Gaurav Taneja, popularly known as the flying beast, walked Shark Tank into India with soaring numbers and a bold vision for his protein brand Beast Life.
Seeking Rs 1 crore for a 1% stake, Taneja valued his company at Rs 100 crore and generated Rs 1 crore revenue within the first hour of its launch.
However, his achievements impressed some of the Sharks, and Anupam Mittal didn't buy into the hype.
Mittal offered a sharp critique of Taneja's approach, questioning whether the social media influencer could truly commit to building a sustainable business. “I was a lot like you when I started. I thought of myself as a star, but when you think of yourself as a star, you think you're infallible,” noted Mittal, drawing from his own entrepreneurial journey. He emphasized that entrepreneurship demands relentless focus and full-time commitment. “In the beginning you can't set aside time, you have to be there all the time. Not that I don't believe you, but I do believe in Indian entrepreneurship. A part-time person like you will not be allowed to win.”
Beast Life's impressive performance—a revenue of Rs 14 crore in six months and a projected Rs 35 crore for the year—earned Taneja praise from Vinita Singh, who called the numbers “mind-blowing”. But, the information behind the pitch raised eyebrows. Taneja revealed that he owns 30% while his co-founder Raj has only 11%. Aman Gupta flagged this imbalance, pointing out that Taneja could easily quit if the business failed. “There's a difference between an investor and a startup,” Gupta said before walking away.
Vinita Singh and Peyush Bansal also decided against the investment, citing concerns about the company's scale and reliance on Taneja's personal brand. Singh appreciated the achievements but doubted the long-term sustainability of the model. However, Mittal took a tough stand, warning Taneja and other sharks: “Don't get carried away, Rs 14 crore in six months. He claims to be the co-founder. Which influencer-driven brand has made money for its investors?