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  • Better-for-You Bakery Brand Awsum Secures Deal on Shark Tank India

    Better-for-You Bakery Brand Awsum Secures Deal on Shark Tank India

    Better-for-you bakery brand Awsum made a buzzy appearance on Shark Tank India, where founders Pranav Sharma and Kritik Thakur pitched their vision of reimagining indulgent treats without the guilt.

    The founders entered the tank seeking ₹1 crore for 1% equity, valuing the company at ₹100 crore.

    Founded in 2021, Awsum is built around its “Better Bakes” philosophy, offering products with no maida, no refined sugar, no palm oil, and no eggs. Instead, the brand uses wheat flour, jaggery, honey, real fruits, and functional Ayurvedic ingredients such as Brahmi, Ginseng, Ashwagandha, and Wellmune, targeting benefits like immunity, focus, stress relief, and gut health.

    Awsum’s product range includes tea cakes, muffins, brownies, cream rolls, zero-sugar chocolates, and functional chocolate bars like Goodbye Stress, Restful Sleep, and Daily Energy. Popular flavours include Lemon Blueberry, Orange Pistachio, Carrot Walnut, and Banana Walnut, with the Walnut Brownie and Banana Walnut Cake emerging as top sellers.

    Operationally, the brand runs a 6,000 sq. ft. in-house manufacturing facility in Noida, capable of producing up to 12,000 cakes per day. Awsum follows a just-in-time production model, manufacturing only against purchase orders to ensure freshness across its three-month shelf life.

    On the financial front, the founders shared that Awsum closed FY24–25 with ₹4.9 crore in revenue, posting a PAT of ₹3 lakh. In FY25–26, the company has already recorded ₹8.5 crore in year-to-date revenue and is targeting ₹16–17 crore for the full year. Marketing spends account for around 30% of total sales, while the company currently holds ₹35 lakh in cash and ₹2.1 crore in receivables.

    During negotiations, Anupam Mittal initially offered ₹2 crore for 5% equity, later revising it to ₹2 crore for 4%. He then teamed up with Aman Gupta to make a joint offer of ₹4 crore for 8% equity, valuing the company at ₹50 crore. Namita Thapar and Ritesh Agarwal countered with ₹1 crore for 2.5% equity, which eventually evolved into the winning deal.

    https://app.ceotrail.com/uprear-build-secures-rs-2-crore-deal-on-shark-tank-india/

    After intense discussions, the founders closed the deal with Namita Thapar and Ritesh Agarwal for ₹1 crore in exchange for 1.33% equity, bringing Awsum’s final valuation to ₹75 crore.

    Prior to appearing on Shark Tank India, Awsum had raised ₹3.26 crore from external investors. Post-show, the brand reportedly raised additional seed funding in October 2025. As of early 2026, Awsum remains operational and slightly profitable, with products available on Zepto, Blinkit, BigBasket, and its own D2C platform.

  • AI fashion-tech startup Twin secures deal on Shark Tank India

    AI fashion-tech startup Twin secures deal on Shark Tank India

    AI fashion-tech startup Twin made a memorable appearance on Shark Tank India Season 5, standing out for both its advanced virtual try-on technology and a sharp exchange between Sharks Aman Gupta and Anupam Mittal that quickly went viral.

    Founded by Aseem Khanduja, an IIT Delhi (Chemical Engineering) graduate with over eight years of experience in artificial intelligence, Twin aims to solve one of online fashion’s biggest pain points, helping consumers understand how clothes will actually look on them before making a purchase.

    Twin is a Generative AI-powered virtual try-on platform that allows users to create a digital “AI Twin” of themselves. Using product images or links, users can virtually try outfits from fashion brands or even style clothes from their existing wardrobe.

    The startup operates under Unstudio, a company founded by Aseem in 2023. In June 2025, the company pivoted to Twin, shifting its full focus to AI-led fashion personalisation and virtual try-on technology.

    Despite being at an early stage, Twin has shown initial traction. At the time of the pitch, the app had over 5,100 users, with more than 100,000 designs catalogued in India and another 100,000 in the US. The company has also signed 25 B2B contracts with Indian fashion brands.

    Twin had previously raised ₹5.3 crore in 2023, with a total equity dilution of 16%. The app is currently live on the Apple App Store, with an Android version expected soon.

    During the pitch, Aseem asked for ₹60 lakh for 1% equity, valuing the company at ₹60 crore. While the Sharks acknowledged the strength of the technology, concerns around monetisation, scalability, and user growth led to intense negotiations.

    The pitch drew widespread attention after a pointed exchange between Aman Gupta and Anupam Mittal, when Anupam suggested leveraging his Shaadi.com user base to accelerate growth. Aman responded with the now-viral remark, “Shaadi ka database thodi chahiye, lehenga thodi bikega uss par.”

    https://app.ceotrail.com/healthcare-startup-cosmo-secures-rs-1-cr-funding-on-shark-tank-india/

    After multiple counteroffers, Aman Gupta proposed ₹60 lakh for 3% equity, while Anupam Mittal countered with ₹68 lakh for 2% equity, a deal later matched by Kanika Tekriwal. Anupam eventually raised his offer to ₹80 lakh for 2% equity.

    In the end, Aseem accepted Aman Gupta’s offer, closing the deal at an implied valuation of approximately ₹20 crore.

    With fresh capital and Shark backing, Twin plans a phased product roadmap. Version 2 will focus on wardrobe digitisation and personalised Outfit of the Day (OOTD) recommendations, while Version 3 aims to build a full-scale personalised AI styling engine.

    The startup is targeting 1 million users within six months and 5 million users within 12 months, while continuing to improve fit accuracy across body types and build scalable monetisation through brand partnerships.

  • Gully Labs Secures Rs 1 Cr Investment on Shark Tank India

    Gully Labs Secures Rs 1 Cr Investment on Shark Tank India

    Gully Labs, a homegrown sneaker brand inspired by Indian culture and lifestyle, has closed a deal on Shark Tank India season 5.

    Founded by Arjun Singh and Animesh Mishra, both alumni of Netaji Subhas University of Technology, Delhi, Gully Labs focuses on premium, design-forward sneakers that blend traditional Indian aesthetics with modern streetwear.

    During the pitch, the founders showcased several models including 1928 Turf Olive, 1980 Wizard Red, and Khoj Green.

    The brand emphasises in-house manufacturing in Noida and operates an Experience Store in Delhi. It follows a product strategy of launching one new collection per month to maintain freshness and exclusivity in the market.

    The founders shared unit economics for their business: cost of goods sold at 44%, marketing at 35%, fees and logistics at 10%, and a contribution margin (CM2) of 11% per pair of sneakers.

    At the time of the pitch, Gully Labs reported ₹2.85 crore in bank balance and had previously raised capital at a ₹120 crore pre-money valuation (₹150 crore post-money).

    https://app.ceotrail.com/bihar-startup-rcx-light-secures-deal-on-shark-tank-india/

    On the show, the founders originally asked for ₹1 crore for 0.5% equity, valuing the company at ₹200 crore. Multiple offers followed, including from Kunal Bahl, and a group from Kunal Bahl, Mohit Bansal, and Kanika Mann. Ultimately, Aman Gupta invested ₹1 crore for 0.57% equity, closing the deal at a ₹175 crore valuation. Aman chose to invest independently despite suggestions to form an all-Shark consortium.

    Gully Labs employs a team of 150 people, including 100 artisans and 50 corporate staff. Since the Shark Tank appearance, reports from January 2026 suggest the brand has raised ₹26.5 – ₹30 crore in a Series A round led by Saama Capital, valuing the company at around ₹147 crore post-money.

    With fresh funding and strategic backing, Gully Labs aims to expand its market presence and scale its “Indi-cool” sneaker portfolio across India’s growing streetwear segment.

  • Fintech startup Mysa raises $3.4 mn in pre-Series A funding round 

    Fintech startup Mysa raises $3.4 mn in pre-Series A funding round 

    Mysa, a B2B fintech SaaS startup focused on finance automation for mid-sized enterprises, has raised $3.4 million (around ₹31.2 crore) in a pre-Series A funding round.

    The round was co-led by Blume Ventures and Piper Serica, with participation from Ikemori Ventures, Raise Financial Services (parent company of Dhan), QED Innovation Labs, and existing investors Antler, IIMA Ventures, and Neon Fund.

    The fresh capital will be used to strengthen Mysa’s AI-driven capabilities and expand its banking and finance product suite.

    The startup plans to invest in offerings such as AI-enabled procurement, UPI-based expense management, and a corporate credit card, while also deepening partnerships with banks and scaling distribution.

    Founded in 2023 by Arpita Kapoor and Mohit Rangaraju, Mysa is building an AI-led finance automation platform designed for mid-sized businesses.

    Kapoor, who serves as CEO, said, “We’re building an AI-driven automation platform that plugs seamlessly into legacy ERPs and banks, enabling teams to scale without adding operational risk—at zero upfront cost and with no migration required.”

    The Bengaluru-based startup provides tools for automated invoice processing, accounting and tax workflows, and integrated payments through partner bank accounts. It targets new-age private limited companies with annual revenues or expenses ranging from ₹10 crore to ₹300 crore.

    https://app.ceotrail.com/dhun-wellness-raises-4-mn-in-funding-led-by-srf-and-havells-india/

    Mysa was previously operating in closed beta and raised $2.8 million in seed funding in February 2025. Since then, it has onboarded customers across sectors including quick commerce, manufacturing, hospitality, fintech, and real estate.

    Its client list includes Dhan, Wint Wealth, Swish, DrinkPrime, Vaaree, Handpickd, Guru & Jana, Accel Data, Atomicwork, DPDZero, and Material Depot.

    The startup has partnered with over 15 banks, including Axis Bank, YES Bank, IDFC First Bank, ICICI Bank, and HDFC Bank, enabling businesses to manage payments and banking operations from a single platform.

  • Bihar Startup RCX Light Secures Deal on Shark Tank India

    Bihar Startup RCX Light Secures Deal on Shark Tank India

    Bihar-based digital façade startup RCX Light appeared on Shark Tank India with a distinctive pitch, transforming large buildings into dynamic digital advertising surfaces using LED technology.

    Founded by Ravi Chand Sharma, Prince Kumar, and Ravi Kumar, the startup operates out of Chapra, Bihar, and specialises in large-scale digital façade installations for branding and outdoor advertising.

    RCX Light’s system uses individual LEDs controlled through a centralised controller, enabling buildings to function as high-impact, programmable display surfaces. A key strength of the model is its reusable LED inventory, which can be deployed up to 30 times, helping the company manage costs and maintain healthier margins.

    RCX Light follows an area-based pricing model, charging ₹20 per sq ft for the first day and ₹10 per sq ft per day from the second day onwards. The cost of equipment ranges between ₹80 and ₹90 per sq ft, allowing the company to recover investments through multiple redeployments of the same inventory.

    On the financial front, the founders shared that RCX Light reported ₹19 lakh in revenue in FY22–23 with 12–13% net margins. Revenue grew to ₹26 lakh in FY23–24, while year-to-date sales stand at ₹66 lakh. The founders expect margins to improve to 18% in FY24–25 and further to 24–25% in FY25–26.

    One of the startup’s notable projects includes a digital façade installation at the RBI Office in Mumbai, secured through a ₹5 lakh tender. The inventory used for this project has generated ₹37–38 lakh in cumulative revenue. Interestingly, RCX Light’s first-ever project was executed with an initial investment of just ₹1.5 lakh.

    https://app.ceotrail.com/healthcare-startup-cosmo-secures-rs-1-cr-funding-on-shark-tank-india/

    During the pitch, the founders sought ₹50 lakh for 5% equity, valuing the company at ₹10 crore. However, the pitch also highlighted financial challenges, as the company currently carries ₹1.4 crore in debt at a steep 25% annual interest rate, which became a key concern during the discussion.

    After deliberation, Aman Gupta made a structured offer of ₹10 lakh for 5% equity, along with ₹40 lakh as debt at 12% annual interest for three years. The founders accepted the deal, bringing the company’s valuation to ₹2 crore.

    With fresh capital and strategic backing from a Shark, RCX Light plans to restructure its debt, expand installations across major Indian cities, and strengthen its presence in the fast-growing digital façade and outdoor advertising space.

  • Nivaan Care Raises $7 Mn in Series A Funding Led by Sorin Investments

    Nivaan Care Raises $7 Mn in Series A Funding Led by Sorin Investments

    Nivaan Care, a single-specialty clinic chain focused on non-surgical and minimally invasive chronic pain management, has raised $7 million in a Series A funding round led by Sorin Investments.

    The round also saw participation from existing investors W Health Ventures, Endiya Partners, and Rebright Partners.

    The Series A follows the company’s $4.25 million seed funding raised in February 2025, which was led by Endiya Partners with participation from W Health Ventures.

    The fresh capital will be used to expand Nivaan Care’s clinic network across multiple Indian cities, strengthen clinical and operating infrastructure, and advance minimally invasive pain management procedures.

    Founded in 2023 by Nivesh Khandelwal and Vishwas Singh, Nivaan Care operates dedicated pain management clinics that focus on chronic conditions such as back pain, knee pain, neck pain, migraines, and nerve-related disorders. Khandelwal previously served as COO of Ridge IVF, while Singh brings operational experience from leadership roles at Tata 1mg and Shuttl. 

    The New Delhi–based chain currently serves patients across Delhi-NCR and Mumbai, along with satellite markets including Jaipur and Lucknow.

    To date, Nivaan Care has completed over 40,000 patient consultations and approximately 5,000 minimally invasive procedures. With the new funding, the company plans to enter new markets such as Bengaluru and continue building its physical clinic presence.

    Nivaan Care follows a multidisciplinary care model that integrates pain physicians, physiotherapists, care coordinators, psychologists, and nutrition experts.

    https://app.ceotrail.com/zerocircle-raises-rs-5-cr-in-pre-series-a-funding-led-by-3one4-capital-and-rainmatter/

    The company focuses on identifying the root cause of pain and offering alternatives to surgery and long-term medication through evidence-based, non-surgical interventions.

    Incubated under venture studio 2070 Health, Nivaan Care operates under Rewind Healthcare Private Limited. The company aims to address gaps in India’s fragmented chronic pain treatment landscape by offering structured, patient-centric care designed to help individuals return to daily activities with improved mobility and quality of life.

  • Dhun Wellness raises $4 Mn in funding led by SRF and Havells India 

    Dhun Wellness raises $4 Mn in funding led by SRF and Havells India 

    Dhun Wellness, an urban wellness startup, has raised $4 million (around ₹36.6 crore) in a funding round co-led by SRF Ltd and Havells India.

    The round also saw participation from angel investors including Arushi Aayush Agrawal, Ash Lilani, Tracxn co-founder Abhishek Goyal, Sanjay Kapoor, and others.

    The fresh capital will be used to expand Dhun Wellness’ presence beyond Mumbai, with planned launches in Delhi followed by Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad.

    The company aims to scale its in-city wellness model and strengthen its longevity-focused offerings.

    Founded in 2023 by Mira Kapoor, Dhun Wellness positions itself as an urban wellness sanctuary designed for city residents seeking holistic well-being without travelling outside the city. The startup combines traditional Indian practices such as Ayurveda and sound healing with modern longevity science, including cryotherapy and infrared sauna therapies.

    Dhun Wellness currently operates a 6,000-square-foot flagship centre in Bandra, Mumbai, featuring treatment rooms, consultation suites, and dedicated spaces for sound therapy. Its personalised seven-day wellness programmes focus on areas such as gut health, stress management, sleep optimisation, and women’s health, supported by consultations, nutrition planning, and at-home care.

    https://app.ceotrail.com/e-commerce-startup-for-real-raises-rs-3-2-cr-pre-seed-from-titan-capital/

    The startup reported 15% month-on-month growth in demand and plans to build a comprehensive longevity vertical centred on preventive care, personalised wellness protocols, and long-term health optimisation.

    The leadership team includes founder Mira Kapoor and Wellness Director Dr. Sujit Kumar Gupta, an integrative health expert with over two decades of experience in functional medicine.

  • Zerocircle raises Rs 5 cr in pre-Series A funding led by 3one4 Capital and Rainmatter 

    Zerocircle raises Rs 5 cr in pre-Series A funding led by 3one4 Capital and Rainmatter 

    Zerocircle, a materials science and cleantech startup focused on plastic-free packaging, has raised ₹5 crore in a Pre-Series A funding round co-led by 3one4 Capital and Rainmatter Capital, with participation from other investors.

    This brings the company’s total funding to ₹25 crore ($3 million+) till date.

    The fresh capital will be used to support Zerocircle’s deeptech research and scale-up efforts aimed at replacing plastic in food and consumer packaging using natural polymers and compounds.

    The company plans to accelerate commercial deployments across high-volume packaging categories.

    Founded in 2020 by Neha Jain, Zerocircle develops seaweed-based materials designed to replace petrochemical plastics. Its product portfolio includes barrier coatings and coated paper solutions used in foodservice packaging such as hamburger boxes, bakery trays, food wraps, beverage cups, and grease-resistant paper products.

    Over the past year, Zerocircle has replaced nearly 1.6 million plastic food containers across India, the Netherlands, and the Benelux region. The startup works with distributors, converters, and foodservice partners to deploy plastic-free alternatives in large-scale applications and is preparing to launch new barrier coatings, including water-resistant and heat-sealable solutions for hospitality and food packaging.

    https://app.ceotrail.com/sports-tech-startup-stepout-raises-1-5-mn-in-pre-series-a-round/

    Zerocircle is scaling its presence in markets where regulatory pressure and demand for plastic-free packaging are increasing, including Europe, the UK, Oceania, and India. In early 2026, the company became the only materials firm in Asia to be certified as 100% plastic-free under the European Union’s Single-Use Plastics Directive.

    Headquartered in Gurugram with R&D operations in Pune, Zerocircle aims to reach a production capacity of over 3,000 tonnes annually by 2028 and continues to work on expanding partnerships across food delivery, QSR, and consumer packaging segments.

  • Healthcare startup Cosmo+ secures Rs 1 cr funding on Shark Tank India

    Healthcare startup Cosmo+ secures Rs 1 cr funding on Shark Tank India

    Healthcare startup Cosmo+ made an appearance on Shark Tank India, where the founders presented their vision of building a rapid emergency medical response system tailored for gated communities.

    Founded by Atul JainDr. Shivansh Bhalla, and Himanshu Mewara, Cosmo+ focuses on reducing emergency response time by placing medical infrastructure directly within residential societies. The startup is built on the belief that faster access to medical help can save lives.

    During the pitch, the founders explained their society-level ambulance model, where one ambulance is stationed per residential complex. This is supported by a 24×7 SOS system that allows residents to connect with medical assistance through a single tap.

    Cosmo+ offers services including first aid support, doctor access, elderly care, home nursing, and ambulance services. When an SOS alert is triggered, it reaches medical staff while also notifying neighbours and emergency contacts, enabling quicker on-ground support.

    Sharing traction, the founders revealed that Cosmo+ is currently active in Hyderabad and Ludhiana, serving over 7,000 families across gated communities. Since launching in July 2025, the platform has handled more than 1,000 emergency and healthcare requests within four months.

    Around 40% of these requests were first-aid cases, followed by routine check-ups, value-added healthcare services, and ambulance calls.

    Cosmo+ operates on a subscription-based model, partnering with RWAs and real estate developers. Residential societies pay a monthly fee ranging from ₹99 to ₹299 per family, with the company currently operating at a monthly burn of around ₹3 lakh.

    For the deal, the founders initially asked for ₹1 crore for 4% equity, valuing the company at ₹25 crore. After discussions around operations, unit economics, and scalability, a revised deal was finalised.

    https://app.ceotrail.com/multibagg-ai-secures-rs-50-lakh-deal-on-shark-tank-india/

    Anupam Mittal, Kanika Tekriwal, and Kunal Bahl together invested ₹1 crore for 9% equity, valuing Cosmo+ at a post-money valuation of ₹11.11 crore.

    With fresh capital in hand, Cosmo+ plans to expand to additional cities, onboard more residential societies, and strengthen its on-ground emergency response infrastructure, as it works toward making neighbourhood-first healthcare a standard part of urban living.

  • Uprear Build secures Rs 2 crore deal on Shark Tank India

    Uprear Build secures Rs 2 crore deal on Shark Tank India

    Uprear Build, a premium modular construction startup founded by Shrikant Shah, made a strong impression on Shark Tank India Season 5. With its sharp focus on smart, foldable, building-code-compliant modular pods, the company showcased how construction can be faster, cleaner, and far more efficient without compromising on quality.

    Pitching under the tagline “When Building Science Meets Smart Construction”, Shrikant walked the sharks through Uprear Build’s journey since launching its factory in October 2022. What really caught attention was the live-style demonstration of a pod being unfolded and installed via crane and highlighting that a 330 sq. ft. studio can be installed in just 1 hour, with delivery in 15–20 days. 

    From a business standpoint, the numbers spoke loudly. Uprear Build scaled rapidly, from ₹1.5 Cr in FY 22–23 to ₹26.2 Cr in FY 24–25, with ₹30 Cr+ cumulative sales in three years. A major driver of this growth has been their Anganwadi centre modules, which currently contribute 70% of total revenue, a strength, but also a risk the Sharks didn’t ignore.

    https://app.ceotrail.com/multibagg-ai-secures-rs-50-lakh-deal-on-shark-tank-india/

    Shrikant asked for ₹2 Crores for 2.5% equity, valuing the company at ₹80 Crores. The Sharks pushed back on valuation and revenue concentration. Anupam Mittal proposed a mix of equity, debt, and royalty, while Kunal Bahl offered a cleaner structure with equity plus debt.

    After negotiations, the deal was sealed with Kunal Bahl :  ₹1 Crore for 2% equity + ₹1 Crore debt at 10% interest for 3 years, valuing Uprear Build at ₹50 Crores.