In Shark Tank India Season 4, Chhail Khalsa pitched her E-textile brand Anuvad, seeking Rs 50 lakh for 5%. Despite optimism and grants, the ‘sharks’ felt it lacked practical use and backed out.
Shark Tank India’s latest episode saw Anupam Mittal commenting harshly.
In Season 4 of Shark Tank India, currently on SonyLIV, a founder from Ahmedabad named Chhail Khalsa introduced her E-textile brand, Anuvad. She showed a special musical textile made by Indian artisans and explained that she uses technology in her fabrics. Chhail plans to make clothes for elderly people with memory issues and those who don’t want to wear gadgets. She also wants to create heated fabric solutions. She was asking for Rs 50 lakh for a 5% stake in her company, which would value it at Rs 10 crore.
When Vineeta Singh asked what a “smart textile” is, Chhail explained that she has a patent for adding circuits to fabric to make it electronic. She talked about using her product for heated cushions but didn’t bring any examples, which left the ‘sharks’ confused.
Kunal Bahl asked why she didn’t bring it with her, but the founder couldn’t provide a satisfactory answer. Anupam Mittal said, “Aapko laga isme funding mil jayegi. Woh kyu dikhana?” Chhail said she has been working on this project for over eight years and has received three grants from the IKEA Foundation worth Rs 44 lakh. Vineeta asked if she really believed there was a demand for it, and Chhail seemed optimistic.
Namita Thapar felt that her business was still in the early stages and exited the negotiation. Anupam Mittal said it looked like a “college project, craft centre, research-oriented textiles looking for a use case” and urged her to find a proper use for her product. He also withdrew but mentioned he would contact her for an installation. Vineeta Singh opted out, saying that “no one needs” her product and that it could be seen as a novelty or gimmick, not a replacement for regular textiles. Kunal Bahl and Ritesh Agarwal also backed out of the deal.
As Chhail walked out, Vineeta told her that sometimes “bitter reactions” are needed to move forward. After leaving, the founder said she disagrees with the ‘sharks’ and believes there is plenty of opportunity in E-textiles.
