List of Most Used Words in Shark Tank India: Meaning & Explanation

If you’ve tuned into Shark Tank India, you’ve probably encountered a whirlwind of business buzzwords, financial jargon, and startup slang that may have sparked your curiosity—or left you baffled.  Filled with terms like “valuation” and “equity,” as well as “burn rate” and “CAC,” the show features a wealth of commonly used expressions that are vital to comprehending entrepreneurs’ pitches and investors’ thought processes.  We have put together a compilation of the words most often used on Shark Tank India in this blog, to assist you in deciphering the tank’s discussions and enhancing your own business vocabulary.

1. Shark Tank: A TV program where businesspeople present their entrepreneurial concepts to a group of investors called “sharks” in the hope of obtaining financial backing.
2. Pitch: An entrepreneur presents their business concept to the sharks.
3. Equity: The ownership stake in a company, usually evidenced by stock shares.
4. Valuation: The assessed value of a business concept or company. It ranks as one of the most frequently used terms on Shark Tank.
5. Investor: An individual or organization that offers financial resources to a business in return for ownership rights or investment returns.
6. Entrepreneur: A person who initiates a new business project, frequently assuming financial risk with the expectation of success.
7. ROI: Return on Investment. An investor’s profit from their investment in relation to the amount of money they invested.
8. Equity Stake: The ownership percentage in a company that an investor obtains in return for their investment.
9. Sales: The overall revenue accrued by a business through the sale of its products or services. These are the terms most frequently used in Shark Tank.
10. Gross Margin: The proportion of revenue retained by a business after subtracting the cost of goods sold.
11. Cash Flow: The total cash inflow and outflow of a business.
12. Licensing: A contract where one company allows another to use its intellectual property (like a trademark or patent) for a fee.
13. Intellectual Property: The legal entitlements associated with non-physical assets like patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
14. Manufacturing: The act of creating products, usually in a factory environment.
15. Prototype: An initial model or version of a product, utilized for testing and assessment.
16. Business Plan: A documented plan detailing a company’s objectives, strategies, and financial forecasts.
17. Distribution: The procedure of moving a product from the producer to the end user. It ranks as one of the most frequently used terms on Shark Tank.
18. Patent: A legal instrument that provides the inventor with exclusive rights to utilize, produce, and market an invention for a specified duration.
19. Trademark: A word, symbol, or phrase that sets a company’s products apart from those of its rivals.
20. Market Research: The procedure of collecting and examining data regarding a market, which encompasses consumer preferences and trends.
21. Branding: The procedure of establishing a distinctive name and visual representation for a product or business.
22. E-commerce: The online transaction of goods and services.
23. Crowdfunding: The method of financing a project or enterprise by collecting small monetary contributions from a vast number of individuals, usually through online platforms.
24. Marketing: The act of advertising and vending goods or services.
25. Target Market: The distinct segment of consumers for whom a product or service is designed. It ranks as one of the most frequently used terms on Shark Tank.
26. Due Diligence: The procedure of examining and confirming the assertions made by a business or entrepreneur.
27. Equity Financing: The method of generating funds by offering ownership stakes in the company through share sales.
28. Angel Investor: A person who funds a startup in return for equity or an investment yield.
29. Venture Capitalist: An investor who professionally funds startups in return for ownership shares.
30. Return on Investment: The earnings of an investor compared to their initial monetary input. It ranks among the terms most frequently used in Shark Tank
31. Net Profit: The revenue a company retains after all expenses have been deducted.
32. Patent Pending: This term signifies that a patent application has been submitted, but approval is still pending.
33. Royalty: The payment of a percentage of revenue to the owner of a patent or other intellectual property for the right to use it. It ranks as one of the most frequently used terms on Shark Tank.
34. Non-Disclosure Agreement: A legal contract where two parties commit to not revealing confidential information.
35. Distribution Channel: The route a product follows from the producer to the consumer. It ranks as one of the most frequently used terms on Shark Tank.
36. Equity Crowdfunding: A form of crowdfunding in which investors gain ownership stakes in the company as a return for their investment.
37. Scalability: A business’s capability to grow and broaden quickly while avoiding major obstacles.
38. Proof of Concept: Demonstration that a product or business idea can function effectively in practice, usually shown through a prototype or pilot initiative.
39. Exit Strategy: A plan detailing how investors will ultimately sell or reduce their investment in a company, usually via an IPO or acquisition. It ranks as one of the most frequently used terms on Shark Tank.
40. Intellectual Property Infringement: Utilizing or reproducing someone else’s intellectual property without permission.
41. Patent Troll: An individual or business that obtains patents to profit from lawsuits or licensing charges.
42. Competitive Advantage: A characteristic that provides a company with an advantage over its rivals, like reduced costs, superior technology, or enhanced brand awareness.
43. Sweat Equity: The worth of labor or services provided by a company’s founders or staff in lieu of monetary investment.
44. Pivoting: The act of altering a business strategy or direction based on new insights or market conditions. It ranks as one of the most frequently used terms on Shark Tank.
45. Debt Financing: The method of capital acquisition that involves borrowing funds, usually via loans or credit lines.
46. Intellectual Property Assignment: The process of transferring ownership of intellectual property from one party to another, usually via a legal contract.
47. Minimum Viable Product: The most basic iteration of a product that can be developed to assess its market viability.
48. Customer Acquisition Cost: This metric represents the expense involved in gaining a new customer, usually determined by dividing the costs associated with sales and marketing by the number of new customers. It ranks as one of the most frequently used terms on Shark Tank.
49. Dilution: The decrease in an investor’s equity stake in a company due to additional funding rounds or the creation of new shares.
50. Gross Sales: The overall income generated by a business from selling products or services, prior to any deductions.

Related: Cricket-Focused Startup Hudle Secures $2.5 Million in Funding

Understanding the commonly used terms in Shark Tank India not only makes the show more enjoyable to watch but also equips you with essential business vocabulary that’s invaluable in the real world. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or just a curious viewer, familiarizing yourself with these key terms can help you think like a shark and pitch like a pro.