Shark Tank India 5: Karan Johar’s Creative Team Member brings Dessert startup to the tank; Rejects OG Sharks to take Kunal Bahl-Mohit Yadav’s deal

The recent episode of Shark Tank India 5 started with The Croffle Guys. The Mumbai-based dessert brand is quickly becoming a favorite among urban food lovers. Founders Annanya Agarwal, Veer Pinto, Amay Thakkar, and Rahul Vohra revealed that the idea took shape during a boys’ trip to Thailand. From business, operations, and creative industries, the founders Annanya, Veer, Amay, and Rahul bring vast experiences to the table. Founder Rahul, who has spent years in the film industry and has also worked with Kabir Khan credits his creative experience in starting his entrepreneurial hustle and risk-taking ability. The founders presented their croffle idea which is a mix of a croissant and a waffle and asked for Rs 1 crore in exchange for 1 percent equity.

Veer Pinto shared that he works full-time in the film industry and is part of Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions core creative team. He added that he is not involved with the startup on a full-time basis. Rahul Vinod Vohra joked about his struggles as an actor and revealed that he had assisted filmmaker Kabir Khan and even appeared in an advertisement with Shah Rukh Khan. He said money problems and limited acting work led him to fully focus on building Croffle Guys.

Annanya Agarwal revealed that he has invested in the brand but is currently busy managing another startup. Meanwhile, full-time co-founder Amay Thakkar shared that he studied industrial engineering in the US.

The founders claimed that Croffle Guys recorded total sales of Rs 1.5 crore in its very first year. When questioned about why they added coffee to the menu, Rahul replied in a dramatic, dialogue-like manner. This led Aman Gupta to jokingly comment, “Oh hero, full dialogue baazi,” while Namita Thapar added with a sharp remark, “Tu jaa Bollywood wapas (Go back to Bollywood).”

The Croffle Guys were the first pitchers of the premiere episode and got offers from all the five Sharks. Aman Gupta offered Rs 1 crore for 3 percent equity, and Namita Thapar and Kunal Bahl offered a similar deal. Anupam Mittal mentioned that he did not like the valuation but liked the founders. He presented two options: Rs 1.5 crore for 5 percent equity, or Rs 1 crore for 1 percent equity with a 2 percent royalty until Rs 2 crore was recovered. Kunal Bahl and Mohit Yadav joined hands to offer Rs 2 crore for 6 percent equity.

Also See: ‘Shark Tank India Season 5’: FULL LIST of judges, their net worth, and the brands they own

Looking back at their journey, the founders shared, “Croffle Guys was never about building just another QSR. It was about building a feeling. From the first bite of a croffle to a reel that makes someone laugh after a long day, our goal has always been to create moments of joy. Shark Tank India gave us the opportunity to share not just our product, but our story of authenticity, humour, and community. We’re proud to be building a new food category in India and taking a homegrown idea from Mumbai to the world."