– Vikas, who appeared as a guest judge in the digital-only episode “Gateway to Shark Tank India” of Season 2 of Shark Tank India, aimed to assist the agricultural community and ambitious entrepreneurs.
National, 15.03.2023: Vikas D Nahar, Founder and CEO of Happilo, invested more than INR 1 crore in two agriculture-focused brands that were pitched to him during Sony Liv’s Shark Tank India Season 2. He participated as a guest shark in the show’s digital-only episode, “Gateway to Shark Tank India 2.” Vikas has a long history as a successful entrepreneur with a passion for farming and agribusiness, stemming from his family’s involvement in growing pepper and coffee. Happilo was started with only INR 10,000 and two team members, but Vikas expanded the business using his sharp business skills, such as product innovation, marketing, distribution, and smart R&D strategy. He also supported new startups in various industries like technology, FMCG, and marketing automation.
One of the brands Vikas invested in was The Ayurveda Co. Despite having little interest from other sharks, Vikas was intrigued by the founders’ story and their determination not to give up. He related to their struggles and invested INR 1.5 crore in the company, partnering with Aman Gupta, co-founder and CMO of boAt. Vikas also invested in Naara Aaba, a brand that began as a way to preserve organically harvested kiwis in the region but evolved into winemaking. Founder Tage Rita shares Vikas’s background, and a combined investment of INR 75 lakhs, along with Vineeta Singh, co-founder and CEO of Sugar Cosmetics, brought the brand closer to empowering local businesses and boosting tourism in Arunachal Pradesh. Vikas took a keen interest in Go Desi, a leading FMCG brand, but the deal ultimately fell through.
Speaking of his investments through Gateway to Shark Tank India 2, Vikas says, “Being a startup founder myself, I have seen the struggles of the fund-raising process. My investments on Shark Tank India are made with the aim of helping startups grow and succeed. I firmly believe that a successful start-up is not only beneficial for the entrepreneurs but also for the economy as a whole. I’m proud to be part of a show that gives budding entrepreneurs a chance to showcase their ideas and get the backing they need to take their business to the next level.”
Vikas D Nahar, an experienced entrepreneur, obtained $12 million in Series-A funding from A91 Partners in 2021. Subsequently, in February-March 2022, he secured another round of $25 million from Motilal Oswal Private Equity.