The latest season of Shark Tank India has delivered plenty of excitement, with captivating pitches and occasional disagreements among the Sharks. In one memorable episode, business and finance influencer Vijay Nihalchandani entered the tank with his venture, Make My Payment. Accompanied by his wife, brother, and business partner, he sought ₹30 lakh in exchange for a 3% stake in his app. The app promises to send automated payment reminders to debtors, offering a seemingly simple solution. However, the pitch failed to gain traction with the Sharks.
Namita Thapar, executive director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals, voiced her concerns about the app’s practicality. She questioned its ability to solve real problems, pointing out that debtors could easily block or ignore such reminders. Aman Gupta also doubted Vijay’s focus on the project, highlighting his involvement in multiple ventures, including his hotel booking business and his role as a social media influencer. Aman remarked that juggling so many roles raised questions about Vijay’s commitment.
When Vijay disclosed that he earns ₹5 lakh monthly from Instagram despite having one million followers, Peyush Bansal of Lenskart expressed disappointment. He noted that the earnings seemed modest considering the audience size but acknowledged the effort required to achieve such a following. Namita, however, was far more critical. She urged Vijay to reconsider his priorities and suggested he abandon the project for something more impactful.
The most intense critique came from Anupam Mittal, founder of Shaadi.com. Evaluating the app’s performance, he highlighted its limited traction. Out of 3,500 registered users, only 200 were paying customers, resulting in a monthly income of ₹30,000. Anupam questioned the viability of the business, delivering a scathing remark, “You’re earning ₹30,000 a month? You’d be better off running a food cart near a station.”
Despite their attempts to defend the app and its potential, Vijay and his team left the tank empty-handed. Their pitch had failed to convince the Sharks, and no offers were made. However, the discussion didn’t end there. After the pitch, a heated debate erupted among the Sharks, reflecting their differing views.
Namita criticized Peyush for what she saw as misleading encouragement. She accused him of giving Vijay false hope instead of constructive feedback. Anupam supported Namita’s stance, adding that the platform was meant for serious business investments, not for appreciating influencers. He argued that such pitches detracted from the core purpose of the show.
Peyush defended his position by highlighting Vijay’s achievement of building a substantial social media following. He expressed admiration for the influencer’s ability to reach a million followers, emphasizing that this accomplishment deserved acknowledgment. However, Anupam dismissed the praise, challenging Peyush to back his words with action. He retorted, “Sach mein itna amazing hai toh paise daal ke dikhao. You did not invest.”
The intense exchange highlighted how the panel’s differing opinions drive the show’s drama and intrigue. Vijay’s journey on Shark Tank India may not have resulted in an investment, but it sparked a conversation about balancing ambition with practicality in entrepreneurship.