Personal Touch Skincare: Aditi and Ashish Jawa’s Experience on Shark Tank India Season 4

Last month, Aditi and Ashish Jawa, who are siblings and co-founders of the skincare brand Personal Touch, appeared on Shark Tank India Season 4, seeking Rs 1.2 crore in exchange for 1 percent equity in their venture. The presentation, however, took an unforeseen twist as they encountered rigorous questioning, including allegations of manipulating sales figures. Vineeta Singh notably remarked, “Daal mein kuch kaala hai.”

A month following the show’s airing, the Jawa siblings discussed their experience on Ayushman Pandita’s podcast. Ashish recounted the anxiety of the situation, stating that when doubts arose regarding their sales data, he was determined to dispel any misconceptions about their credibility. He suggested showing the Shopify dashboard to Vineeta and the other investors to substantiate their claims.

Inconsistencies Noticed by the Sharks

For those unfamiliar, the Sharks noted discrepancies in the founders’ assertions during their pitch on Shark Tank India Season 4. Vineeta questioned the validity of their social media performance metrics. In one instance, the pitchers displayed a Reel boasting 2 million views but only 700 likes, which led Azhar Iqubal to express skepticism about its authenticity. Vineeta and Aman Gupta speculated that the post might have been artificially boosted, and despite insisting that the engagement was genuine, the Sharks remained doubtful.

Intense Scrutiny and Filming Conditions

Ashish continued, describing their nerve-wracking experience of waiting for over an hour while facing intense scrutiny. The situation was exacerbated by the presence of cameras filming the entire encounter. “As we entered from the green room, cameras were thrust right into our faces. We were instructed to sit and showcase our Shopify dashboard. It’s understandable for anyone to feel overwhelmed, particularly when one has built a Rs 35 crore business, only to be faced with accusations of wrongdoing,” he explained.

Emotional Reactions and Frustration

Aditi, visibly affected by the experience, expressed her feelings, stating that it was disheartening to work tirelessly for two years, building a Rs 35 crore company, only to face public discrediting. She highlighted their continuous efforts to affirm that their numbers were not falsified.

Frustration over the hasty judgments made during the pitch became evident. Aditi pointed out, “In such a high-pressure environment, it’s nearly impossible for anyone to halt and properly evaluate the dashboard. Rather than taking the time to scrutinise the details, Vineeta hastily formed conclusions, launching a barrage of criticism against our startup.”

Ashish further remarked on the misrepresentation of their data, stating, “Without valid justification, they alleged that our daily revenue figures represented monthly income, completely altering the narrative. While we realise it is their decision to invest or not, there is no need to manipulate the facts or mischaracterise our business if they choose not to proceed.”