Top 10 Inspiring Startups Funded by Namita Thapar

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Namita Thapar, one of the most recognized faces from Shark Tank India, is not just a successful entrepreneur but fiercely promotes India’s thriving startup ecosystem. As the Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals and an acclaimed investor, Namita has earned the badge of being a supporter of innovative, impactful, and future-ready businesses alike. From health tech, edtech, and sustainable consumer brands to every other possible category, she has supported a gamut of startups that are recreating industries across the country. 

This article catalogues a very comprehensive top 10 startups funded by Namita Thapar concerning her strategic investments and the stories behind these promising ventures.

Namita Thapar: About

Namita Thapar is more than just a shark; she represents the sharp intellect, compassion, and entrepreneurial vision that India requires in its growing startup ecosystem. Becoming one of the most liked investors on the panel of Shark Tank India, Namita has established a reputation for backing promising startup ideas and nurturing budding entrepreneurs into desirable entities. Born in Pune on 21st March 1977, she is the Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals, a leading global player in the pharma space operating across 70 countries. Under her leadership, 2024 saw a landmark for Emcure when it launched its IPO.

Namita stands outside the boardroom for the training to help the next cohort of business leaders through her initiative, Incredible Ventures Pvt. Ltd. In this article, we explore the vibrant 10 startups Namita Thapar has put her weight behind, each of which is a testimony to her belief in innovation, conscience, and people.

Top 10 Startups Funded by Namita Thapar

Girgit

Among the most eye-catching investments Namita Thapar made on Shark Tank India is Girgit, a unique fashion startup known for its colour-changing products. Girgit’s products range from shoes and clothes to watch straps that change colour upon exposure to temperature fluctuations like sunlight or heat, making it a fun and interactive way of styling. This new take on fashion piqued Namita’s interest and she ultimately invested INR 20 lakh for an equity stake of 20% in the company. Girgit uniquely combines fashion with science and is one of the first brands to redefine wearable styling in India.

Brandsdaddy

Founded in 2013, Brandsdaddy is a start-up in the fire safety landscape and is indeed known for its much-talked-about AFE Fire Extinguishing Ball. This ball, which will work in a temporary kind of modality and will start functioning in 3-10 seconds upon being thrown into a fire, releases a chemical agent to extinguish flames. This truly innovative solution can be placed in really high-risk areas such as kitchens, vehicles, factories, and offices, thus making fire safety accessible and automatic.

Namita Thapar, Shark Tank India judge, was impressed by the startup’s accessible life-saving innovation and invested INR 35 lakhs for 5 percent equity, along with another INR 35 lakhs in debt at 12 percent interest. This investment adds not only to the cash flow of Brandsdaddy but also to its credibility and momentum in the path it has envisioned—to make India safer through smart fire protection. This business model illustrates that good ideas could be scaled up into a much larger transformational impact with the potential to build strong businesses.

Very Much Indian

Very Much Indian is a startup infused with culture and created to achieve the revival and celebration of handloom heritage in India. This online store curates and sells pure, handcrafted sarees directly sourced from artisan weavers across the nation. With a breathtaking offering of cotton, pure silk, bandhani, linen, chanderi, kota, kanjeevaram, and more, the brand aims to bring together modern consumers with timeless Indian craftsmanship.

Very Much Indian distinguishes itself by its intrinsic commitment to helping artisans sustain ancient weaving traditions. The authenticity of the startup’s vision resonated strongly on Shark Tank India, where Namita Thapar and Aman Gupta decided to invest. Namita put in INR 25 lakhs for 5 percent equity to promote the brand’s aim of taking Indian handlooms worldwide.

A perfect example of how, when tradition meets modernity through e-commerce, a name becomes a meaningful and scalable business.

Skippi Ice Pops

Skippi Ice Pops, the first Indian ice popsicle brand owned by Kabra Global Products Pvt. Ltd., makes 100% natural frozen treats with no preservatives, artificial colors, or synthetic sweeteners. So, these pops bring cheer and nostalgia by being colorful and fruity, providing all the sweetness of childhood memories, and matching the evolution of healthier snacking options today.

In 2021, Skippi became the first startup on Shark Tank India to get all five sharks to agree to invest in their business—an unprecedented moment in the show’s history. Namita Thapar also joined the investors, offering INR 20 lakhs for 3% equity in the brand after being impressed with the simplicity, scalability, and innovation of the product.

These Skippi Ice Pops are no treat—it’s a trend-setting product that transforms how India enjoys frozen snacks. And, of course, with real ingredients and the fantastic growth potential, this brand makes further inroads across India—cooling taste buds and heating things up in the FMCG space.

Bummer

Bummer is a new wave in modern innerwear brands, specifically focused on ultra-soft, chic yet comfortable underwear that’s especially fit for the ladies and gents. It’s revolutionizing the underwear game in India by using high-quality, sustainable fabrics that are designed for all-day comfort along with aesthetics that are bold enough to appeal to the youth of today.

Bummer created history during his time at Sharks during season 1, making it the first investment given by Namita Thapar to any startup in Shark Tank India. The founders had initially sought INR 75 lakh for their 4% stake in the company, which intrigued Namita because of the product’s premium fabric and trendy designs. The deal was sealed with Namita investing INR 37.5 lakh given away for considering a 3.75% stake.

Comfort, quality, and personality—all blended. Bummer is very much now the go-to brand in the Indian innerwear market, and the major boost came in from Namita’s first backing for the startup to scale operations and become synonymous with next-gen innerwear essentials.

Altor

Altor is a scooting startup that has joined forces with some very zealous college graduates to try and change the road safety scenario with high-tech. The line of smart helmets is one heavenly design & engineering for impact protection but also adds heaven to the helmet with features such as Google Assistant, Bluetooth compatibility, audio navigation, and hands-free controls.

With India growing into a country that is concerned about road safety, Altor’s amazing innovation caught the eyes of investors on Shark Tank India. Namita Thapar, who was moved by the idea as well as the smart fun of the product, in 2022 poured INR 25 lakh investment for 3.5 percent equity in the cause.

However, Altor has a goal to make safe and smart commuting possible rather than just manufacturing equipment. Possessed of powerful investor backing and a promising tech-forward approach, this startup is gearing up to become a main player in India’s mobility tech space.

Farda

Founded by the creative duo Chahat Pahuja and Sanskar Mishra, Farda is a stylish and edgy streetwear brand that specializes in customized denim fashion. In line with its idea of self-expression and individuality, Farda empowers customers to personalize their clothes—bold, artistic pieces that are truly one-of-a-kind. From graffiti-style jackets to custom-painted jeans, Farda is relooking at the streetwear scene in India.

The startup created quite a buzz in Shark Tank India with its impeccable pitching and presentation, almost instantly mesmerizing the sharks. Acknowledging their raw talent and creativity, Namita Thapar stepped in to support these young entrepreneurs with an investment of INR 15 lakhs for 10% equity.

With a unique blend of fashion and personalization, Farda is one emerging youth favorite. Namita’s backing further cements the fact that the brand can scale in India’s booming fashion and lifestyle market—one bold outfit at a time.

Auli Lifestyle

Auli Lifestyle was established by Aishwarya Biswas to provide homegrown Ayurvedic skincare. The main aim of the project is to combine ancient wellness with modern skincare applications. Formulating and manufacturing several natural skincare products, this brand boasts its existence through self-retail stores across selected Indian states. Auli wants to cater to all-around therapeutic skincare solutions that are effective yet authentic to ancient Indian wellness wisdom.

Aishwarya pitched on Shark Tank India, seeking INR 75 lakhs for her adventure, manifesting at once passion, clarity, and vision to one of the judges, namely Namita Thapar, Executive Director at Emcure Pharmaceuticals. She was impressed by the idea in all its possible alignment with the growing need for the newer kind of clear and Ayurvedic beauty. So, she invested the whole amount of 75 lakhs INR as an investment during the year 2022 for 15% equity.

Under their mentorship, Auli Lifestyle will gear up to foray into the pockets of India and redefine how ayurvedic skincare is experienced in a modern world.

The Renal Project

The Renal Project is a pioneering healthcare startup aimed at making quality dialysis services accessible and affordable across India. To help ease the burden on patients suffering from kidney-related ailments, the company offers home and in-centre dialysis services in comfort, convenience, and quality care.

The startup pitched well on Shark Tank India and was looking for funding of INR 1 crore to ramp up its operations. The impact-driven model and the strong execution impressed Namita Thapar, Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals, who saw great potential in the startup’s mission and went ahead to commit INR 50 lakh for 3% equity, along with business development support through her pharmaceutical network — a strategic push for the company’s growth.

With Namita’s investment and guidance in 2023, The Renal Project is gearing up for a massive expansion of its services across the country, intending to transform renal healthcare delivery in India and impact the lives of innumerable patients.

COCOFIT

COCOFIT is one of the quickly emerging franchises for coconut-based beverages that are healthy, hydrating, and refreshing by nature. The business is trying to change how coconut water and related drinks are consumed in India by giving them a fresh and modern touch through its innovative product offerings.

The founders of COCOFIT boldly pitched on Shark Tank India, seeking INR 5 crore for 5% equity, thus pulling the sharks in with its high value and the confidence with which it was pitched. While all the sharks appreciated the product quality and the business model, only three decided to invest. Namita Thapar, attracted by the health-centric approach and the market potential of the startup, invested INR 50 lakhs for a 1.67% stake in 2023.

Namita’s investment furthers Cocofit’s vision and reflects her passion for innovation in the health and wellness space, creating a strategic partnership to promote healthy beverage consumption in India.

Conclusion

Namita Thapar, a very amiable, cheerful, and sharp-minded investor, invests in diverse sectors of business, yet is an admirer of health-related startups owing to her pharmaceutical background. He supports and invests in solutions from other businesses as well. Thapar’s charm, passion, and love for young entrepreneurs will shine through, and we can expect such investments in the future.