Entrepreneur seeks a modest funding of only Rs 1250 on Shark Tank India.

In a recent episode of Season 3 of Shark Tank India, a pitcher captured the attention of every shark on the panel, employing a unique approach to convey his message. Arpit Dhupar, along with his co-founder Anand Bodh, presented their startup, Dharaksha Ecosolutions, which focuses on alternative packaging solutions. Surprisingly, they asked for a mere Rs 1,250 in funding in exchange for a 1% stake in the business.

However, Arpit clarified that the funding request was merely symbolic, as what he truly sought was 100 hours of the sharks' time. He explained his commitment to democratizing access to clean air and criticized polystyrene, the commonly used packing material, for its long degradation period and poor recyclability.

During the discussion, questions arose about the valuation of Rs 100 crore. Vineeta Singh and Anupam Mittal expressed skepticism, prompting a discussion on the value of the sharks' time. Despite initial doubts, Aman Gupta was impressed by Arpit's bold claims regarding cost matching with paper and future aspirations to compete with thermocol.

Anupam raised concerns about the valuation and suggested a more straightforward approach. However, Arpit defended his stance, citing previous investment rounds and drawing applause from some sharks. Nonetheless, Anupam remained unconvinced, emphasizing the need for clarity and offering a counterproposal for future investment.

Ultimately, the sharks agreed to provide 10 hours of their time over the next three months in exchange for a 20% discount in the next investment round. They viewed Arpit as a high-risk, high-reward opportunity, with Aman summarizing, "He's either a hero or a zero." Arpit accepted the deal, leaving the outcome to determine whether his claims were genuine or merely confident assertions.