Shark Tank India Season 4 is currently streaming on SonyLIV and continues to captivate audiences with its intriguing pitches. A recent episode featured a husband-wife duo, Savar Malhotra and Tanisha Malhotra from Gurgaon, who presented their tech-enabled catering company, The House Party by Savar. Their business offers customized catering for groups ranging from 10 to 500 people. They currently operate in Delhi and Mumbai, with plans to expand to Chandigarh. Seeking an investment of Rs 1 crore for a 5 percent stake, they valued their company at Rs 20 crore.
Savar shared that his family owns the renowned Embassy restaurant in Delhi, a landmark with a 75-year legacy. The investors questioned why they weren’t leveraging the Embassy brand. The founders explained that their customizable service required flexibility with recipes, which the legacy restaurant did not allow. Savar also mentioned his role as a partner at Embassy.
During the pitch, an amusing moment occurred when Kunal Bahl mistakenly called Aman Gupta “Amar,” only to quickly correct himself when Namita Thapar gave Aman a surprised look.
Vineeta Singh inquired about their pricing after they demonstrated a catering setup for 20 people costing approximately Rs 38,000. The founders clarified that they wanted to maintain a premium image and that this example included a non-vegetarian menu with all-inclusive services. Vineeta then examined their financials and found inconsistencies between their claimed profits and recorded numbers. When Savar mentioned being “tax efficient,” she grew skeptical, questioning their transparency. “How will you prove to an investor that you have a 30 percent profitable business, not 3 percent?” she asked.
Aman Gupta was unimpressed with their ambition. He remarked that while their business catered to people’s hunger, he didn’t see enough drive in them. “You are in the business of hunger management, but I don’t see the hunger in you,” he stated before opting out. Kunal Bahl acknowledged their passion but doubted their scalability, deciding not to invest. Namita Thapar and Vineeta Singh also chose to step back.
Ritesh Agarwal of OYO Hotels saw potential in their business and suggested they explore the wedding industry. He noted that his company frequently manages weddings and requires a reliable catering partner. The founders expressed interest in this opportunity, recognizing the potential for nationwide expansion through Ritesh’s hotel network. However, he set a condition that their financial records must be fully transparent, with no tax discrepancies after withdrawing salaries.
After some negotiation, a deal was struck. Ritesh invested Rs 50 lakh for a 5 percent equity stake and provided an additional Rs 50 lakh as debt with an 8 percent interest rate. The episode ended on a high note, with the founders securing an investor who could help them scale their business to new heights.