rs 20 lakh in the last year, with half of it as profit. An emotional Anupam expressed admiration, saying, “In just five minutes, I realised that both these kids think so differently. It blew my mind. They came up with the idea of bright eye instead of an evil eye, it’s so obvious but nobody thought of it.” He extended an offer, agreeing to the exact ask, but with one condition: “I’ll offer you what you want, under the condition that you open a cafe or a cafe-like space with that money.”
Aman Gupta matched the offer but wanted to learn more about the brand’s name. Dhriti’s mother explained, “‘Tickle’ is actually Dhriti’s nickname.” She recounted Dhriti’s difficult birth, sharing how nurses would resort to rough methods to wake her. However, she and her family discovered that gently tickling Dhriti’s feet brought a response. “So, her nickname became Tickle,” she revealed, leaving Aman visibly touched.
Namita Thapar showed her support by offering to connect the family with the founders of Palmonas, a jewellery brand she had previously backed. On the other hand, guest shark Srikant Bolla decided against investing. He pointed out, “You’re spread too thin. For a proper business, you need a proper supply chain. I’m not seeing a clear business model. I’m out of this, but I’ll make a donation.”
Despite Srikant’s decision, the family’s spirit remained strong. Dhriti’s mother requested Aman and Anupam to join hands on the deal, to which they both agreed. Adding to the celebration, Jeet Adani pledged an additional Rs 20 lakh as a grant to support their mission. With heartfelt emotions and unwavering determination, Dhriti and her family left the tank, celebrating a new chapter for Tickle Your Art.