Shark Tank India 5: Viraj Bahl’s revelation about giving around Rs 2 lakh worth of virtual currency to his kids leaves Vineeta Singh shocked; she says, “Like a typical Indian mom I haven't..'

The latest episode of Shark Tank India season 5 started with the father-son duo of Arjun Goel and Sanjay Goel from Delhi. 'VKYD Labs Founded by 18-year-old Arjun and his father Sanjay, is a 'Phygital' clothing initiative that designs high-end fashion for virtual avatars. VKYD Labs doesn't just create avatars, they create 'digital twins' of physical garments, allowing users to look as sharp in the metaverse as they do in reality. Their ask was Rs 1 crore for 10 percent equity at the valuation of Rs 10 crores.Talking about his background, Arjun revealed that his journey as an entrepreneur began during the lockdown when he got hooked to video games. He shared, "During lockdown, like most kids my age, I also got hooked on playing video games, especially RobIox. I saw so many kids of my age playing those games and so many playing and enjoying them. I got inspiration from there to do something in this space. I understood the game and started working with existing game distributors. My aim was always to go to an exclusive game of Roblox which is called the Roblox UGC programme (it is where approved creators can design, sell, and monetise virtual items on Roblox). There were almost 300 creators and I was the first Indian to get into the programme. Slowly it turned into a business form and I hired 500 freelancers from India and we sold more than 20 units from our digital stores." The Sharks were stunned to hear Arjun's story and they were impressed by his achievements. Viraj Bahl reveals his kids love playing Roblox and they keep taking Robux from him. (Robux is the virtual currency used on Roblox to purchase avatar items, games, and in-platform experiences.) When Vineeta Singh asks him how much he has paid them so far? Viraj says, "Maine rupaye mein toh laakh rupaye se zyaada de chuka hoon." Vineeta gets shocked hearing his response and Viraj explains that he has given that amount to two of his kids in the span of two years. Sanjay, brought decades of experience ranging from garment manufacturing technology to fragrances. Sanjay shared that when his son Arjun made Walmart his customer, that's when he felt that this business can excel and he decided to join him.Kunal praises Sanjay for being a very supportive father and not dismissing Arjun's ideas and passion. Arjun reveals they started their innovative phydigital space in September 2024. Sanjay also revealed that customers can purchase phygital products directly within the game. Roblox won't take any commission without phygital twinning. Arjun said that the business numbers went down to Rs 50 lakh in 2024–25. When the Sharks asked why this happened, he explained that he was busy with his Class 12 board exams. His answer impressed the judges. When Arjun's father Sanjay revealed he earned Rs 71 lakhs and used the money in mutual funds and to pay his college fees, all the Sharks hooted for him.With a growing demand in the space, physical factories are already producing corsets and jewelry and generating significant revenue reconfirming the multi-metaverse expansion. Their pitch isn't just about clothes; it's about the future of commerce where every physical purchase comes with a digital counterpart.With a growing demand in the space, physical factories are already producing corsets and jewelry and generating significant revenue reconfirming the multi-metaverse expansion. Their pitch isn't just about clothes; it's about the future of commerce where every physical purchase comes with a digital counterpart. After Sanjay explained the commission system of Roblox, Vineeta and Kunal did not look keen in investing in the business. Vineeta went on to share that like a typical mother, she has not let her kids play Roblox due to the controversies of violence, grooming surrounding the game. She said, "Like a typical Indian mom I haven't let my kids play this particular game."She also shared that she was totally unaware of the business aspect of the gaming platform and it was an eye opener for her. The commission controlling part of Roblox made Vineeta back out. She suggested Arjun to think about the biggest competition of Roblox. Varun Alagh called the father-son-duo of Arjun and Sanjay an inspiration. He also stated that he would want his son to meet Arjun. However, he did not go ahead with the deal as it was a foreign space for him.Viraj also backed out and said that he also wants Arjun to meet his 14-year-old son. Namita declined the offer, saying it was not her area of expertise. Kunal Bahl then shared that while he finds the phygital space interesting, it is still very new, so he would prefer to reconnect with them at a later stage. All the Sharks asked them to not lose hope and keep the spark alive.Sharing their vision, the founders said: “Pitching in Shark Tank India S5 was the perfect stage to showcase a vision that is truly ‘Made in India, for the World.’ We are building the bridge where global trends are born inside games, but realized through India’s manufacturing prowess. We aren't just selling clothes; we are positioning Indian factories to become the supply chain for the global digital economy.”