Why RPG Group chief Goenka thinks sharks are ‘bleeding’ in the tank

Like every season, Shark Tank India season 4 is making headlines too. But for a different reason. The business-based reality show has sparked buzz with the recent comment by Harsh Goenka, chairman of the RPG Group

Hyderabad: Like every season, Shark Tank India season 4 is making headlines too. But for a different reason. The business-based reality show has sparked buzz with the recent comment by Harsh Goenka, chairman of the RPG Group.

In a post on X recently, the industrialist said the sharks are ‘bleeding’ in the tank.

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“I still love watching #SharkTankIndia. But it seems some of our sharks are still navigating choppy waters. There’s more ‘bleeding’ in the tank than I thought!” he wrote on X.

I still love watching #SharkTankIndia.
But it seems some of our sharks are still navigating choppy waters🦈. There’s more ‘bleeding’ in the tank than I thought! pic.twitter.com/NqkAEJ4f3u

— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) January 25, 2025

Peeyush Bansal of Lenskart is the biggest shark till now with an investment Rs 5 crore in NOOE, a high-end lifestyle and accessories brand. “This is my biggest cheque till date,” Peyush stated while handing over the cheque.

However, Lenskart saw a loss of Rs 10 crore in FY2024. Acko General Insurance’s Varun Dua reported the biggest loss at Rs 456 crore while Azhar Iqubal-owned InShorts incurred Rs 228 crore loss during the period.

Others include Aman Gupta-led boat (Rs 54 crore loss), Anupam Mittal’s Shaadi.com (Rs 18 crore loss), Ritesh Agarwal’s OYO (Rs 184 crore), Sugar Cosmetics led by Vineeta Singh (Rs 68 crore) and Kunal Bhal’s Snapdeal (Rs 160 crore loss), as shared by Goenka.

These companies in the red have gained people’s attention in no time. Many X users reacted to Goenka’s post with some backing the sharks while others slamming them.

“So basically running a business in India is to burn investors money for free and look cool online and then sell it when valuation is high, then call it a day ? EPIC!!!” (sic), said an X user.

“And despite their companies running in less, they all are rich and they are investing in others helping them realise entrepreneurial dreams”, lamented another.

“Losses are part of the game. They’re taking risks to back innovative ideas,” a user wrote backing the Sharks. Others urged the RPG Group chief to join the show.

Goenka had shared similar data about the sharks’ losses in 2023.

That time Shaadi.com founder Anupam Mittal reacted to Gonenka’s claims calling them superficial and biased.

Writing in the industrialist’s comment section, he said “I know you meant it in jest so with all due respect sir, I think u reacted to what appears to be superficial, biased & incomplete data. Happy to learn from stalwarts, but just to clarify, like u, the sharks don’t bleed red, we bleed blue & that’s why we do what we do”. However, this time he chose to stay silent.

Big investments so far:

Lenskart’s Peyush Bhansal has invested Rs 5 crore in NOOE acquiring a controlling 51 per cent stake in the company in Season 4.

Culture Circle, a luxury fashion marketplace, bagged Rs 3 crore from the sharks standing at second place, also in Season 4. The deal closed with Kunal Bahl investing Rs 2 crore for 2 per cent equity and Ritesh Agarwal investing Rs 1 crore for 1 per cent equity.

In Season 3, Nasher Miles made history as the brand managed to secure an all-shark deal. Aman Gupta, Anupam Mittal, Namita Thapar, Ritesh Aggarwal and Vineeta Singh invested Rs 3 crore in the premium luggage brand for a 1.5 per cent equity.

Snapdeal’s Kunal Bhal invested Rs 2.5 crore in a food brand called KIWI Kisan in Season 4. “When I like a business, I go all in,” he said while closing the deal.

Peyush Bansal, Radhika Gupta, Ritesh Agarwal and Vineeta Singh together invested Rs 2 crore for a 2.67 per cent stake in Dil foods, a virtual restaurant app.

In Season 3, Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal acquired a 15 per cent stake with Rs 2 crore investment in Goenchi Feni, a Goa-based alcohol brand.

In Season 2, Unstop, a career-building platform, attracted several sharks. Aman Gupta, Amit Jain, Anupam Mittal and Namita Thapar invested Rs 2 crore for a 4 per cent stake in the startup.