Shark Tank India Season 5 Episode 6 Review

Shark Tank India Season 5 Episode 6 Review

Episode 6 of Shark Tank India Season 5 continued the groundbreaking “Face-Off” format introduced in the previous episode, this time featuring a clash in India’s booming pet care market. The episode showcased the dramatic contrast between a scrappy newcomer with technical pedigree and a veteran brand with years of operational experience but financial struggles. Set against the backdrop of India’s ₹20,800 crore pet food market and a 35% annual surge in pet adoptions, this face-off revealed how different approaches to the same opportunity can yield vastly different investor responses. The episode delivered both technical brilliance and raw emotional moments, as founders battled not just each other but their own challenges—from defending aggressive valuations to struggling with basic financial metrics under pressure.

Episode Summary

Total Pitches: 2 (Format: Pet care market Face-Off)
Successful Deals: 2 (Both competitors secured investment)
Total Investment Made: ₹1.75 Crore
Featured Sharks: Anupam Mittal, Namita Thapar, Kunal Bahl, Varun Alagh, and others

Pitch 1

Smylo Shark Tank India Episode Review

Smylo appeared on Shark Tank India Season 5, Episode 6, in a “Face-Off” against veteran pet brand Nootie, with founders Abhishek Agrawal (IIT Delhi) and Kartikeya Gupta (BITS Pilani) seeking ₹68 lakh for 1% equity (₹68 Crore valuation). They successfully closed a deal for ₹75 lakh for 1% equity plus 2% advisory equity with Sharks Anupam Mittal, Kunal Bahl, and Varun Alagh.

Smylo is a cat-first nutrition brand founded in late 2024 offering fresh, meat-based subscription meals specifically for feline dietary needs. Unlike dog-focused competitors, they target premium “cat parents” with high-protein formulations, moving away from processed kibble. With India’s pet cat population projected at 4.89 million by 2026 and a 35% annual surge in pet adoptions, Smylo capitalizes on the fact that only 10% of Indian pet owners use packaged food. Their IIT-BITS technical backgrounds provide scientific credibility, targeting urban professionals (25-45) in metros who view cats as family members in India’s ₹20,800 Crore pet food market.

Pitch 2

Nootie Shark Tank India Episode Review

Nootie appeared on Shark Tank India Season 5, Episode 6, in a “Face-Off” against Smylo, with founders Akshay, Karan, and Anil Mahendru seeking ₹1 Crore for 1.2% equity (₹83.33 Crore valuation). After an emotional pitch where Akshay struggled with financial metrics, they closed a deal for ₹1 Crore for 4% equity with 1% royalty until recovered (₹25 Crore valuation) with Sharks Namita Thapar and Anupam Mittal.

Episode Highlights:

• Second consecutive Face-Off format: Shark Tank India establishing direct competitor comparison as a compelling format
• Both competitors funded: Unlike Episode 5, this face-off saw both brands secure investment, validating the market opportunity
• Dramatic valuation gap: ₹75 crore (Smylo) vs ₹25 crore (Nootie) despite Nootie’s longer track record
• Technical credibility premium: IIT-BITS founders commanding higher valuation with fresher business
• Emotional vulnerability: Founder struggling with metrics creating humanizing moment
• Niche vs. Broad positioning: Cat-first specialization vs. general pet care approach
• Three-Shark deal: Anupam, Kunal, and Varun collaborating on Smylo showing conviction in technical founders
• Royalty structure: First royalty-based deal this season, reflecting risk mitigation

Key Lessons:

• Technical pedigree and focused positioning can command premium valuations even with minimal track record
• Operational experience doesn’t guarantee valuation if current metrics disappoint
• Niche specialization (cat-first) can be more valuable than broad positioning (all pets)
• Founder composure under pressure significantly impacts investor confidence
• Market timing matters: Entering a growing market (pet care) with clear white space (cats) attracts investors
• Struggling with basic financial metrics raises red flags even for established brands
• Advisory equity structures allow founders to maintain valuation while giving Sharks skin in the game

Market Context: India’s pet care market is experiencing transformative growth with the pet food sector valued at ₹20,800 crore, yet only 10% of pet owners currently use packaged food—representing massive untapped potential. With a 35% annual surge in pet adoptions and the cat population projected at 4.89 million by 2026, the market is shifting from basic care to premium, specialized nutrition as urban Indians increasingly treat pets as family members. This episode captured this inflection point perfectly, with both niche innovation (Smylo) and established presence (Nootie) finding their place in the expanding ecosystem.

Face-Off Format Analysis: Episode 6’s outcome—both competitors funded—differed from Episode 5’s winner-take-all result, suggesting that market size and growth potential matter more than direct product overlap. In the lab-grown diamond face-off, Sharks chose the better-executed business; in pet care, the market is large enough for differentiated players to coexist, with Smylo’s cat focus and Nootie’s established presence serving different strategic purposes.