Capture a Trip Shark Tank India Episode Review

Capture a Trip Shark Tank India Episode Review

Capture a Trip appeared on Shark Tank India Season 5, Episode 2, with founders Nitin Khanna and Anurag Singhal seeking ₹75 lakh for 1.5% equity (₹50 Crore valuation). After negotiations, they successfully closed a deal for ₹75 lakh for 5% equity (₹15 Crore valuation) with Sharks Kunal Bahl and Mohit Yadav.

Capture a Trip is a Delhi-based experiential travel company founded in 2016 by Nitin Khanna (IT background with HCL and Tech Mahindra) that curates community-led group journeys for solo travelers across India and international destinations. Specializing in offbeat locations like Tosh, Meghalaya, and Spiti Valley, the company has served over 50,000 travelers with a strong focus on safety and inclusivity—nearly 50% of their customer base is women. With impressive digital traction of 82,882 monthly organic visitors and 541,000+ social media followers, they operate on a “Community-First” philosophy that prioritizes human connection over transactional travel. Offering domestic packages averaging ₹6,500 and international packages ranging ₹2-2.5 lakh (₹83,000 AOV), the brand aims to expand internationally while deepening their domestic presence in underserved offbeat locations through tech integration and community building.

Website Information

• Website:- Capture a Trip
• Build on JavaScript frameworks Next.js 15.3.8 React
• Great SEO Performance
• ORGANIC TRAFFIC: 82,882 visitor per month.

Founder

• The company was founded in 2016 by Nitin Khanna, who was later joined by Anurag Singhal (who joined in July 2025).
• Nitin, coming from an IT background (with experience at firms like HCL and Tech Mahindra), started the venture after a transformative trek to Kutla.
• His humble and humorous storytelling during the pitch earned him the title of “not a green flag” in a lighthearted exchange with the Sharks.

Brand Overview

• The brand, Capture a Trip, is a Delhi-based experiential travel company that curates community-led journeys across India and international destinations.
• It primarily caters to the growing segment of young Indian explorers, solo travelers, and first-time adventurers seeking safe and immersive group experiences.
• Capture a Trip focuses on “humanizing” travel by prioritizing connection, safety, and shared experiences over transactional itineraries.
• The brand has built a significant community of over 50,000 travelers and maintains a strong social media presence with over 541,000 followers.
• They specialize in offbeat Indian locations like Tosh, Meghalaya, and Spiti Valley, as well as international group tours.

Shark Tank India Appearance & Ask

• Nitin and Anurag appeared in Season 5, Episode 2 (aired January 6, 2026). They initially sought an investment of Rs 75 lakh for 1.5% equity, valuing the company at Rs 50 crore.
• The panel included Sharks Kunal Bahl, Mohit Yadav, Aman Gupta, Anupam Mittal, and Namita Thapar.

Season and Episode Air Date

• Season: 05
• Episode: 02
• Episode Air Date: Tuesday, 06 January 2026

Product Overview

Capture a Trip offers curated group travel packages:

• Average Domestic Package: Rs 6,500.
• International Package: Rs 2 lakh – Rs 2.5 lakh.
• Average Order Value (AOV): Rs 83,000. The “product” is essentially a social ecosystem for solo travelers, ensuring they have a curated community and on-ground support throughout their journey.

Investor Reactions

• Namita Thapar: Backed out early, expressing doubts about the business’s potential to scale significantly.
• Aman Gupta: Raised concerns regarding “kaand” (scandals/safety issues) and regulatory risks, also criticizing the complex early-stage cap table.
• Anupam Mittal: Exited because he believed the business required a low-cost, service-heavy focus that he didn’t find compelling as an investment.
• Kunal Bahl & Mohit Yadav: Saw immense potential in the “Experience Economy,” noting that the younger generation prioritizes memories over material objects.

Customer Engagement Philosophy

• The brand operates on a “Community-First” philosophy. They aim to remove the “fear factor” for solo travelers, especially women (who make up nearly 50% of their base).
• By focusing on “people, not plans,” they foster trust through transparent pricing and inclusive group dynamics, turning a standard trip into a social movement.

Product Highlights

• Traction: Served over 50,000+ travelers with a high repeat customer rate.
• Inclusivity: Strong female traveler participation and focus on first-time international explorers.
• Efficiency: Despite a current burn of Rs 2.10 crore and Rs 90 lakh in debt, the company manages a high monthly business volume of approx. Rs 3 crore.

Future Vision

The founders plan to use the fresh capital for:

• International Expansion: Opening more global routes for the youth travel ecosystem.
• Domestic Deepening: Strengthening presence in underserved “offbeat” locations across India.
• Tech Integration: Enhancing their platform to streamline onboarding and itinerary customization for solo travelers.

Deal Finalized or Not

• Yes, a deal was finalized. Although the Sharks initially pushed for a 7.5% stake (valuing the company at Rs 10 crore), the founders successfully negotiated.
• The final deal was closed at Rs 75 lakh for 5% equity, placing the company’s valuation at Rs 15 crore. The investment was a joint deal by Kunal Bahl and Mohit Yadav.

Capture a Trip Shark Tank India Business Plan

Business Potential in India (2026 Facts & Data)

• The Experience Economy Surge for Capture a Trip: By 2026, Indian travelers have shifted from “landmark-hopping” to “meaningful travel.” Over 94% of Indian travelers plan to travel as much or more than previous years, prioritizing emotional connection and wellness.
• The Mountain Trend for Capture a Trip: Alpine escapes have overtaken beach vacations, with 92% of Indians dreaming of year-round mountain adventures—a core specialty for Capture a Trip in regions like Spiti and Kutla.
• Economic Tailwinds for Capture a Trip: India’s travel sector is projected to contribute over $250 billion to the GDP in 2026, driven by a young, aspirational population that views travel as an essential lifestyle component rather than a luxury.

Total Addressable Market (TAM) Analysis

• The Experiential TAM for Capture a Trip: India’s experiential travel market is projected to reach $45 billion by 2027.
• The Outbound Potential for Capture a Trip: The outbound tourism market is expanding at a 14.27% CAGR, expected to hit INR 5.01 trillion by 2030. Capture a Trip’s focus on international group tours positions it to capture a significant share of these 50 million+ global travelers.
• The Online Serviceable Market for Capture a Trip: With 820 million+ internet users, Capture a Trip’s high organic traffic (82k+ monthly) targets the 60% of travelers who start their journey with an online search.

Ideal Target Audience and Demographics

• The Capture a Trip “Solo-But-Social” Segment: Primarily Millennials (53.5%) and Gen Z (29.7%).
• Gender Focus for Capture a Trip: Women make up nearly 50% of the traveler base, seeking the safety and community offered by Capture a Trip‘s group model.
• Geographic Origin for Capture a Trip: Urban dwellers from Tier-1 metros (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru) who work in high-stress corporate roles and seek “unplugged” nature retreats.

Marketing, Content, and Digital Strategy

• SEO Excellence for Capture a Trip: Leveraging its Next.js 15 architecture, Capture a Trip should dominate keywords like “safe solo travel for women India” and “group trips to Spiti.”
• “Humane” Storytelling Content for Capture a Trip: Utilizing Nitin’s “green flag” persona to create humorous, relatable reels that highlight the “human” side of travel—focusing on the people met rather than just the destination.
• Capture a Trip Influence Strategy: Partnering with “Glowmads” and beauty/wellness influencers who align with the 2026 trend of self-care travel.
• Hyper-Personalization for Capture a Trip: Using AI-driven data to suggest trips based on past “mountain” or “culture” preferences, targeting the 86% of Indians who now use AI for trip planning.

Strategic Distribution and Growth

• Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) Mastery for Capture a Trip: Maintaining the Capture a Trip website as the primary booking engine to avoid heavy OTA commissions.
• The “Community Flywheel” for Capture a Trip: Using its 541k+ social followers to create exclusive “alumni” trips, ensuring a high lifetime value (LTV) through repeat customers.
• Capture a Trip Offline Touchpoints: Pop-up “Travel Meetups” in metros to convert digital followers into physical bookings through face-to-face community building.

Advantages, Challenges, and Mitigation

• Capture a Trip Core Advantage: High Organic Reach (82,882 visitors/mo) provides a massive “zero-cost” customer acquisition funnel compared to competitors spending on Meta ads.
• Capture a Trip Critical Challenge:Safety & Regulation. As Aman Gupta noted, a single “scandal” could jeopardize the brand.
  • Mitigation Strategy: Implement a “Gold-Standard Safety Audit” for every trip leader and partner hotel, backed by comprehensive travel insurance integrated into every package.
• Capture a Trip Financial Challenge: High burn (Rs 2.10 Cr) and debt (Rs 90 Lakh).
  • Mitigation Strategy: Focus on high-margin International Packages (AOV Rs 83k) to offset the lower margins of domestic treks.

Roadmap to Increased Valuation

• Year 1 – Debt Restructuring for Capture a Trip: Using the Rs 75 Lakh Shark investment to optimize operational costs and reduce high-interest debt, aiming for EBITDA neutrality.
• Year 2 – Tech Integration for Capture a Trip: Developing a proprietary Capture a Trip App that manages real-time group chats, itinerary updates, and in-trip photo sharing to “lock in” the community.
• Year 3 – Global IP Expansion for Capture a Trip: Licensing the Capture a Trip model to international partners in Southeast Asia or Europe, pivoting from a “Travel Agency” to a “Global Lifestyle Community.”
• Target Valuation Goal for Capture a Trip: By scaling the international segment and achieving a 10% repeat rate, Capture a Trip can aim for a Rs 100 Cr+ valuation by 2028.