In a dramatic turn of events on Shark Tank India Season 5, entrepreneur Akriti Gupta made the bold decision to walk away without a deal, rejecting a combined offer of Rs 75 lakh from prominent investors Namita Thapar and Kunal Bahl. The pitch, which captivated all five Sharks, ultimately ended without an investment due to a stalemate over the company's valuation.
The Loopie Pitch: Addressing a Gap in the Baby Gear Market
Akriti Gupta, an alumna of the prestigious Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A), presented her premium baby brand, Loopie, to the panel of investors. The brand focuses on solving a common pain point for modern Indian parents: access to high-quality, reasonably priced strollers and baby gear. Loopie's product lineup includes strollers, car seats, and diaper bags, with strollers priced between Rs 17,000 and Rs 20,000.
Gupta asked for Rs 75 lakh in exchange for a 1% equity stake in her company, implying a lofty valuation of Rs 75 crore. She shared that the brand commenced sales in March 2025, generating an initial Rs 2 lakh in gross sales, but witnessed rapid growth to achieve Rs 45 lakh in sales by October of the same year.
Sharks Impressed But Concerned Over Valuation and Market
While the Sharks, including Namita Thapar, Anupam Mittal, Aman Gupta, Kunal Bahl, and Mohit Yadav, unanimously praised the quality and design of Loopie's products, the deal quickly hit roadblocks. Anupam Mittal was the first to opt out, directly citing discomfort with the high valuation. Mohit Yadav and Aman Gupta followed suit for similar reasons.
Kunal Bahl provided nuanced feedback. He acknowledged that in a market where imported foldable strollers cost around Rs 60,000, Loopie's pricing was competitive. However, he highlighted a significant industry challenge: the baby stroller market is heavily influenced by a robust resale economy, which could limit Loopie's long-term market share and growth potential.
Gupta also disclosed that she had previously raised Rs 14.7 crore for Loopie, had Rs 30-40 lakh in the bank, and held inventory worth Rs 3 crore.
The Negotiation Standoff and Final Outcome
Namita Thapar made the first concrete offer, proposing Rs 75 lakh for a 3% equity stake, which was 2% more than Gupta had initially offered. Kunal Bahl, stating he still couldn't justify the valuation, agreed to match Namita's offer as a co-investor.
Akriti Gupta countered, asking for the Rs 75 lakh investment at a valuation of Rs 1.5 crore for the offered equity, a significant reduction from her ask. Kunal Bahl refused to budge, while Namita Thapar revised her offer to 2.5% equity. Unwilling to accept either revised term, Gupta stood her ground. Consequently, both Sharks withdrew their offers, and the entrepreneur left the Tank without securing an investment.
The episode underscored the classic Shark Tank conflict between founder vision and investor pragmatism. Akriti Gupta's journey is notable; after graduating from IIM Ahmedabad, she rejected high-paying corporate jobs to first launch a kids' apparel brand called Tiny Toddler. Following a stint at Udaan, her entrepreneurial drive led her to start an e-commerce platform named Jolly before finally pivoting to baby gear with Loopie. Her steadfast belief in her company's worth, despite compelling offers, showcases the fierce conviction that defines many startup founders.
