Indian School of Calisthenics Debuts on Shark Tank India Season 5 Episode 23

The Indian School of Calisthenics (ISC) entered Shark Tank India Season 5 Episode 23 with the goal of using professional calisthenics instruction to change India’s fitness scene. Their compelling argument sought to gain the Sharks’ financial support and strategic direction.

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Indian School of Calisthenics is a specialized fitness facility that was established in 2022 and has its headquarters in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Its focus is on teaching bodyweight exercise, from basic strength techniques to sophisticated athletic moves. ISC focuses on functional calisthenics, which enhance strength, mobility, balance, and control for individuals of all ages and fitness levels, as contrast to standard gyms that rely on machinery.

Founders & Mission

Dedicated fitness professionals who wanted to expand the calisthenics community in India founded ISC. The founders have trained thousands of people and developed elite athletes who have competed both domestically and abroad, giving them years of practical coaching knowledge.

Making calisthenics accessible to everyone, from novices seeking basic fitness to expert practitioners looking for athletic performance, is their straightforward yet effective purpose. The focus is on developing progressive strength, mastering form, and creating a community-driven and encouraging training environment.

Official Website – Indian School of Calisthenics

ISC’s differentiator lies in its holistic training philosophy:

• Bodyweight-centric workouts that don’t depend on costly equipment
• Structured progression plans for every learner level
• Personalised coaching to minimise injuries and maximise results
• Community focus that builds camaraderie and accountability
• Workshops, championships, and events to elevate fitness culture

These core principles make ISC more than just a training centre — it’s a movement toward functional fitness and sustainable health.

Unlike product or tech startups, fitness academies typically don’t disclose wide-ranging financials publicly. However, based on industry norms and ISC’s business model:

Revenue Streams

• Membership subscriptions (monthly / quarterly / annual packages)
• Personal training sessions
• Group classes and workshops
• Online training programs
• Events and calisthenics championships

Typical Pricing Tiers (Indicative)

Operational Insights

• ISC has a sizable local member base and runs two branches in Mumbai’s Goregaon (East) and Malad (West).
• ISC, a B2C fitness brand, probably concentrates on generating recurring income through memberships and session packages.
• In contrast to a revenue model that depends on member growth and retention, fixed costs might include trainer wages, rent, equipment maintenance, and marketing.

First Branch: January 2022    Second Branch: October 2022

Sales:

FY 22-23 – Rs 24 Lakhs

FY 23-24 – Rs 45 Lakhs

FY 24-25 – Rs 75 Lakhs

YTD – Rs 1.05 Cores

FY 25-26 Projected – Rs 1.68 Crores

EBITDA – 35%

Future Roadmap for Growth:

• Virtual Training
• Offline Expansion
• Coach Training Programme

The creators started their presentation by outlining the issues with traditional gyms, such as their excessive reliance on machines, lack of mobility training, and scant attention to body control. They emphasized how the bodyweight-focused discipline of calisthenics fills these gaps by enhancing strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination without the need for pricey equipment.

Then, they established Indian School of Calisthenics as a professional training facility that provides qualified teaching, guided progressions, and structured programs—all of which are notably absent from India’s disjointed fitness industry. The Sharks were told that ISC ensures inclusion while upholding technical depth by serving novices, intermediate training, and experienced athletes.

The Ask

Indian School of Calisthenics Asked 75 Lakhs For 5% Eqiuty for Rs 15 Crores valuation.

Sharks’ Reactions & Questions

The Sharks showed immediate curiosity, particularly around:

• Market size for calisthenics in India
• Customer retention and repeat memberships
• Scalability beyond physical training centres
• Dependence on trainers vs systems
• Defensibility of the business model

Whether ISC might move from a location-dependent school model to a pan-India brand—possibly through online programs, certificates, and partnerships—was a major topic of discussion. In order to address this, the founders outlined their long-term strategy to integrate digital training modules with offline centers, which would eventually reduce the company’s capital requirements.

Shark Aman Gupta pulled himself out by saying that the branding of the company is narrowed to being a gym and not having a larger vision. He said the identity of the brand is a little confused.

Shark Kanika couldn’t make sense of the high valuation and backed out.

Shark Namita questioned the quality of marketing in terms of the presentation of their niche and didn’t make any offer.

Shark Anupam pointed out the structural issues in the business in terms of rental costs with expansion in various cities, so he backed out.

The company did not succeed in getting a deal at Shark Tank India

Despite not landing a contract on Shark Tank India Season 5 Episode 23, the Indian School of Calisthenics’ involvement on the show was a major turning point for the company. Calisthenics gained popularity thanks to national television, which also helped ISC establish itself as a major leader in this developing field and teach a larger audience about functional, bodyweight-based training.

In the future, ISC plans to take use of the exposure that the Tank provided by growing its community, enhancing its digital and hybrid training programs, creating trainer certification courses, and investigating partnerships in the fitness and wellness sector. By adhering to its objective and developing a powerful, system-driven brand, Indian School of Calisthenics is well-positioned to scale its effect even without Shark funding, given the growing awareness of sustainable fitness and movement-based training.