Vineet Sarawiala, who lives with a visible impairment, says that individuals with disabilities are sometimes seemed upon with a sympathetic lens, however their skills are questioned. So when he made it to season 2 of Shark Tank India, this was the narrative he wished to alter.
Vineet, who hails from Jamshedpur, runs Atypical Benefit, which claims to be India’s largest inclusive employment platform for folks with disabilities throughout India.
Began in 2020, the corporate has generated livelihood for greater than 1,000 individuals with disabilities throughout a number of sectors together with singing, portray, freelancing, he notes. It’s shaping up right into a naukri.com for individuals with disabilities.
Shark Tank India is the Indian franchise of the US actuality TV present Shark Tank, the place entrepreneurs make a enterprise pitch to a panel of traders, or ‘sharks’. On the present, Vineet pitched a suggestion for Rs 30 lakh for 1 p.c fairness.
Sharing his Shark Tank expertise, Vineet says, “One of many sharks requested me why I seemed so comfortable. Folks with disabilities are portrayed as unhappy and depressed. My episode bust these stereotypes. You would possibly develop new stereotypes after watching that episode that individuals with disabilities are robust, opinionated, filled with confidence, and with onerous work they’ll overcome all adversities. This story is about celebrating inclusion in a really true sense.”
In a dialog with The Higher India, the 32-year-old shares his learnings from being on the present, alongside ideas and errors to keep away from should you want to make a pitch to the traders on Shark Tank.
He says, “To be able to pitch on Shark Tank, the entrepreneur must first perceive that Shark Tank is supposed for the TV viewers. The present is watched by tens of millions of individuals. Past sharks, you’re truly pitching to a rustic. You might want to preserve this viewers in thoughts.”
Nazar nahin nazariya hona chahiye! Witness the inspiring story of #AtypicalAdvantage on Shark Tank India!#SharkTankIndia season 2 streaming now on Sony LIV, additionally obtainable on Sony Leisure Tv. pic.twitter.com/7fQpOJon0O
— Shark Tank India (@sharktankindia) January 10, 2023
1) Follow storytelling
You have to be good at storytelling as an entrepreneur. Everyone seems to be totally different and has totally different experiences. You might want to practise how it’s good to carry out your life’s journey or your story in lower than three minutes. It must be in essentially the most compelling method potential, advises Vineet.
2) Be genuine
Authenticity is essential. As sharks watch a number of pitches, being genuine will increase their curiosity, he opines. “Have enjoyable throughout your pitch. Be true. Have your intent proper. Don’t preserve it an train of stress. Be genuine.”
3) Know your numbers
Since you’re a founding father of an organization and main a enterprise, it’s anticipated that every quantity associated to your organization intimately. At instances, pitchers wrestle to elucidate their numbers, which makes the sharks query the founder. Practise these numbers earlier than your pitch, Vineet says.
4) Know your imaginative and prescient and function
Earlier than pitching, entrepreneurs must have readability on the imaginative and prescient and function of their enterprise. Additionally perceive what you possibly can anticipate 10, 20, 30 years down the road if the enterprise thrives, says Vineet.
5) Decrease the ask
The deal dimension is essential. Asking for a decrease quantity is at all times higher, says Vineet. The cheque gained’t enhance to greater than Rs 2-3 crore. Should you have a look at all the common Shark Tank offers of Season 1, it was roughly Rs 50 lakh. Maintain the ask quantity low so that you simply get a deal. The decrease it’s, the upper the probabilities of conversion if you’d like a deal.
Errors to keep away from
1) Don’t falter
In response to Vineet, founders falter throughout speaking their intent to do enterprise. Folks don’t practise onerous on storytelling expertise, which may very well be a cause why they don’t make it to the TV spherical. Vineet advises engaged on participating your TV viewers.
2) Don’t compromise
Many instances, founders of their enthusiasm give larger fairness to sharks. Don’t attempt to get a deal compromise with an excessive amount of fairness as a result of which may burn you at a later stage, says Vineet. The basics of the corporate are equally essential.
3) Know your sharks
Vineet advises that entrepreneurs should analysis the sharks that they want to have on board. Each shark brings out their distinctive experiences. Examine their profession trajectory.
Vineet on Shark Tank
Impressed by Vineet’s pitch, Aman Gupta and Namita Thapar provided him a deal of Rs 30 lakh for 3 p.c fairness.
“All of the sharks provided us offers on their very own phrases. You’ll not often see provides from all of the sharks. And this was in all probability the primary time when two sharks fought over eyeing a bit of the corporate. I’m grateful for the sharks as a result of that is the validation of the work that Atypical Benefit is doing,” provides Vineet.
The Atypical Benefit episode of Shark Tank Season 2 aired on January 11.
For extra info on Atypical Benefit, you possibly can go to their web site.
Edited by Divya Sethu. All photos: Atypical Benefit.
