Hospitality giant OYO Rooms founder & CEO Ritesh Agarwal has become the youngest shark to join the Shark Tank India Season 3.
Announcing the development, Ritesh Agarwal, in a tweet, wrote, "@sharktankindia made entrepreneurship a household conversation and I am excited to be a small part of Season 3 and support more entrepreneurs emerging out of every corner of India.
When I began my entrepreneurial journey, resources were hard to come by. However, the generosity and kindness of the ecosystem (mentors, VCs, other founders) that took me in made the journey a bit easier and more fulfilling. To be able to replicate this has been a long-standing… pic.twitter.com/Ku8SBTUjaN
— Ritesh Agarwal (@riteshagar) September 30, 2023
"When I began my entrepreneurial journey, resources were hard to come by. However, the generosity and kindness of the ecosystem (mentors, VCs, other founders) that took me in made the journey a bit easier and more fulfilling. To be able to replicate this has been a long-standing goal of mine," Ritesh wrote.
"Whenever the opportunity presented itself, it made me extremely happy to connect with, mentor and back entrepreneurs at every stage of their own personal journeys. I have extended my support to numerous startups, provided guidance to entrepreneurs within the Naropa Fellowship cohort, assisted small businesses across India, and whenever possible, I have wholeheartedly contributed to the community that stood beside me during my formative years," he added.
Ritesh Agarwal joins existing sharks
With this, Ritesh Agarwal has joined existing sharks, including Aman Gupta (Co-founder of boAt), Amit Jain (Co-founder of CarDekho), Anupam Mittal (People Group), Namita Thapar (Emcure Pharmaceuticals), Vineeta Singh (Co-founder of Sugar Cosmetics), and Peyush Bansal (Co-founder of Lenskart).
The Sharks are fully revved up to shoot for the second schedule. ⚡🎥
— Shark Tank India (@sharktankindia) September 30, 2023
Introducing @riteshagar, Founder and CEO of OYO Rooms, as the new Shark!
Also, we welcome Shark @peyushbansal for his first shoot schedule! 👓@amangupta0303 @vineetasng@AnupamMittal pic.twitter.com/2rgU2Rn8Nz
In the previous season, Shark Tank India onboarded CarDekho's Amit Jain as a replacement for Ashneer Grover, co-founder & former MD of BharatPe.
How Netizens reacted to Ritesh joining as a new shark?
Shark Tank India, a business reality television series, has gained immense popularity over the last two seasons and now returning for its third season with heightened anticipation.
Over the past two seasons, the show has been a launchpad for numerous startups, witnessing compelling pitches, intense negotiations, and inspiring success stories, contributing significantly to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in India.
"Ritesh, it will be great to hear your entrepreneurial journey from Raygada to Delhi. U r pride of not only #Odisha but India also. U represent a generation of aspiring and successful youth. Wishing @oyorooms greater success in the future. Good luck 👍," a user replied to Ritesh's tweet.
"Your commitment to supporting and mentoring entrepreneurs is truly commendable. It's wonderful to see how you're giving back to the community and helping others on their entrepreneurial journeys. Season 3 of #SharkTankIndia is sure to inspire and empower even more emerging entrepreneurs across India! 🦈🇮🇳 #Entrepreneurship, another user replied.
When will the Shark Tank India season be aired?
The third season is set to premiere in January 2024. The show's format and the diverse range of ideas presented have resonated well with the audience, making it a much-loved series and a significant contributor to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.
The show provides a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to present their unique ideas and innovations, receiving guidance and potential investment from a panel of seasoned entrepreneurs and investors, known as Sharks.
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