Project Clay’s Remarkable Shark Tank India Story: From Baking to Mentorship

Project Clay, a Goa-based mentorship platform, is revolutionising the way students and young professionals approach personal growth and career planning. Founded by Dyumna Madan and Shivom Sood, the platform offers one-on-one guidance to help users with:

• Choosing the right college.
• Building passion projects.
• Writing resumes and cover letters.
• Starting freelancing or launching a startup.

Click here to visit their official website: Project Clay

With over 300 vetted mentors from ten countries, Project Clay connects individuals with experts to navigate critical life decisions and unlock opportunities.

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Dyumna’s entrepreneurial drive began during the COVID-19 pandemic when his online baking venture earned ₹8 lakhs in revenue. Coming from a business-oriented family, this experience inspired him to create a platform where students could access tailored guidance to achieve their academic and professional goals.

Shivom, passionate about education and skill-building, joined forces with Dyumna to launch Project Clay, aiming to simplify complex processes like college applications and career planning.

Project Clay focuses on tailored mentorship by matching users with mentors who understand their unique needs. From building passion projects to crafting college applications, the platform ensures a one-on-one approach for impactful results.

Project Clay Key Offerings:

• Guidance on selecting colleges and universities.
• Assistance in building standout resumes and portfolios.
• Support for launching startups or freelancing careers.
• Mentorship for acquiring new skills and completing passion projects.

Project Clay’s growth over the last five months has been impressive, with 65% organic growth driven by a robust mentorship model.

The platform has additional ₹54,000 in committed sales and ₹23,000 in receivables, highlighting strong forward momentum.

Dyumna and Shivom entered Shark Tank India seeking ₹15 Lakhs for 10% equity, valuing the company at ₹1.5 Crores. Their straightforward ask and clarity about their business model resonated with the sharks.

Unlike many pitches where valuation and expectations are a point of contention, the founders’ ₹15 Lakhs for 10% equity ask was reasonable and well-aligned with the company’s early-stage progress.

Shark Namita Thapar agreed to invest at the original valuation, recognizing the platform’s potential to make mentorship accessible and impactful for students and professionals alike. Namita’s mentorship is expected to play a key role in Project Clay’s future growth.

• Scaling Mentor Network: Ensuring quality while expanding the number of mentors could be challenging.
• Customer Retention: Building long-term relationships with users requires consistent value delivery.
• Competitive EdTech Market: Standing out among established edtech platforms requires innovation and branding.

• Expanding Internationally: With mentors from ten countries, Project Clay can tap into global markets.
• Diverse Offerings: Introducing group mentorship or skill-based workshops could attract a broader audience.
• Strengthening Technology: An AI-driven platform for better mentor-mentee matching could enhance user experience.

With Shark Namita Thapar’s investment and guidance, Project Clay is poised for growth:

• Increase the number of vetted mentors to serve a larger audience.
• Invest in AI tools for improved mentor matching and user analytics.
• Strengthen online presence through targeted marketing campaigns.
• Explore additional offerings like group mentorship sessions or industry-specific guidance.

Project Clay’s journey reflects the potential of personalised mentorship in addressing the challenges faced by students and aspiring professionals. From securing ₹15 Lakhs on Shark Tank India to achieving 65% growth in just five months, the platform has proven its value and scalability.

As they continue to expand their services and mentor network, Project Clay is set to redefine how mentorship is delivered, making it accessible, affordable, and impactful.