“You can’t teach sales without experience!” – Anupam Mittal on Hive School on Shark Tank India

Sales drive businesses, but few institutions focus on training young professionals in the art of selling. That’s where Hive School steps in.

Founded by Simar Sekhri, Nikhil Gaur, and Prabal Monga, Hive School is designed to prepare individuals for high-performance sales careers.

The founders claim that their graduates secure jobs immediately after completing the course and that none of them have left their roles so far.

Inspired by platforms like UpGrad, Hive School aims to fill the sales talent gap in India. But when they stepped into Shark Tank India, the sharks weren’t entirely convinced.

Click here to visit their website: HiveSchool

Related: “Perfectionist But No Profit?” – Kunal’s Advice to Superbolter on Shark Tank India

Each founder plays a distinct role in shaping the business:

Nikhil Gaur – CEO and Majority Stakeholder

• Holds 5% equity in Hive School.
• Known for his aggressive leadership style, one co-founder even described him as “toxic to work with.”
• Drives the overall vision and growth strategy of the business.

Prabal Monga – Strategy and Execution

• Owns 20% equity and focuses on scaling operations.
• Works on refining course content and student experience.

Simar Sekhri – Brand and Community Development

• Holds 15% equity and manages brand positioning and outreach.
• Aims to build a strong network of students and industry partners.

While their business model looked promising, their pitch raised concerns about leadership style and business sustainability.

The founders asked for ₹60 lakh in exchange for 5% equity, valuing the company at ₹12 crore.

They hoped to use the investment to:

1. Expand marketing efforts to attract more students.
2. Develop stronger course content with real-world sales scenarios.
3. Scale the team and mentor network to enhance training quality.

With two cohorts completed, Hive School had generated ₹45 lakh in revenue in just a few months.

However, the sharks weren’t convinced that the business was ready for investment.

Shark Vineeta Singh shared her own struggles with cold calling when she started her business. “I called people all day, and they’d yell at me. It was humiliating, but it taught me resilience,” she said. She questioned why Hive School’s program didn’t focus on real-world sales experience, stating, “I don’t want to hire someone who just knows strategy—I want to see them sell.”

Shark Anupam Mittal felt that the founders themselves lacked sufficient sales experience to train others. “You’re running a school for sales, but how much have you actually sold?” he asked. He doubted whether they could truly prepare students for high-pressure sales environments.

Shark Aman Gupta felt that real sales skills come from hands-on learning, not just coursework. He asked,  “Why aren’t students getting live sales experience? Why would I hire someone with no real-world exposure?” The founders’ responses failed to satisfy his concerns, leading him to opt out.

Shark Kunal Bahl advised the founders to focus on profitability before seeking investment. He stated, “Funding will give you pleasure, but building a profitable business will give you happiness.” He felt Hive School needed to prove its success before taking outside capital.

Shark Peyush Bansal agreed with Kunal, saying that the startup was too early-stage for investment. He advised them to establish a strong track record before pitching to investors again.

Despite its strong concept, Hive School failed to convince the sharks for several reasons:

1. Lack of practical sales training – The program focused more on theory than real-world selling.
2. Doubts about founder experience – Investors felt the team lacked enough industry expertise.
3. Early-stage business model – The company had only two cohorts, making it too soon to judge success.
4. Concerns over leadership style – Some comments about the CEO raised red flags about internal team dynamics.

The sharks ultimately passed on the deal, leaving Hive School without funding.

1. Investors want proof, not just potential – Early-stage startups must demonstrate success before seeking investment.
2. Real-world experience matters – A sales training school must offer hands-on selling opportunities to its students.
3. Leadership and teamwork affect funding – Investors notice founder dynamics and won’t back teams with internal conflicts.

Even though Hive School didn’t secure a deal, the founders gained valuable feedback. To improve, they need to:

1. Incorporate live sales projects into their courses.
2. Demonstrate real hiring success stories from past students.
3. Refine their business model to ensure long-term growth.

If they address these concerns, Hive School could return to Shark Tank India in the future, this time, ready for investment.

Hive School brought a unique concept to Shark Tank India, but struggled to convince investors. With a stronger business strategy and better execution, they could become India’s go-to platform for sales training.