Varun Alagh just made his first-ever Shark Tank India investment, and it says a lot about how smart brands are built 🐾
On Shark Tank India Season 5, Mamaearth co-founder & CEO Varun Alagh backed Smylo, a natural cat food startup marking his debut investment on the show.
Later on LinkedIn, Varun explained why he said yes:
“Their sharp focus on just one category cat food gives them a real chance to build something disruptive, instead of spreading themselves thin.”
That focus is exactly what Smylo is doing right.
Founded in Nov 2024 by Kartikeya Gupta and Abhishek Agrawal, Smylo makes 100% natural, preservative-free cat food, built around a subscription-first model.
The early traction is impressive:
- 4+ lakh units sold
- 1,200 monthly subscribers
- 45% repeat rate
- 30% trial packs converting to paid users
Kunal Bahl called the execution and packaging “too early to fault.”
Anupam Mittal loved the small but thoughtful touch a pet toy inside Smylo’s trial box.
The final deal?
₹75 lakh for 1% equity + 2% advisory shares
₹75 crore valuation
Backed by Kunal Bahl, Anupam Mittal & Varun Alagh
Big lesson here:
Sometimes, the smartest brands don’t chase many categories. They win by owning one, deeply, patiently, and thoughtfully!
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