Shark Tank, the popular reality TV show where entrepreneurs pitch their businesses to a panel of investors, has come under criticism for it slowly shift towards a “Saas-bahu show” than a show for business and funding. One startup founder, who chose to remain anonymous, spoke out against the show, claiming that the Sharks are not asking relevant questions during the pitches and that the presentations have become more about emotional storytelling than actual business.
The anonymous founder also accused the Sharks of forming a “cartel” and only investing in businesses within their own categories. They suggested that the show’s producers are using this strategy to attract a different audience, as the founder’s own family members have stopped watching other programs in favor of Shark Tank.
Relevant business-related questions, such as the company’s runway, return on advertising spend (RoAS), the role of existing investors, and the cost of delivery, are not being asked, which has been one of the reasons the show was appealing to many startup founders and enthusiasts.
In a call for a change, the founder urged Ashneer Grover, a successful entrepreneur and investor, to create his own show. Until then, they argue that Shark Tank is slowly becoming a “Saas Bahu drama,” a reference to Indian soap operas that focus on the relationships between female family members.
Earlier, in the first episode of season two, a brand named Recode with strong numbers and a solid portfolio was rejected by a shark, Namita, who is the executive director of EMCURE Pharma. Namita cited her desire not to invest in a competitor of a friend’s business as the reason for her decision. The friend in question was Vinita Singh, another Shark and the founder of Sugar Cosmetics.
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