“Great Innovation, But Where’s the Demand?” – Sharks on Anuvad’s Pitch on Shark Tank India

Anuvad is a Gujarat-based startup blending craft and technology to create immersive and interactive art products. Founded by Chhail Khalsa, the company specializes in e-textiles, interactive media art, functional textiles, and smart fabrics.

At its core, Anuvad aims to humanize technology by seamlessly embedding electronics into textiles, turning everyday fabrics into responsive, interactive experiences.

Whether it’s wearable tech, digital art, or functional textiles, the company is pushing the boundaries of traditional craftsmanship and innovation.

E-textiles, or electronic textiles, integrate electrical circuits, sensors, and smart features into fabric, enabling them to light up, respond to touch, or even monitor health metrics.

Chhail introduced Anuvad as a pioneer in this space, showing how textiles can be more than just fabric—they can be functional and interactive.

Potential applications include:

• Fashion – Clothing that reacts to movement or changes color.
• Healthcare – Smart fabrics that monitor body temperature and vitals.
• Wearables – Interactive textiles used in sports and rehabilitation.

However, while the sharks admired the concept, they weren’t convinced about mass-market adoption.

Click here to visit their website: Anuvad

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Chhail Khalsa, the driving force behind Anuvad, built the company with a vision to merge art, craft, and technology.

Her background in design and research helped her develop a unique approach to textiles, making them more than just fabric but interactive experiences.

Her dedication to creativity and quality is what brought her to Shark Tank India, seeking funding to scale her innovation.

Anuvad has primarily operated through grants and limited sales, but the numbers indicate early-stage traction.

Grants Received

• 2018: ₹9.7 lakh
• 2019: ₹14.5 lakh
• 2022: ₹19.4 lakh

Sales Growth

• FY24-25 (Till Nov): ₹22 lakh
• Projected FY24-25: ₹35 lakh

Despite the financial backing from grants, the company has yet to reach significant commercial scale.

Chhail entered Shark Tank India, seeking ₹50 lakh for 5% equity, valuing Anuvad at ₹10 crore.

Her pitch centered on:

• The potential of smart textiles in fashion, healthcare, and wearables.
• How Anuvad is creating an entirely new category in the textile industry.
• The long-term vision of making interactive fabrics a mainstream reality.

The sharks were fascinated but skeptical.

Shark Vineeta Singh questioned whether smart textiles could ever become a mass-market product. “While the technology is impressive, who is actually buying this? Are brands adopting this at scale, or is it just a niche innovation?” Chhail responded that Anuvad was not just selling a product but creating a category, much like how fitness wearables transformed health tracking. Still, Vineeta opted out, doubting its immediate commercial viability.

Shark Namita Thapar wasn’t convinced about the revenue model, bluntly stating: “Show me the money.” She wanted to see:

• Clear customer demand
• Sales growth beyond grants
• Profitability potential

Despite her respect for the innovation, she didn’t see a strong business case and stepped away.

Shark Anupam Mittal acknowledged the creativity behind Anuvad, but he questioned whether it could become a scalable, investable business. “Innovation alone doesn’t guarantee success. Who is your ideal customer? How do you scale?” Finding no clear answers, he declined to invest.

Shark Ritesh saw potential in the technology but admitted that it would take years to see real traction.

“If you focus on practical applications, there’s an opportunity here. But right now, this feels too early-stage for investment.” He, too, decided to pass on the deal.

Despite leaving without funding, Chhail gained crucial insights on what investors look for:

1. Innovation isn’t enough – A startup needs a clear customer base and revenue model.
2. Scaling a new category takes time – Investors prefer businesses with proven demand.
3. Practicality matters – Technology must solve a clear, real-world problem to succeed.

Chhail remains committed to her vision and now plans to:

1. Strengthen commercial partnerships – Collaborating with fashion and healthcare brands.
2. Expand sales beyond grants – Focusing on direct-to-consumer retail and B2B sales.
3. Refine product-market fit – Developing affordable, everyday smart textiles.

She hopes to return to investors with a clearer growth strategy in the future.

1. A great idea needs a strong business model to attract investors.
2. Market demand is critical, new categories take time to gain traction.
3. Innovation should solve a real-world problem, not just exist for novelty.

Anuvad’s e-textiles concept fascinated the sharks, but they weren’t ready to invest due to scalability concerns.

For now, Chhail must prove that smart textiles can go beyond art and become commercially viable.

If she refines her sales strategy, expands partnerships, and builds real demand, Anuvad might return stronger in the future.