When we walked into the Shark Tank India set in Feb 2023, we had a dream. We stood before some of the most celebrated minds in the country, armed with a vision to revolutionise how Indian art is experienced, taught, and shared. A dream to create value for Indian Art forms, help artisans generate a sustainable livelihood, and, of course, make art easily available for everyone who has an interest in it. When we left, we left the set with all these dreams intact but with a newer perspective and renewed vision.
Our pitch didn’t secure the investment we hoped for, but what it did give us was a fresh perspective and countless new opportunities. With some stinging but valuable feedback from the sharks, we challenged ourselves to do better, think sharper, and grow stronger. It's been about a year since the journey, and this is a great time to backtrack, map our lessons and acknowledge our growth as a start-up that is made in India but is for the world.
In Good Company
For starters, making it to Shark Tank India was a huge milestone. Pitching our vision to industry stalwarts like Anupam Mittal, Namita Thappar, and Vineeta Jain was a win in itself! Then, of course, we also knew that not getting an investment didn't mean the end of the road for us, and we have many successful case studies to back it.
Many inspiring Indian brands walked away from the tank without a deal, only to thrive in their industries. These Indian brands that turned their business into a profitable one despite not getting a go-ahead from the sharks inspired us. Moonshine Meadery is one of them. Asia’s first meadery that's adding invaluable flavour and impact to the alco-bev industry. They walked away without a deal, yet today, they’ve carved a niche in the beverage industry. Take Urban Monkey, too, a brand that's paving the way for new-age Indian streetwear! They didn’t secure funding for the show, but now, they’re a go-to brand for urban fashion enthusiasts across the nation. Theka Coffee, despite leaving the tank without an investment, they’ve expanded to over 800 outlets in more than 45 cities, with their valuation soaring from ₹ five crore to ₹120 crore.
A Journey Full of Milestones
As Rooftop, we, too, have been on an upward trajectory. A year since we appeared on Shark Tank, we have grown our community by manifolds to create a sustainable and profitable business that we are proud of. We’ve kick-started our global journey with workshops at the embassy of UAE. We conducted over 350 art experiences and set up a one-of-a-kind art marketplace for traditional Indian art forms, which have been appreciated by so many art enthusiasts. We also did a little gig at the Ms.Universe pageant, where we showcased some traditional Indian art forms on a global stage. We participated in Mumbai’s Kala Ghoda Festival, where interacting with our audiences, artists, and curators was a fresh burst of encouragement for what we do.
For us, Shark Tank was a great opportunity to learn and grow, and that's exactly what we’re doing! We are adding momentum to a movement that has only just begun! A movement that breaks the glass ceiling on how the world perceives and experiences Indian art. A movement that puts Indian art on top or, should we say, on Rooftop!
If you resonate with what we do and aspire to add a bit of art into your day and life, connect with us on the Rooftop mobile app, available on Google Playstore and Apple Appstore or Instagram.