“Why do you need funding?”, Sharks Question Kavi’s Expansion Plans: Kavi on Shark Tank India

In 2012, Amit, his wife Saumya, and their friend Madhuri started Kavi, a Noida-based social impact startup that transforms waste into handcrafted products. The idea was simple but powerful—give discarded glass bottles a second life.

What began with just ₹2000 has grown into a ₹6 crore business. Kavi has prevented over 10 lakh glass bottles from reaching landfills, where they would otherwise take 4000 years to decompose.

Their product range includes lamps, home décor, and functional art pieces, many of which feature poetry, staying true to the brand’s name, which means “poet” in Hindi.

Click here to visit their website: Kavi

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Amit and Madhuri were both journalists before they became entrepreneurs. Their inspiration struck at an event where they saw expensive handmade art. Instead of just admiring the pieces, they decided to create something themselves.

They crafted five products and posted them on Facebook, expecting compliments. But something unexpected happened—people wanted to buy them. When asked for a price, they randomly quoted ₹2500 per item. Every single piece sold.

Encouraged by their first sales, the duo took their work to an exhibition in Hyderabad. A company covered their travel expenses, and they showcased 18 products. Every single item was sold.

Then came the moment that changed everything. In 2017, a company placed an order for 5000 products—far beyond what they had ever produced. To meet the demand, they rented rooftops of multiple factories, set up temporary workstations, and delivered the order worth ₹27 lakh.

Kavi has gained an impressive 258K followers on Instagram, and most of their posts are related to their products and reels aimed at creating awareness.

Kavi is currently earning an EBITDA of around 20 percent, has built a strong B2B and B2C business model, catering to individuals as well as large clients. The company’s target audience ranges from 20 to 45-year-olds, and its customer repeat rate stands at 15%.

Kavi’s Revenue Growth Over the Years

• FY2020-21: ₹89 lakh
• FY2021-22: ₹94 lakh
• FY2022-23: ₹1.59 crore
• FY2023-24: ₹3.56 crore
• FY2024-25 (Projected): ₹6 crore

Kavi’s Equity Split

• Amit: 40%
• Madhuri: 40%
• Saumya: 20%

Kavi’s impact goes beyond sustainability. They work with 200 rag pickers in Delhi-NCR, ensuring fair wages for those who collect the discarded glass.

The founders claim that since joining Kavi, the income of these rag pickers has increased fourfold.

Their factory employs 15 artisans, of whom:

• 10 are skilled workers who handle multiple tasks.
• 5 focus on specialized craftsmanship.

With strong financials and a clear social mission, Kavi entered Shark Tank India seeking ₹60 lakh for 1.5% equity, valuing the company at ₹40 crore.

The founders wanted investment to expand into international markets, where they had seen growing demand over the past six months. But the sharks weren’t convinced so easily.

Shark Anupam was skeptical about why Kavi needed external funding despite its profitability and steady growth. The founders explained their need for expansion capital, especially for tapping international markets.

Shark Ritesh did not invest, but he placed an order for 100 lampshades. He mentioned that if he liked them, he’d place more orders in the future. He reassured the founders that they could discuss funding outside the show.

Shark Piyush suggested that Kavi should hire specially-abled individuals, believing that this would not only strengthen their brand’s social impact but increase sales.

Shark Aman believed that Kavi’s branding was confusing. He suggested removing poetry from the logo to make it more appealing to a broader audience.

Shark Namita advised the founders to refine their long-term vision. She felt that their pitch lacked clarity on future scalability.

Despite a mix of appreciation and criticism, Kavi did not secure a traditional investment. However, they did walk away with:

• A confirmed order from Ritesh Agarwal for 100 lampshades.
• A promise of future collaboration outside the tank.

While this wasn’t the deal they came for, it gave them immediate business and exposure, which could lead to greater opportunities.

After appearing on Shark Tank India, the real challenge begins—scaling while maintaining sustainability and craftsmanship.

1.   Expansion Plans: Tapping into global markets, especially eco-conscious buyers in the US and Europe. Increasing B2B collaborations to work with hotels, restaurants, and premium decor retailers.

2.   Rebranding Considerations: Evaluating Aman’s suggestion of reworking the brand’s visual identity while keeping the artistic essence intact.

3.   Growing Social Impact: Exploring Piyush’s recommendation of hiring specially-abled workers to strengthen the company’s ethical mission.

Kavi’s pitch provided valuable lessons for startups entering the tank:

1. Clarity in Vision Matters – Investors want to see a well-defined growth path.
2. Branding Can Make or Break Perception – Messaging needs to be strong and clear.
3. Not All Wins Come as Investments – Even without funding, strategic partnerships can drive growth.

Kavi didn’t walk away with a cheque, but they left the tank with something equally valuable, business opportunities and expert advice.

With their commitment to sustainability, social impact, and quality craftsmanship, they have the potential to become a leading name in upcycled home décor.

Will Kavi’s products make their way into international homes soon? That’s a question only time will answer. But one thing is clear—their journey has just begun.