Shark Tank India 4: Anupam Mittal Criticizes Low Salaries, Aman Gupta Questions Leadership
In the latest episode of Shark Tank India 4 (February 13), Anupam Mittal called out a pitcher for paying employees below minimum wage, while Aman Gupta raised concerns about her leadership skills.
Chokhat’s Pitch Impresses but Raises Concerns
The first pitcher of the episode was Prachi Bhatia, founder of Chokhat, a Delhi-based home decor brand launched in 2018. The brand focuses on making designer home decor affordable and stands out with its nature and animal-inspired designs.
Prachi, a product designer, came to the Sharks seeking ₹50 lakh for 7% equity. Her brand, business journey, and unique products impressed the Sharks. She even brought gifts for them, which they appreciated. However, the conversation soon shifted to her business management skills.
Hiring Issues and Leadership Concerns
Prachi admitted that she ran her business alone for four years before realizing she needed a team. However, she hesitated to hire people, fearing she might have to fire them later.
Hearing this, Peyush Bansal and Aman Gupta questioned her decision-making skills. Aman asked,
“How will you manage if you’re unsure whom to hire and fire?”
Prachi agreed that she needed to improve in this area.
Underpaying Employees: Anupam Mittal Calls It Out
Prachi shared that she recently hired two employees, one earning ₹10,000 and the other ₹7,000. She also revealed that her highest-paid employee was earning ₹15,000 before she let them go last month.
Hearing this, Anupam Mittal criticized her, saying:
“On one hand, you say you want to do the best for your employees. But on the other hand, you are paying them below minimum wage.”
Prachi explained that she needed a good team but lacked the budget to offer higher salaries. She said,
“That’s why I’m here—to secure funding so I can guarantee at least one year’s salary for my team.”
The Final Deal
In the end, Prachi struck a deal with Anupam Mittal and Peyush Bansal for ₹30 lakh for 10% equity and an additional ₹20 lakh as debt at 10% interest for one year.
While her brand impressed the Sharks, her leadership and salary decisions sparked an important discussion on fair wages and business management.
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