Shark Tank India 4: Goodland Pickleball Lands Investment to Build World-Class Clubs

Goodland Pickleball impressed Shark Tank India 4 with its court-building and membership model. Founders Hemant and Yogesh Chauhan secured ₹80 lakh from Aman Gupta for 6% equity, plus 0.5% royalty. Their vision: ₹50 crore revenue in three years.

Chandrima Chakraborty
By Chandrima Chakraborty - Intern
4 Min Read
Goodland Pickleball In Shark Tank India 4
Goodland Pickleball In Shark Tank India 4

Shark Tank India introduced an exciting pitch by Hemant Chauhan from Brookelyn and Yogesh Chauhan from Mumbai, the co-founders of Goodland Pickleball. Their startup focuses on building courts, supplying equipment, and running exclusive Goodland clubs dedicated to the sport. Pickleball, a blend of badminton, table tennis, and lawn tennis, has rapidly gained traction, with India seeing a tenfold increase in courts within a year. The sport welcomes players of all ages, making it a favorite among diverse groups.

Their company offers court construction, on-site bookings, and membership options. Seeking expansion, they asked for ₹80 lakh in exchange for 4% equity, valuing their business at ₹20 crore. To engage the sharks, they challenged them to a match. Yogesh teamed up with Anupam Mittal for the Mumbai team, while Hemant partnered with Aman Gupta under the Brookelyn banner. The game began, and after an intense battle, Aman and Hemant’s team emerged victorious by three points. Aman teased Anupam, commenting, “ Better luck next time, you played badly.”

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During the discussion, Aman admitted his preference for Paddle, a sport closely related to Pickleball. Both games riv000al tennis in popularity. Hemant shared insights into court construction, revealing costs range from ₹2 to ₹5 lakh in India. He also highlighted their significant presence in the U.S. through their Brookelyn-based business.

The founders, who are also cousins, clarified their need for funds to develop the Indian market. However, their company structure and ownership split caused some confusion among the sharks. Once the details were explained, they revealed that Goodland clubs operate on leased properties with rental agreements spanning one to five years. Their investment in club setup pays off within four to five months. Unlike multipurpose spaces, their venues are dedicated solely to Pickleball.

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For customers, entry-level paddles cost ₹2,500. Hourly rentals range from ₹600 to ₹700 for groups of four to six players. Membership plans are available for ₹5,000 per month. They reported strong financials, generating ₹1.9 crore in revenue over nine months. Of this, ₹1.2 crore came from the U.S. market, while Indian operations contributed ₹70 lakh. Their long-term goal is to scale to ₹50 crore in three years.

Despite their growth, three sharks opted out. Namita Thapar, Anupam Mittal, and Ritesh Agarwal cited concerns over the lack of a clear business model. Kunal Bahl appreciated their efforts but found their focus divided across multiple areas and decided not to invest.

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Aman Gupta showed interest but set two conditions. He wanted Hemant to commit at least six months to India, considering him the driving force behind the company. Secondly, he urged them to establish world-class clubs within two months. He offered ₹80 lakh for 5% equity, plus a 1% royalty until his investment was recovered.

The founders deliberated on the terms and returned with a counteroffer. They proposed ₹80 lakh for 6% equity and reduced the royalty to 0.5% until Aman recouped his investment. After brief negotiations, both sides agreed, sealing the deal.

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