Author: sushree

Bonkers Corner featured on Shark Tank India Season 5, where founder Shubham Gupta shared the brand’s journey, scale, and financial performance with the Sharks. Founded in early 2020, the Mumbai-based fashion and streetwear brand operates as a bootstrapped business focused on casual, unisex apparel for Gen Z and Millennials.

During the pitch, Gupta explained that Bonkers Corner initially started as a white-label manufacturer, producing apparel for other D2C brands. While those brands built consumer visibility, Bonkers Corner remained behind the scenes, using the phase to understand sourcing, manufacturing, and scale. According to the founder, this operational foundation later helped the brand launch and grow its own consumer-facing label.

Sharing business performance on the show, Gupta stated that Bonkers Corner closed FY 2024–25 with ₹125 crore in revenue, up from ₹99 crore in the previous year. He further revealed that the company is targeting ₹170–180 crore in revenue for FY 2025–26, indicating continued growth momentum.

On profitability, the founder shared that EBITDA margins stood at 11% in FY 2024–25 and improved to 18% by Q2 of FY 2025–26. For the full year, he expects EBITDA margins to settle around 20%, translating to ₹30–35 crore in EBITDA, while net margins, currently at 7%, are projected to rise to 14–15%.

Gupta also highlighted the brand’s operational strength, noting that Bonkers Corner manufactures entirely in-house, with the capacity to produce 3 lakh units per month. Inventory cycles are maintained at under 45 days, while customer metrics include return-to-origin rates of 6–8%, post-delivery returns of 10–12%, and a 45% customer retention rate.

Discussing revenue channels, the founder shared that 55% of sales come from the brand’s own website, 40% from offline retail, and 5% from marketplaces. Streetwear contributes nearly 90% of total sales, led by T-shirts priced at an average of ₹799.

Offline retail, which began in 2023, has scaled faster than expected. According to Gupta, Bonkers Corner now operates 19 physical stores, each delivering roughly 25% store-level EBITDA, with plans to open five more stores by the end of the year.

On ownership, the founder disclosed that he holds 92% of the company, with 5% owned by his mother and 3% reserved for employees through ESOPs.

In the Tank, Gupta sought ₹1.5 crore for 0.5% equity, valuing Bonkers Corner at ₹300 crore. The deal was closed at the asked valuation, with Namita Thapar investing ₹1.5 crore for 0.5% equity.

Cattle-tech innovator Sparsh Brush made a strong debut on Shark Tank India Season 5, where founders Manish Prajapati and Sunil Prajapati pitched their vision to modernise India’s vast dairy ecosystem through automated grooming technology. Aimed at the country’s 30 crore-plus bovine population, the startup seeks to bridge the gap between traditional animal husbandry and modern agritech efficiency.

The startup specialises in sensor-activated grooming brushes designed specifically for cows and buffaloes. During the pitch, the founders demonstrated how the machines use non-touch sensors and anti-lock motors to deliver a gentle, “feather-like” massage. According to the founders, the process helps improve blood circulation and metabolism, which can lead to higher milk yields and longer animal lifespans, while also reducing medical expenses for farmers.

Sparsh Brush has already built a notable market presence, having served over 1,500 customers across India. Its customer base is primarily split between large cow shelters (gaushalas) and private dairy farmers, with each unit priced at approximately ₹42,000. This Bharat-first innovation has translated into lifetime sales of ₹6.17 crore.

On the financial front, the company showcased steady growth. Sparsh Brush closed FY 2024–25 with ₹1.98 crore in revenue and a 9% EBITDA margin. For FY 2025–26, the founders are projecting ₹8 crore in gross sales, supported by year-to-date revenue that has already crossed ₹2.8 crore.

The negotiations in the Tank were intense. The founders initially sought ₹20 lakh for 1% equity, valuing the company at ₹20 crore. After considering offers from multiple Sharks, they closed a deal with Anupam Mittal and Namita Thapar. The final agreement involved an investment of ₹20 lakh for 1% equity, along with a 2% royalty on sales until ₹1 crore is recovered.

With the fresh capital and strategic guidance from the Sharks, Sparsh Brush plans to scale up its manufacturing capacity and further strengthen its distribution network across India.