Almost a month after their controversial appearance on Shark Tank India, the founders of Personal Touch, Aditi and Ashish Jawa, have come forward to address concerns about their sales figures. Their pitch for Rs 1.2 crore in exchange for 1% equity had sparked heated debate, especially after investor Vineeta Singh accused them of manipulating revenue numbers. Now, they are sharing their side of the story.
Speaking on Ayushman Pandita’s podcast, the siblings defended their marketing strategy, which relies heavily on influencers and social media buzz. Ashish compared their approach to sneaker drops, explaining that major brands create anticipation before launching limited-edition products, which drives organic engagement online. He shared that their team has collaborated with over 200 influencers to generate excitement around their products. “If influencers talk about an upcoming product, their followers take notice,” he said. Their strategy also includes sending samples to select customers before a launch, encouraging them to share their honest reviews publicly.
The duo dismissed allegations of manipulated sales data. Aditi questioned whether people truly believed Sony would allow them on Shark Tank without verifying their documents. She pointed out that Personal Touch was chosen from 7,000 skincare brands and insisted that the show had reviewed their financials thoroughly. “If someone doubts us, they are doubting Sony,” she said firmly.
Ashish admitted that he hadn’t realized a particular promotional reel had been boosted but took full responsibility for the oversight. Aditi explained the situation further. Before the show, the producers requested their most viral reel just 15 minutes before filming. Their most popular clip had 84 million views and featured an influencer promoting their lip balm. However, securing NOCs from celebrities at such short notice was nearly impossible. As a result, they had to use an alternative video. “We had to comply with the show’s requirements, even if it meant presenting a reel we weren’t fully aware had been boosted,” she explained.
During their pitch, the sharks expressed doubts about their revenue figures. Ashish recalled how he had offered to show their Shopify dashboard to prove their numbers were real. He stated that they had to wait for an hour under multiple cameras while their sales were scrutinized. However, he felt the discussion quickly spiraled out of control. “In that intense moment, no one paused to properly check the dashboard,” Aditi noted. She believed Vineeta jumped to conclusions and misrepresented their data.
Ashish was particularly frustrated when their daily revenue numbers were mistaken for monthly figures. “They twisted the entire narrative,” he said. While he understood that the sharks had the right to decline an investment, he questioned why they had to create such a misleading perception. Aditi became emotional as she reflected on their journey. “Imagine putting in 20-hour workdays for two years and building a Rs 35 crore business, only to be accused like this,” she said.
Despite their challenging experience on Shark Tank India, the Jawa siblings are determined to set the record straight. They want people to understand that their success is built on hard work and an innovative marketing approach, not deception. While the show’s investors may not have backed them, they remain confident in their business and its future growth.