The trio of former journalists transitioned into entrepreneurs with a mission to upcycle waste materials into handcrafted products.
Their journey began with just ₹2000 and has grown into a ₹6 crore business.
Brand Overview
Kavi is a Noida-based social impact startup that upcycles discarded glass bottles into artistic and functional products such as lamps, home décor, and tableware.
The brand emphasizes sustainability and creativity, having prevented over 10 lakh glass bottles from reaching landfills, where they would take 4000 years to decompose.
The name “Kavi” (meaning poet in Hindi) reflects their philosophy of blending art and poetry into sustainable design.
Shark Tank India Appearance & Ask
The founders appeared on Shark Tank India Season 4.
They sought an investment of ₹60 lakh for 1.5% equity, valuing the company at ₹40 crore.
Their primary goal was to secure funding for international expansion, citing growing demand in global markets.
Season and Episode Air Date
Season: 04
Episode: 39
Episode Air Date: Thursday, 27 February 2025
Product Overview
Kavi’s product range includes:
Lamps: Handcrafted from upcycled glass bottles.
Home Décor: Artistic pieces such as planters, vases, and platters.
Functional Art: Tableware and customized gifts. Their products are priced between ₹300 and ₹1600, catering to both B2B and B2C markets.
Investor Reactions
Anupam Mittal: Questioned the need for funding, given their profitability and advised rebranding for clarity.
Aman Gupta: Criticized the branding as confusing and suggested removing poetry from the logo to appeal to a broader audience.
Namita Thapar: She highlighted the lack of clarity in their long-term vision and scalability plans.
Piyush Bansal: Recommended hiring specially-abled individuals to enhance their social impact.
Ritesh Agarwal: He did not invest but placed an order for 100 lampshades as a gesture of support.
Customer Engagement Philosophy
Kavi focuses on eco-conscious customers who value sustainability and handcrafted artistry.
Their Instagram presence (258K followers) plays a significant role in creating awareness about their mission and products.
Product Highlights
Sustainability: Prevented over 10 lakh glass bottles from reaching landfills.
Social Impact: Works with 200 rag pickers in Delhi-NCR, increasing their income fourfold.
Craftsmanship: Employs 15 artisans specializing in handcrafted designs.
Future Vision
Expansion Plans:
Tap into international markets like the US and Europe targeting eco-conscious buyers.
Increase B2B collaborations with hotels, restaurants, and premium décor retailers.
Rebranding Considerations:
Evaluate Aman Gupta’s suggestion to simplify branding while retaining artistic essence.
Social Impact Growth:
Explore Piyush Bansal’s recommendation to hire specially-abled workers.
Deal Finalized or Not
Although Kavi did not secure a traditional investment from the Sharks, they walked away with:
A confirmed order from Ritesh Agarwal for 100 lampshades.
A promise of future collaboration outside the tank.
Kavi Shark Tank India Review Website Data
Category
Details
Website Information
Website Name
Kavi
Platform
E-commerce (Shopify)
SEO Performance
Great
Organic Traffic
34.9K visitors per month
Founders
Founded
2012
Founders
Amit Singh, Saumya Singh, Madhuri Balodi
Background
Former journalists turned entrepreneurs
Initial Investment
₹2000
Current Business Worth
₹6 crore
Brand Overview
Location
Noida, India
Business Type
Social impact startup
Core Concept
Upcycling discarded glass bottles into home décor, tableware, and lamps
Environmental Impact
Prevented over 10 lakh glass bottles from reaching landfills
Brand Philosophy
Blending art and poetry into sustainable design
Shark Tank India Appearance & Ask
Season
4
Episode
39
Air Date
27 February 2025
Investment Asked
₹60 lakh for 1.5% equity
Valuation
₹40 crore
Purpose of Funding
International expansion
Product Overview
Product Categories
Lamps, Home Décor (planters, vases, platters), Functional Art (tableware, customized gifts)
Price Range
₹300 – ₹1600
Market Focus
B2B and B2C
Investor Reactions
Anupam Mittal
Advised rebranding for better clarity
Aman Gupta
Suggested removing poetry from branding for broader appeal
Namita Thapar
Highlighted unclear long-term vision and scalability concerns
Piyush Bansal
Recommended hiring specially-abled individuals
Ritesh Agarwal
Did not invest but placed an order for 100 lampshades
Customer Engagement Philosophy
Target Audience
Eco-conscious consumers, urban millennials, Gen Z, businesses (B2B)
Social Media Presence
258K followers on Instagram
Sustainability & Social Impact
Environmental Impact
Prevented over 10 lakh bottles from reaching landfills
Social Impact
Works with 200 rag pickers in Delhi-NCR, increasing their income fourfold
Craftsmanship
Employs 15 artisans specializing in handcrafted designs
Future Vision
International Expansion
US and Europe targeting eco-conscious buyers
B2B Growth
Collaborations with hotels, restaurants, and premium décor retailers
Rebranding Consideration
Evaluating Aman Gupta’s suggestion for a clearer brand image
Social Impact
Exploring Piyush Bansal’s suggestion of hiring specially-abled workers
Deal Finalized or Not?
Investment Secured
No traditional investment from Sharks
Outcome
Order from Ritesh Agarwal for 100 lampshades, future collaboration potential
Market Potential in India
India Recycled Glass Market
USD 216 million (2025), growing at 8%-9% CAGR
Market Growth Drivers
Government sustainability initiatives, eco-conscious consumer trends
Global TAM
USD 4.6 billion by 2030
Ideal Target Audience
Age Group
20-45 years
Income Level
Middle to high-income groups
Geography
Metro cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru) and tier-2 cities
Marketing Strategy
Brand Positioning
Premium sustainable brand blending artistry and eco-consciousness
Key Campaigns
Festive season sustainable gifting, influencer collaborations
Digital Marketing
SEO optimization, social media ads, email marketing
Influencer Marketing
Collaboration with sustainability advocates and interior designers
Distribution Strategy
Online Presence
Shopify, Amazon Handmade, Flipkart
Offline Expansion
Partnerships with premium retail stores, cafés, boutique shops
B2B Focus
Hotels, restaurants, corporate gifting
Export Opportunities
US, Europe
Key Business Advantages
Sustainability
Prevented over 10 lakh bottles from landfills
Social Impact
200 rag pickers supported, artisans employed
Profitability
₹6 crore revenue, 20% EBITDA margin
Craftsmanship
High-quality handcrafted products
Challenges
Branding Issues
Name “Kavi” doesn’t clearly convey the product category
Scalability
Maintaining quality while expanding production
Customer Retention
Current repeat purchase rate: 15%
Reasons for Success Potential
Market Demand
Increasing preference for sustainable products
Financial Growth
Strong revenue and profit margins
Global Expansion
Rising demand for eco-friendly gifting
Mitigation Strategies
Rebranding
Simplify branding while retaining artistic essence
Customer Retention
Loyalty programs, exclusive early access to new collections
Quality Control
Training artisans, upgrading production facilities
International expansion, product diversification, increased production capacity
Long-Term (2029-2030)
Global market leadership, ₹100 crore valuation
Kavi Shark Tank India Business Plan
Business Potential in India
Market Size and Growth:
The India recycled glass market is valued at approximately USD 216 million (2025) and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8%-9% due to increasing environmental awareness and waste management initiatives.
Rising demand for eco-friendly products in industries like home décor, packaging, and consumer goods drives growth.
Drivers of Growth:
Government initiatives promoting recycling and sustainability, such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations.
Growing consumer preference for sustainable and unique handcrafted products.
Increased awareness about the environmental impact of glass waste, which takes over 4000 years to decompose.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
Global TAM: The global recycled glass market is expected to reach USD 4.6 billion by 2030, driven by sustainability trends.
India TAM: With increasing urbanization and eco-consciousness, the Indian market for upcycled home décor and gifting is expanding rapidly, targeting a niche but growing audience.
Ideal Target Audience and Demographics
Target Audience:
Eco-conscious consumers who value sustainability and artistic craftsmanship.
Urban millennials and Gen Z seeking unique home décor and gifting solutions.
Businesses (B2B) such as hotels, restaurants, and corporate gifting clients.
Demographics:
Age Group: 20-45 years.
Income Level: Middle-income to high-income groups.
Geography: Metro cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru) and tier-2 cities with growing disposable incomes.
Marketing Strategy
Brand Positioning:
Highlight Kavi as a premium sustainable brand that combines artistry with eco-consciousness.
Leverage the story of upcycling over 10 lakh bottles into functional art to appeal emotionally to customers.
Campaigns:
Run campaigns during festive seasons (Diwali, Christmas) focusing on sustainable gifting.
Collaborate with eco-friendly influencers to amplify brand awareness.
Content and Digital Marketing Strategy
Content Creation:
Develop blogs on topics like “The Environmental Impact of Upcycling” or “Sustainable Décor Ideas for Modern Homes.”
Create video content showcasing the transformation of discarded bottles into artistic products.
Digital Marketing:
SEO Optimization: Maintain strong SEO performance to sustain organic traffic (34.9K visitors/month).
Social Media Ads: Use Instagram and Facebook to target eco-conscious millennials.
Email Campaigns: Send newsletters featuring new product launches and customer success stories.
Influencer Marketing:
Partner with sustainability advocates and interior designers to promote Kavi’s products.
Distribution Strategy
Online Presence:
Continue leveraging Shopify for e-commerce while enhancing website functionality.
Expand presence on marketplaces like Amazon Handmade and Flipkart.
Offline Distribution:
Increase partnerships with premium retail stores, cafes, and boutique shops in metro cities.
Strengthen B2B collaborations with hotels, restaurants, and corporate clients for bulk orders.
Export Opportunities:
Target international markets like the US and Europe where demand for sustainable gifting is high.
Advantages
Sustainability Focus: Prevented over 10 lakh bottles from reaching landfills, contributing significantly to environmental conservation.
Strong Social Impact: Works with 200 rag pickers in Delhi-NCR, increasing their income fourfold.
Profitability & Growth: Achieved ₹6 crore revenue with a 20% EBITDA margin in FY2024-2514.
Branding Issues: Confusion around the name “Kavi” as it doesn’t clearly communicate the product offering.
Scalability Concerns: Maintaining quality while scaling production could be challenging.
Customer Retention: Current repeat purchase rate stands at only 15%.
Reasons Why Kavi Can Be Successful
Growing demand for sustainable products aligns with Kavi’s mission of upcycling waste into art.
Strong financial performance demonstrates profitability and scalability potential.
Increasing global interest in eco-friendly gifting provides opportunities for international expansion.
Mitigation Strategies
Rebranding Efforts:
Simplify branding by removing poetry from the logo as suggested by Aman Gupta while retaining artistic essence.
Customer Retention Programs:
Introduce loyalty programs offering discounts or exclusive early access to new collections.
Quality Assurance:
Invest in training artisans and upgrading production facilities to maintain quality during scaling.
Future Business Roadmap
Short-Term Goals (2025-2026):
Launch targeted marketing campaigns focusing on sustainability during festive seasons.
Expand offline presence in tier-1 cities through premium retail collaborations.
Strengthen B2B partnerships with hotels, restaurants, and corporate clients.
Medium-Term Goals (2027-2028):
Enter international markets like the US and Europe targeting eco-conscious buyers.
Diversify product offerings by introducing new categories like furniture or larger décor items made from recycled materials.
Increase production capacity by upgrading facilities or setting up additional units.
Long-Term Goals (2029-2030):
Establish Kavi as a global leader in upcycled home décor with a strong presence in international markets.
Target ₹100 crore valuation through sustained revenue growth and brand recognition.
Kavi’s commitment to sustainability, social impact, and artistic innovation positions it uniquely in the growing market for eco-friendly products. With strategic rebranding, targeted marketing, and operational scaling, it has the potential to become a household name both in India and globally.
Kavi Shark Tank India Episode Review