Aman Gupta, the co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Boat, a well-regarded audio and wearables company, recently divulged that his company temporarily suspends all marketing activities for a three-month period coinciding with the airing of Shark Tank. This decision highlights the significant visibility boost that startups garner from the widely popular Indian reality show.

This strategic maneuver carries noteworthy implications, given that marketing expenses and promotional initiatives often rank as substantial budget items for startups. Typically, companies curtail advertising efforts to trim expenses, a move that can potentially impact their revenue streams.

Speaking at the recent Walmart Convergence event, Gupta expressed, "On a personal note, I appreciate that people recognize me and want to take photos... for Boat, there's ample free promotion when Shark Tank airs, prompting us to halt marketing spending for approximately three months."

Gupta's comments surface at a juncture when certain founders of smaller startups, who have previously participated in the show, have voiced concerns that the "sharks" (investors) involved in the program predominantly utilize it to bolster their personal brands and promote their own ventures, often failing to uphold their promised commitments.

Nonetheless, it's noteworthy that a handful of founders who pitched on the show have openly admitted to participating solely for the purpose of gaining free marketing exposure, with the majority reporting an immediate three to fourfold surge in business following their Shark Tank appearances.

Aman Gupta has upheld 12 out of the 28 deals he committed to on the show, translating to an investment rate of 43%. In contrast, Namita Thapar from Emcure Pharmaceuticals leads the rankings by fulfilling 13 out of 22 commitments she made, while Anupam Mittal from Shaadi dot com trails behind, providing funding to only seven companies out of the 24 he had pledged support to.

Inspired by its American counterpart, Shark Tank India serves as a platform where small businesses pitch their ideas to founders of prominent new-age companies in the hope of securing investments and mentorship to facilitate the expansion of their ventures.

Distinguished sharks/investors who have graced Shark Tank Season Two include Peyush Bansal (co-founder of Lenskart), Aman Gupta (co-founder of Boat), Namita Thapar (Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals), Vineeta Singh (co-founder of SUGAR Cosmetics), and Amit Jain (co-founder of CarDekho). The show is currently gearing up for its third edition.

While Gupta acknowledges that Shark Tank has substantially contributed to Boat's growth, he underscores that it also subjects sharks, including himself, to heightened scrutiny, emphasizing, "Unless one engages in fraudulent activities, Shark Tank will retain its sharks. This includes me. Shark Tank benefits me, Boat, and the nation