Feels really sad to see this, but wasn’t left with a choice either!
It has been 50 days of zero D2C business and all we get to hear is *“We won’t do anything”*
We recently aired on Shark Tank S3- on the 15th of March which was a dream come true, but what followed has turned into a nightmare. Despite our joy at being featured on national television, our happiness was short-lived.
Sony Entertainment Television has unjustly targeted us for trademark violations without any prior notice. They have striked our social media posts containing clips from the shark tank episode and have gone ahead and *blocked our Ad account, unpublished our Facebook page, disabled the collaboration feature on our brands account as well as on my personal account.*
1. No prior notice / warning was sent to us
2. Ideally we have aired in the episode, which we could use for marketing purposes for 3 months from the said date (as per their guidelines)
3. Our content was pulled down within 25 days, after which we ceased to run all shark tank clips on organic as well as paid posts
4. We have been writing to both Meta and Sony daily since, to help us with a solution, but haven’t received any resolution.
5. We don’t want to use any clips for marketing and just want our original accounts back
All we want is someone from the SONY Team to talk to us and help solve this amicably but sadly not a single party (sony legal or shark tank) chose to reply. Not only me but more 70+ brands are facing these challenges.
While we were shown a bigger picture of getting upto 5X & 7X of growth, the Shark Tank experience has infact got us huge loss in business and a downfall of almost 10-12X.
As the founder of Fit and Flex, I've poured my heart and soul into building our brand from the ground up, and this is extremely disheartening to see that massive media houses are harassing startup brands.
*Fellow startup founders, please share your thoughts on this, what do you feel?*
It has been 50 days of zero D2C business and all we get to hear is *“We won’t do anything”*
We recently aired on Shark Tank S3- on the 15th of March which was a dream come true, but what followed has turned into a nightmare. Despite our joy at being featured on national television, our happiness was short-lived.
Sony Entertainment Television has unjustly targeted us for trademark violations without any prior notice. They have striked our social media posts containing clips from the shark tank episode and have gone ahead and *blocked our Ad account, unpublished our Facebook page, disabled the collaboration feature on our brands account as well as on my personal account.*
1. No prior notice / warning was sent to us
2. Ideally we have aired in the episode, which we could use for marketing purposes for 3 months from the said date (as per their guidelines)
3. Our content was pulled down within 25 days, after which we ceased to run all shark tank clips on organic as well as paid posts
4. We have been writing to both Meta and Sony daily since, to help us with a solution, but haven’t received any resolution.
5. We don’t want to use any clips for marketing and just want our original accounts back
All we want is someone from the SONY Team to talk to us and help solve this amicably but sadly not a single party (sony legal or shark tank) chose to reply. Not only me but more 70+ brands are facing these challenges.
While we were shown a bigger picture of getting upto 5X & 7X of growth, the Shark Tank experience has infact got us huge loss in business and a downfall of almost 10-12X.
As the founder of Fit and Flex, I've poured my heart and soul into building our brand from the ground up, and this is extremely disheartening to see that massive media houses are harassing startup brands.
*Fellow startup founders, please share your thoughts on this, what do you feel?*
At Ahmedabad University's eChai meetup, hosted by the university's incubation center, I had the privilege of engaging with a panel of entrepreneurs who had appeared on Shark Tank India.
They candidly shared insights into their experiences on the show, revealing the realities behind the scenes, the impact of the exposure, and the invaluable feedback they received from the sharks. Additionally, they delved into their ongoing challenges and future plans for their ventures.
Their narratives of resilience and determination in overcoming obstacles were truly captivating.
The distinguished panelists included Raj Shah Co-Founder of WeHear; Payal Pathak and Soham Payal Pathak Co-Founders of The Simply Salad; Nayan Shah Co-Founder of Maisha Lifestyle; and @illesh sharma Founder of Same Notification.
Here are few notable takeaways from the discussion:
They candidly shared insights into their experiences on the show, revealing the realities behind the scenes, the impact of the exposure, and the invaluable feedback they received from the sharks. Additionally, they delved into their ongoing challenges and future plans for their ventures.
Their narratives of resilience and determination in overcoming obstacles were truly captivating.
The distinguished panelists included Raj Shah Co-Founder of WeHear; Payal Pathak and Soham Payal Pathak Co-Founders of The Simply Salad; Nayan Shah Co-Founder of Maisha Lifestyle; and @illesh sharma Founder of Same Notification.
Here are few notable takeaways from the discussion:
- Establishing quality control in franchise models poses significant challenges in the Indian market.
- Providing personalized attention during the startup phase nurtures enduring customer loyalty.
- A distinct and recognizable brand identity is paramount for customer recall and loyalty.
- Startups with high cash burn rates face heightened scrutiny in today's business landscape.
- Crafting relatable content on platforms like Instagram enhances brand appeal and desirability.
- Exceeding customer expectations is pivotal for young startups to foster loyalty and growth.
- Transparency and authentic storytelling serve as cornerstones for building trust with both customers and partners.
- Early recruitment of talented individuals drives both organizational growth and employee commitment.
- Cultivating a robust professional network is essential, even if immediate benefits may not be apparent.
- Maintaining humility and perseverance proves instrumental during challenging phases of business.
I extend my gratitude for the opportunity to participate in these enriching events and to connect with these inspiring entrepreneurs.
Special acknowledgment goes to Jatin Chaudhary from eChai Ventures for orchestrating such impactful conferences that unite our startup community.
Though I'm not much of a television serial enthusiast, I do consider myself a #series kind of person. I've been captivated by "Shark Tank India" and am keen on exploring the US and UK versions soon. My interest in business and wanting to know more about new startup , ideas and founders led me to attend eChai Ventures meetings. 🌍 Yesterday, I attended eChai Ventures at Ahmedabad University.
There's a saying, "Seeing on TV is one thing, but experiencing it live is something entirely different." The difference between a reel and real life is truly fascinating! 🎥✨ #reelvsreal
I wanted to grow as much as possible and empower as many people as I could. The mantra was, "I don't just want a job for myself; I want to create jobs for many." - #onmyway #startofmyjourney 🚀
Founders who have made it to Shark Tank India, like Payal Pathak and Soham Payal Pathak of The Simply Salad, shared their journey at an e-chai panel discussion. 🥗 "Simply Salad" saw growth from 3k to 9k followers post-Shark Tank and currently boasts 53,000 followers. Inspired by diet and healthy food, the founders believe in the power of authenticity and storytelling. They thought expanding to more cities before appearing on Shark Tank would have been advantageous. 🌱 #healthylife #healthyfood #inspringjourney
In discussions about family support, the consensus is that, while we hope for it, it's often not forthcoming. It's usually a few close people who support you at the start. Social media presence and marketing are key.
Raj Shah from WeHear pointed out that a Shark Tank episode, which lasts 20 minutes on TV, may actually go on for 1.5–2 hours. The foundation of a company lies in its people. #pepole #team #investinpeople
"Why take a flight when you can travel in third economy?" This question underscores the importance of value creation and staying grounded.#staygrounded
This resonates with my personal belief that I don't need expensive gadgets for the sake of it. My journey from coveting an iPhone in school to now prioritizing investment in dreams, vision, and people reflects this ideology. 📱➡️🌟
Nayan Shah co-founder of Maisha Lifestyle, also shared their insights. Failures are seen as learning opportunities. The vision of a firm, like Maisha's aim of providing one bag to every woman, is critical for success. 🎒#vision #goal #learninganddevelopment Esha Shah
Ileshkumar Sharma, founder of Same Notification, shared insights on public perception, there's wisdom in focusing on constructive criticism and ignoring trolls with simple answers. Engaging too much with negative comments offers little benefit. 🛡️💬 #focus #crticism
If you've attended events, what inspired you, or what is your vision for business and startups? Let's discuss for mutual growth. 💡🤝
Thanks to Jatin Chaudhary eChai Ventures VentureStudio for arranging such a great event!!
There's a saying, "Seeing on TV is one thing, but experiencing it live is something entirely different." The difference between a reel and real life is truly fascinating! 🎥✨ #reelvsreal
I wanted to grow as much as possible and empower as many people as I could. The mantra was, "I don't just want a job for myself; I want to create jobs for many." - #onmyway #startofmyjourney 🚀
Founders who have made it to Shark Tank India, like Payal Pathak and Soham Payal Pathak of The Simply Salad, shared their journey at an e-chai panel discussion. 🥗 "Simply Salad" saw growth from 3k to 9k followers post-Shark Tank and currently boasts 53,000 followers. Inspired by diet and healthy food, the founders believe in the power of authenticity and storytelling. They thought expanding to more cities before appearing on Shark Tank would have been advantageous. 🌱 #healthylife #healthyfood #inspringjourney
In discussions about family support, the consensus is that, while we hope for it, it's often not forthcoming. It's usually a few close people who support you at the start. Social media presence and marketing are key.
Raj Shah from WeHear pointed out that a Shark Tank episode, which lasts 20 minutes on TV, may actually go on for 1.5–2 hours. The foundation of a company lies in its people. #pepole #team #investinpeople
"Why take a flight when you can travel in third economy?" This question underscores the importance of value creation and staying grounded.#staygrounded
This resonates with my personal belief that I don't need expensive gadgets for the sake of it. My journey from coveting an iPhone in school to now prioritizing investment in dreams, vision, and people reflects this ideology. 📱➡️🌟
Nayan Shah co-founder of Maisha Lifestyle, also shared their insights. Failures are seen as learning opportunities. The vision of a firm, like Maisha's aim of providing one bag to every woman, is critical for success. 🎒#vision #goal #learninganddevelopment Esha Shah
Ileshkumar Sharma, founder of Same Notification, shared insights on public perception, there's wisdom in focusing on constructive criticism and ignoring trolls with simple answers. Engaging too much with negative comments offers little benefit. 🛡️💬 #focus #crticism
If you've attended events, what inspired you, or what is your vision for business and startups? Let's discuss for mutual growth. 💡🤝
Thanks to Jatin Chaudhary eChai Ventures VentureStudio for arranging such a great event!!
Similar to our Surat event today, we'll be hosting an exciting in-person eChai meetup this evening with VentureStudio at Ahmedabad University, featuring founders from Ahmedabad who were showcased on Shark Tank India.
Free registration @ https://lnkd.in/dxD4iYX5
Free registration @ https://lnkd.in/dxD4iYX5
eChai with Founders from the community who have made it to Shark Tank India.
Ft.
, Co-Founder, Nuutjob
, Co-Founder, Imagine Powertree
&
, Co-Founders, The Simply Salad
, Co-Founder, Temple.ngo
, Co-Founder, UrbanNaps
I had moderated this meetup.
Ft.
I had moderated this meetup.
eChai Partner Brands
eChai Ventures partners with select brands as their growth partner, helping them expand market reach, drive revenue growth, amplify brand visibility, and strengthen hiring efforts.
Cloud Telephony
HR Tech and Agencies
ERP
IT Hardware
Web and Mobile Development
Climate Tech
Developer Tools
Coworking Spaces
FinTech and Financial Services
Marketing Tools
Employment Laws
Creative and Marketing Agencies
FMCG Food and Retail
Legal
Healthcare
Investment Banking
Marketing Automation
Blockchain Development
Customer Engagement Platform
Event Marketing
CoLiving
D2C Brands
Cloud Telephony
HR Tech and Agencies
Web and Mobile Development
Climate Tech
Developer Tools
Coworking Spaces
FinTech and Financial Services
Marketing Tools
Employment Laws
Creative and Marketing Agencies
FMCG Food and Retail
Legal
Healthcare
Investment Banking
Marketing Automation
Blockchain Development
Customer Engagement Platform
Event Marketing