By Startup Story Team
Aman Gupta, co-founder of boAt and one of the original sharks on Shark Tank India, has made some bold statements about the newer judges joining the show. In a recent conversation on Prakhar Gupta’s podcast, Aman hinted that some of the new sharks might be using the platform more as a PR opportunity than a genuine investment space.
He explained that when Shark Tank India first launched, the original judges—including himself and Anupam Mittal (founder of Shaadi.com)—joined without any hidden motives. According to Aman, the original sharks came in with clean slates and real business experience. But over time, he believes, some new faces joined the panel just to improve their public image.
“I like those whose companies are doing well and are here for the right reasons. Some of us came on the show to genuinely support entrepreneurs. We didn’t need to fix our reputations. But now there are people who had initially turned down the offer to be on Shark Tank. When they saw how well Anupam and I were received, they felt left out. So they started chasing the show’s creators, asking to be made sharks—and now they’re in,” Aman said, without naming anyone directly.
Shark Tank India began airing in 2021 on Sony Entertainment Television and SonyLIV, and quickly gained popularity for its mix of business insight and entertainment. Original judges like Aman Gupta, Anupam Mittal, Namita Thapar (Emcure Pharma), Peyush Bansal (Lenskart), and Vineeta Singh (Sugar Cosmetics) have remained key figures on the show since season one.
During the podcast, Aman also emphasized that he and his fellow original sharks have stayed true to who they are. “We might have grown from Season 1 to Season 4, but our characters haven’t changed. We don’t do things for show. Love us or hate us, this is who we are,” he said. He also praised Namita Thapar for always being honest about her strengths and limitations.
Talking about his personal journey, Aman shared a refreshing perspective on success. “Money is endless—you’ll never feel like you have enough. What matters is happiness. When I left my job at JBL, I didn’t earn anything for 4–5 years. But I was happy doing what I truly cared about. Eventually, the money came.”
Aman Gupta co-founded boAt in 2016 along with Sameer Mehta. The brand has since grown into one of India’s leading lifestyle electronics companies.
