Chhail Khalsa is the founder of Anuvad, a Gujarat-based startup specializing in e-textiles.
With a background in design and research, Chhail aims to merge technology with textiles to create innovative, functional fabrics.
Brand Overview
Anuvad blends traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology to create smart textiles.
The company specializes in e-textiles, interactive media art, functional textiles, and smart fabrics.
Applications include:
Fashion: Clothing that reacts to movement or changes color.
Healthcare: Smart fabrics for monitoring vitals or providing heat therapy.
Wearables: Textiles used in sports and rehabilitation.
Anuvad’s mission is to humanize technology by embedding it seamlessly into textiles, transforming them into interactive experiences.
Shark Tank India Appearance & Ask
Chhail pitched on Shark Tank India Season 4, seeking ₹50 lakh for 5% equity, valuing the company at ₹10 crore.
Her pitch emphasized:
The potential of smart textiles in fashion, healthcare, and wearables.
A long-term vision of making interactive fabrics mainstream.
Grants received from the IKEA Foundation worth ₹44 lakh over eight years.
Season and Episode Air Date
Season: 04
Episode: 43
Episode Air Date: Wednesday, 05 March 2025
Product Overview
Anuvad offers a range of e-textile solutions, including:
Musical textiles made by Indian artisans.
Heated fabrics for cushions and clothing.
Interactive smart textiles for fashion and healthcare applications.
The company holds an Indian patent for integrating circuits into fabric to make it electronic.
Investor Reactions
Vineeta Singh: Questioned the market demand for smart textiles and doubted its mass-market appeal. Opted out due to limited commercial viability.
Namita Thapar: Criticized the lack of clear customer demand and profitability potential. Stepped away from the deal.
Anupam Mittal: Called the business a “college project” and urged Chhail to focus on practical use cases before seeking investment. Declined to invest but appreciated her creativity.
Kunal Bahl: Praised Chhail’s commitment but felt the business needed working capital rather than venture capital. Opted out.
Ritesh Agarwal: Saw potential in the technology but felt it was too early-stage for investment.
Customer Engagement Philosophy
Anuvad focuses on creating immersive experiences through smart textiles that combine functionality with aesthetics.
The brand emphasizes sustainability by collaborating with Indian artisans and using eco-friendly materials.
Product Highlights
Patented technology for embedding circuits into fabric, making it interactive.
Applications in fashion, healthcare, and wearables.
Products include musical textiles, heated fabrics, and other innovative solutions.
Focus on sustainability by supporting Indian artisans.
Key Takeaways
Anuvad’s innovation in e-textiles is impressive but lacks clear market demand and scalability at this stage.
Investors require businesses with proven revenue models and practical applications.
Despite setbacks, Chhail’s dedication positions Anuvad as a potential pioneer in the e-textile space.
Anuvad left Shark Tank India without funding but gained valuable insights into refining its business strategy. With a focus on practicality, customer demand, and revenue generation, the startup has the potential to become a leader in smart textile innovation in the future!
Future Vision
Strengthen Commercial Partnerships: Collaborate with fashion brands, healthcare providers, and wearable tech companies.
Expand Sales Beyond Grants: Focus on direct-to-consumer retail and B2B sales to generate consistent revenue.
₹50 crore revenue, global expansion, franchise model for offline stores
Long-Term Goals (3–5 Years)
AI-driven smart fabrics, expansion into Tier-2 cities
Roadmap to Increase Valuation
Brand Equity
Influencer collaborations, celebrity endorsements
Market Expansion
Focus on South India and Southeast Asia
R&D Investment
Develop biodegradable smart fabrics
Anuvad Shark Tank India Business Plan
Business Potential in India
Market Context:
The Indian textile and apparel market reached $197.2 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13%, reaching $592.7 billion by 2032.
The technical textiles market, including e-textiles, is valued at $19 billion and growing at a CAGR of 12%, with applications in fashion, healthcare, sports, and more.
Globally, the e-textile and smart clothing market is expected to grow from $1.7 billion in 2023 to $5.3 billion by 2033, at a CAGR of 12%8.
Opportunity:
Rising demand for wearable technology and functional textiles in India.
Government initiatives like the National Technical Textiles Mission aim to boost innovation in technical textiles.
Increasing consumer interest in sustainable and tech-enabled products aligns with Anuvad’s offerings.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
TAM Calculation:
Target audience: Urban population (~480 million people).
Estimated penetration: ~5% of this group (~24 million individuals).
Annual spend per person on smart textiles: ₹5,000.
TAM = ₹12,000 crore (~$1.5 billion).
Serviceable Addressable Market (SAM):
Focus on Tier-1 cities (~30% of urban population).
SAM = ₹3,600 crore (~$450 million).
Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM):
Targeting early adopters (~5% of SAM initially).
SOM = ₹180 crore (~$22.5 million).
Ideal Target Audience and Demographics
Age: 25–50 years.
Gender: Both genders equally.
Income Level: Middle-class to affluent households (₹8–20 lakh annual income).
Location: Urban metros like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi.
Psychographics
Tech-savvy individuals interested in wearable technology.
Health-conscious consumers seeking functional textiles for monitoring vitals or providing heat therapy.
Millennials and Gen Z customers looking for innovative fashion solutions.
Content and Digital Marketing Strategy
Content Marketing:
Publish blogs like “The Future of Smart Textiles” or “How E-Textiles Are Revolutionizing Healthcare.”
Share customer testimonials and behind-the-scenes videos showcasing Anuvad’s innovative processes.
SEO Optimization:
Improve SEO performance to increase organic traffic from the current 2.8K visitors/month to at least 10K visitors/month within six months.
Target keywords like “smart textiles India” and “e-textile applications.”
Social Media Campaigns:
Use Instagram and LinkedIn to showcase product applications in fashion, healthcare, and wearables.
Launch campaigns like “#SmartFabricsForLife” to engage younger audiences.
Influencer Collaborations:
Partner with fashion designers, healthcare experts, and tech influencers to promote Anuvad’s products authentically.
Paid Ads:
Run Google Ads targeting high-intent keywords such as “buy smart fabrics” or “heated cushions.”
Retarget website visitors with personalized offers to boost conversions.
Distribution Strategy
Direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales via the Anuvad website.
Partner with e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, and Nykaa for broader reach.
Collaborate with fashion designers and healthcare providers for B2B sales.
Expand offline presence through partnerships with premium retail stores in Tier-1 cities.
Advantages
Patented technology for embedding circuits into fabric ensures differentiation from competitors.
Applications across multiple industries (fashion, healthcare, wearables) provide diversification opportunities.
Sustainability focus through collaboration with Indian artisans appeals to eco-conscious consumers.
Challenges
Limited consumer awareness about the benefits of e-textiles in India.
High production costs associated with integrating circuits into fabrics.
Scalability challenges due to niche market appeal.
Reasons for Success
Growing global demand for wearable technology aligns with Anuvad’s offerings.
Government initiatives supporting technical textiles provide a favorable ecosystem.
Strong focus on innovation positions Anuvad as a pioneer in the e-textile space.
Mitigation Strategies
Launch educational campaigns highlighting the practical benefits of smart textiles.
Develop cost-effective production methods to reduce pricing barriers.
Focus on strategic partnerships with established brands to scale operations efficiently.
Future Business Roadmap
Short-Term Goals (0–1 Year):
Expand product portfolio with affordable smart textile solutions for everyday use.
Increase monthly revenue by targeting B2B partnerships with fashion brands and healthcare providers.
Enhance tastefully designed packaging to appeal to premium customers.
Medium-Term Goals (1–3 Years):
Establish partnerships with global wearable tech companies for co-branded products.
Achieve ₹50 crore annual revenue by expanding into international markets like Southeast Asia and Europe.
Develop a franchise model for offline stores specializing in smart textiles.
Long-Term Goals (3–5 Years):
Establish Anuvad as a global leader in e-textile innovation by leveraging R&D investments.
Introduce proprietary AI-driven smart fabrics capable of real-time health monitoring.
Scale operations across Tier-2 cities to capture untapped markets.
Roadmap to Increase Valuation
Strengthen brand equity through collaborations with top-tier influencers and celebrity endorsements in the tech-fashion space.
Scale operations by entering high-growth regions such as South India and Southeast Asia.
Invest in R&D to innovate new product lines that align with global trends (e.g., biodegradable smart fabrics).
Anuvad has immense potential to disrupt India’s textile industry by integrating technology into traditional craftsmanship while addressing real-world problems through innovative e-textile solutions. With strategic marketing efforts, operational scalability, and a focus on customer education, it can establish itself as a leader while achieving long-term profitability!
Anuvad Shark Tank India Episode Review