Lewisian Wellness Faces Backlash on Shark Tank India

The fifth season of the entrepreneurship reality series Shark Tank India commenced on January 5. The inaugural episode showcased Lewisian Wellness, a natural skincare and haircare brand established by Dr Manoj Das. He sought ₹1 crore for 1 per cent equity, valuing the company at ₹100 crore. 

The Pitch: A Rocky Start

The pitch faltered from the outset. At the beginning, Das proclaimed his qualifications as an aromatherapist and natural therapist, inundating the audience with various catchphrases. He then shared that his journey into entrepreneurship followed a stint as a content creator.

Manoj explained that his entrance into the beauty market occurred in 2003 after completing a beauty culture course. Fourteen years later, he began producing YouTube videos featuring beauty hacks and officially launched his business in 2020.

Four Distinct Categories

Currently, the brand operates in four categories: Skin Affairs, Lewisian In-organics, Wellness Beat, and Tatvam. He mentioned that the business initially launched with sunscreen products under Skin Affairs, but had to make adjustments due to trademark regulations.

Shortly afterwards, he presented his videos, which were primarily based on pseudoscientific claims. One thumbnail read “Haldi ke paani se glass skin paayein sirf 7 din ke andar.” He faced scrutiny for asserting that his products were chemical-free after Aman Gupta and Minimalist’s Mohit Yadav detected Sodium Benzoate in one of his offerings.

Investment Concerns Arise

The sharks expressed doubt regarding Das’s assertions and his merchandise due to the absence of clinical testing. After reviewing his videos, Mittal and Yadav accused him of exploiting individuals’ insecurities, particularly related to hair loss and skin issues.

“Main samajh gaya yaar aap kya kar rahe ho. Aapka jaadu hai aapki content creation. Aapne reels banayi hai joh bahot provocative hai. Ye aapki reels viral hogayi hai aur uske through aapka business chala hai.”

During his presentation, Das also indicated that over 50 per cent of his sales originated from his website. He stated that his brand had a 3.5 rating across marketplaces, but only had 50 reviews.

Anupam and the other investors were unimpressed, stating that significantly more reviews should be expected from a brand claiming sales of approximately ₹5 crore. Aman remarked, “Kuch to gadbad hai, sir,” to which Anupam inquired, “Tum kya kaand karne aaye ho?”

What ultimately frustrated the investors was that Das referred to himself as a ‘doctor.’

Investors Express Disappointment

As the pitch concluded, Mittal expressed his displeasure and noted that he could not extend his best wishes for the future, accusing Das of deceiving consumers.

“Manoj aap social media par ho isliye nazar nahi aa rahe, jab aaoge toh sidha jail jaaoge. I think you should leave, and I won’t even wish you a good luck.” Namita Thapar also advised Manoj to engage in some “soul searching,” commenting that his actions were unethical and misleading.

Kunal Bahl voiced his appreciation for Das’s appearance on the show, highlighting the importance of raising awareness about fraudsters. He also challenged Manoj’s claims about curing an array of diseases.

Aman concluded by stating, “Agar maine isme paisa daal diya toh main apne aap, apne country, business aur paise ke saath galat karunga.”

It is clear that Lewisian Wellness left the show without any offers.