Planyt Shark Tank India Episode Review
Planyt appeared on Shark Tank India Season 5, Episode 4, with founder Shubham Upadhyay seeking ₹1.05 Crore for 6.5% equity (₹16.15 Crore valuation). The pitch ended with no deal and became one of the harshest rejections, with Anupam Mittal calling him “delusional” and asking “Tujhe sharam nahi aayi?” (Have you no shame?).
Planyt offers indoor plant growth systems using patented “fogponics” technology founded by 28-year-old Shubham Upadhyay from Vadodara in 2021. Despite operating for four years, the company remains pre-revenue with only 80-100 discounted units sold. The Sharks reacted furiously when Shubham claimed NASA “made” the technology while he only “perfected” it, and called a ₹10 lakh government grant “heavy funding.” Aman Gupta dismissed it as a “useless machine,” refusing to invest even for 50% at ₹1. With a ₹7.5 lakh family setup cost requiring 24/7 electricity, the product targets wealthy households despite Shubham’s claim to “end world hunger.” Namita advised shutting down the business entirely.
Website Information
- Website:- Planyt
- Build on JavaScript frameworks React Router 6 React
- Poor SEO Performance, SEO Improvement Needed.
- ORGANIC TRAFFIC: 0 visitor per month.
The Founder
- Name: Shubham Upadhyay.
- Background: A 28-year-old entrepreneur from Vadodara.
- Career History: Interestingly, Shubham revealed that he has never held a traditional job, having focused on his business since 2021.
Brand Overview
- Brand Name: Planyt
- Core Concept: The company focuses on indoor plant growth systems using advanced agricultural technology.
- Inception: The business has been operational since 2021, though it remains in a “pre-revenue” stage despite selling limited units at a discount over the last four years.
Shark Tank India Appearance & Ask
- Sharks Present: Namita Thapar, Anupam Mittal, Aman Gupta, Amit Jain, and Ritesh Agarwal.
- Ask: Rs 1.05 crore for 6.5% equity.
- Valuation: The entrepreneur valued the company at Rs 16.15 crore.
Season and Episode Air Date
- Season: 05
- Episode: 04
- Episode Air Date: Thursday, 08 January 2026
Product Overview
- Technology: The device utilizes a patented “fogponics” technology.
- Functionality: It creates a misty atmosphere for plants to ensure they are perfectly hydrated and maintained in optimal conditions.
- Design: The product is sold in the form of “pods” available in three different sizes.
- Limitation: A major drawback revealed during the pitch is that the system requires a 24/7 electricity supply to function.
Investor Reactions
- Skepticism: The Sharks were immediately taken aback by Shubham’s claim that the technology was “made by NASA” and only “perfected” by him.
- Anupam Mittal: Expressed severe anger, calling the founder “delusional” and questioning his audacity with the phrase, “Tujhe sharam nahi aayi?” (Have you no shame?), specifically after Shubham described a Rs 10 lakh government grant as being “heavily funded.”
- Aman Gupta: Dismissed the device as a “useless machine” and stated he wouldn’t invest even if offered 50% equity for just Re 1.
- Namita Thapar: Advised the founder to shut down the business, while Ritesh and Amit suggested he pivot his technology toward a more viable business model.
Customer Engagement Philosophy
- Target Audience: Though Shubham claimed his goal was to “end world hunger,” the Sharks pointed out the product was essentially a luxury item for the wealthy (“ameero ke chochle”).
- Cost Barrier: For a standard family of five to utilize the system as intended, they would need to invest at least Rs 7.5 lakh, making it inaccessible to the general public.
Product Highlights
- Claims of Origin: Asserted that the tech was developed by NASA.
- Sales Record: The founder has sold approximately 80–100 units over four years, mostly at discounted prices.
- Competitive Landscape: Shubham claimed his only competitor is a Canadian company that raised $3 billion but has only sold 500 units—a claim that further fueled the Sharks’ disbelief.
Future Vision
- Social Impact: Shubham’s stated vision is to solve global hunger through home-based plant growth pods.
- Post-Pitch Sentiment: Despite the harsh criticism, Shubham viewed the pitch as a “good experience.” While he felt the personal comments were uncalled for, he remained unashamed of his work and even expressed a desire to return to the Tank in the future.
Deal Finalized or Not
- Status: No Deal. * The pitcher failed to secure an offer from any of the sharks and left the tank empty-handed.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Website | Planyt |
| Website Technology | React, React Router 6 |
| SEO Performance | Poor SEO performance, improvement needed |
| Organic Traffic | 0 visitors per month |
| Founder Name | Shubham Upadhyay |
| Founder Age | 28 years |
| Founder Location | Vadodara, India |
| Founder Background | Entrepreneur since 2021 |
| Founder Job History | Never held a traditional job |
| Brand Name | Planyt |
| Brand Category | Indoor Farming / AgriTech |
| Core Concept | Indoor plant growth systems |
| Technology Used | Patented fogponics technology |
| Business Inception | 2021 |
| Revenue Status | Pre-revenue |
| Sales History | ~80–100 units sold over 4 years (discounted) |
| Shark Tank Appearance | Season 05 |
| Episode Number | Episode 04 |
| Episode Air Date | Thursday, 08 January 2026 |
| Sharks Present | Namita Thapar, Anupam Mittal, Aman Gupta, Amit Jain, Ritesh Agarwal |
| Investment Ask | ₹1.05 Crore |
| Equity Offered | 6.5% |
| Valuation Asked | ₹16.15 Crore |
| Product Format | Indoor plant pods |
| Pod Variants | 3 different sizes |
| Product Functionality | Mist-based hydration for plant growth |
| Power Requirement | 24/7 continuous electricity |
| Claimed Tech Origin | NASA-developed, founder-perfected |
| Government Grant | ₹10 Lakh |
| Shark Reaction – Anupam Mittal | Extremely negative; called founder delusional |
| Anupam Quote | “Tujhe sharam nahi aayi?” |
| Shark Reaction – Aman Gupta | Called product useless; outright rejection |
| Aman Quote | Would not invest even for 50% at ₹1 |
| Shark Reaction – Namita Thapar | Suggested shutting down the business |
| Shark Reaction – Amit Jain | Suggested pivot |
| Shark Reaction – Ritesh Agarwal | Suggested alternative business direction |
| Pitch Sentiment | Highly confrontational |
| Target Customer (Founder Claim) | World hunger solution |
| Shark Counter-View | Luxury product for wealthy |
| Cost Barrier | ₹7.5 Lakh for a family setup |
| Accessibility | Only top 0.1% income households |
| Competitive Claim | Canadian competitor raised $3B |
| Shark Response to Claim | Strong disbelief |
| Customer Engagement Philosophy | Social impact-driven (claimed) |
| Realistic Use Case | Luxury smart-home gardening |
| Core Strength | 95% less water usage |
| Soil Requirement | No soil |
| Cleanliness | Indoor-friendly |
| Major Weakness | Electricity dependency |
| Major Risk | High capex |
| Market Trend | Vertical farming CAGR ~25% |
| Hydroponics Market (India) | ~$50M (2024) |
| Food Safety Concern | 60% urban Indians worried about pesticides |
| TAM | Global indoor farming market ~$24B |
| SAM | ~1.5M affluent urban households |
| SOM | 10,000 households (3-year realistic) |
| Primary Target | HNI hobbyists |
| Secondary Target | Wellness-focused families |
| Tertiary Target | Restaurants & corporate decor |
| SEO Opportunity | Massive (currently zero traffic) |
| SEO Keywords | Automatic indoor garden, fogponics India |
| Content Strategy | Seed-to-salad timelapse videos |
| Influencer Strategy | Luxury interior designers, green influencers |
| Distribution Model | D2C |
| Offline Strategy | Mall experience centers |
| Strategic Partnerships | Luxury real-estate developers |
| Competitive Advantage | Faster growth cycles |
| Operational Challenge | Continuous power usage |
| Cost Challenge | ₹7.5 Lakh entry point |
| Cost Mitigation | EMI / Leasing / Lite version |
| Power Mitigation | Battery or solar backup |
| Phase 1 Goal | Reduce manufacturing cost by 40% |
| Phase 2 Goal | B2B expansion |
| Subscription Plan | Nutrient & seed pods |
| Valuation Fix | Shift to MRR-based valuation |
| Deal Status | ❌ No Deal |
| Pitch Outcome | All Sharks opted out |
| Founder Post-Pitch View | Considered it a learning experience |
| Future Intent | Willing to return to Shark Tank |
| Overall Assessment | Vision-heavy, execution-light |
Planyt Shark Tank India Business Plan
1. Planyt: Business Potential in India (Facts & Data)
- Planyt and the Urban Farming Boom: India’s vertical farming market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 25% through 2030. Planyt can capitalize on the decreasing per capita land availability in Tier-1 cities.
- Planyt and Hydroponic Adoption: The Indian hydroponics market was valued at approximately $50 million in 2024 and is expanding rapidly. Planyt’s fogponics technology is the next technological evolution in this space.
- Planyt and Food Safety Trends: With over 60% of urban Indians concerned about pesticide residue in vegetables, Planyt offers a controlled environment for organic, home-grown produce.
2. Planyt: Total Addressable Market (TAM) Analysis
- Planyt TAM (Total Addressable Market): The global indoor farming market is expected to reach $24 billion by 2030. In India, this includes every urban household with a disposable income of over Rs 15 lakh per annum.
- Planyt SAM (Serviceable Addressable Market): Approximately 1.5 million households in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore that already spend on organic food and smart home gadgets.
- Planyt SOM (Serviceable Obtainable Market): A realistic 3-year target for Planyt is capturing 10,000 households (approx. 0.6% of SAM) as early adopters of high-end fogponics.
3. Planyt: Ideal Target Audience and Demographics
- Planyt Target – The HNI Hobbyist: Individuals aged 30–55 residing in luxury apartments or penthouses who view Planyt as a status symbol and a “smart garden.”
- Planyt Target – The Wellness Conscious: Families with children or elderly members who prioritize “zero-mile” food and are willing to pay a premium for Planyt’s nutrient-dense fogponics output.
- Planyt Target – Commercial Decor: High-end restaurants and corporate offices looking for “living walls” or aesthetic, functional greenery provided by Planyt.
4. Planyt: Marketing and Digital Strategy
- Planyt SEO Overhaul: Transition the Planyt website from 0 visitors to high traffic by targeting keywords like “automatic indoor garden India” and “NASA-inspired fogponics.”
- Planyt Content Strategy: Create “Seed-to-Salad” timelapse videos on Instagram and YouTube showing Planyt pods in action to build trust and prove functionality.
- Planyt Influencer Marketing: Collaborate with luxury interior designers and “Green-fluencers” to position Planyt as a necessary appliance for the modern smart home.
5. Planyt: Distribution Strategy
- Planyt D2C Model: Selling directly via the optimized Planyt website to maintain margins and own customer data.
- Planyt Experience Centers: Setting up kiosks in premium malls (e.g., DLF Emporio or Phoenix Palladium) where customers can see the Planyt misting technology in person.
- Planyt Strategic Partnerships: Partnering with luxury real estate developers to include Planyt pods as a standard fixture in “Green-Certified” smart homes.
6. Planyt: Advantages and Challenges
- Planyt Competitive Advantages: The patented fogponics tech uses 95% less water than traditional farming and requires no soil, making Planyt pods extremely clean for indoor use.
- Planyt Operational Challenges: The requirement for 24/7 electricity is a hurdle; high initial hardware costs (Rs 7.5 lakh for a family setup) currently limit Planyt to the top 0.1% of the population.
7. Planyt: Success Drivers and Mitigation Strategies
- Reason for Planyt Success: Technological superiority; fogponics allows for faster growth cycles than standard hydroponics, giving Planyt a biological edge.
- Planyt Mitigation Strategy (Cost): Introduce a “Planyt Lite” version or a Leasing/EMI model to reduce the entry barrier from Rs 7.5 lakh to affordable monthly installments.
- Planyt Mitigation Strategy (Power): Integrate a battery backup system or solar-ready connectors into the Planyt pods to handle Indian power fluctuations.
8. Planyt: Future Business Roadmap and Valuation
- Planyt Phase 1 (Year 1): Focus on R&D to reduce manufacturing costs by 40% and fix the SEO/Digital presence of the Planyt brand.
- Planyt Phase 2 (Year 2-3): Expansion into B2B sectors (hotels/hospitals) and launching the “Planyt Nutrient Subscription” for recurring revenue.
- Planyt Valuation Roadmap: By shifting from a “pre-revenue” state to a monthly recurring revenue (MRR) model via seed/nutrient pods, Planyt can justify a higher valuation based on a 10x-15x revenue multiple rather than speculative tech claims.
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