Shark Tank India returned with a fresh season on January 5, bringing new energy to a show that has become a new launchpad for India’s start-up ecosystem. Season 5 introduces several new judges alongside familiar investor faces, but one story that caught a lot of attention is that of Mohit Yadav, co-founder of skincare brand Minimalist. His journey, marked by financial risk and personal sacrifice, struck a chord with viewers and aspiring entrepreneurs alike.
Appearing as one of the new judges, Mohit Yadav opened up about the difficult early years of building his ventures. Before finding success with Minimalist, Yadav had already faced setbacks. His first entrepreneurial attempt, a children’s apparel brand launched around 2010–2011, struggled to gain traction and funding. According to an Indian Express report, securing capital remained a challenge even later, when he and his brother Rahul Yadav decided to start Minimalist.
“Years ago, I had started a seed grant that used to make kids’ apparel. It was my first venture in 2010–2011. We (Mohit and his brother, co-founder Rahul Yadav) had also taken money from our families. Even later, when we started Minimalist, we had mortgaged our house to raise a Rs 1 crore loan. I knew in my heart that if this didn’t take off, maybe my family wouldn’t have a home to stay in,” he said, as per the report.
Lessons Learned From Failure And Starting Again
Yadav also reflected on how failure reshaped his outlook as a founder. Early on, he believed that shutting down a venture meant personal failure. Over time, however, he realised that persistence sometimes means knowing when to move on.
“After years, I realised that when you close a shut or start something new, it does not matter if people think you, are a failure. The best thing I did was to accept that that venture was not working out, move on and do something else, and then build a(nother) brand. I wouldn’t have been here if I was still doing apparel,” he said, speaking about Minimalist, the report said.
That decision ultimately paid off. In January 2025, Hindustan Unilever announced it would acquire a 90.5 per cent stake in Minimalist in a deal valued at Rs 2,955 crore. The Competition Commission of India cleared the acquisition in March, marking one of the most notable exits in India’s consumer start-up space.
Shark Tank India Season 5
Season 5 of Shark Tank India features a mix of returning judges such as Aman Gupta, Anupam Mittal, Peyush Bansal, Namita Thapar, and others, alongside new entrants. The new panel includes Hardik Kothiya, Kanika Tekriwal, Mohit Yadav, Pratham Mittal, Shaily Mehrotra, and Varun Alagh. Together, they represent diverse industries, from beauty and aviation to education and renewable energy.
