The much-awaited fifth season of Shark Tank India is all set to return on January 5, promising deeper conversations, sharper scrutiny, and more thoughtful investment decisions. As per The Indian Express, this season marks a noticeable shift not just in how pitches are shortlisted, but also in how the Sharks themselves evaluate entrepreneurs.
Among the returning faces is Ritesh Agarwal, CEO of OYO and Founder-CEO of Prism, who joins the panel for the third consecutive year. Agarwal recently spoke about his evolved approach this season and revisited a lesser-known chapter from his early fundraising journey — one that involved a bold condition from investors: he should not go to college.
A More Nuanced Investor on the Tank
According to The Indian Express, Agarwal believes his investment style has matured significantly over the years. He shared that being an entrepreneur sharpens one’s ability to recognise patterns, especially in founders.
He explained that entrepreneurs who show long-term hunger, resilience, and resourcefulness tend to perform well over time. This season, Agarwal said he is consciously focusing on such qualities, rather than making broad judgments. Compared to earlier seasons, he is now going much deeper into business models, unit economics, and founder intent, bringing a more detailed and thoughtful approach to each pitch.
This shift reflects the growing maturity of India’s startup ecosystem, where ideas are no longer enough without execution discipline.
From Odisha to Building One of India’s Biggest Hospitality Brands
Agarwal’s own journey continues to resonate strongly with young founders. Hailing from Odisha, his love for travel sparked the idea that eventually became OYO. He began his entrepreneurial journey at just 18, when few people took him seriously.
As he recalled in a past interview, early cold emails went unanswered, and finding investors was a constant struggle. In 2013, he started with a single hotel in Gurgaon that had low occupancy. Within months, occupancy rose sharply, becoming the foundation for what followed.
Over the years, OYO expanded rapidly, growing into a platform that today serves thousands of hotels and homes. Agarwal credits consistency, patience, and belief for turning critics into believers.
The Fundraising Condition That Changed Everything
One of the most striking revelations Agarwal made recently, according to The Indian Express, was about his first fundraising experience at the age of 17. Investors requested to meet his parents and placed a surprising condition — that he should not be sent to college.
They believed formal education might distract him from building the company and warned his parents that their investment could suffer otherwise. Agarwal recalled how investors praised his potential and urged his family to trust his ability.
While this decision meant missing out on a traditional college life, it became a turning point in his journey.
His Father’s Values and the Weight of Responsibility
Despite the investor pressure, Agarwal shared that his father remained deeply concerned about values and humility. He vividly remembers his father telling the investors that success should not go to his son’s head.
That moment left a lasting impression on Agarwal. He admitted that it became a personal commitment to ensure he never let his family down and stayed grounded despite success.
Ritesh Agarwal’s Balanced View on Education
While often cited as an example of a young founder who skipped college, Agarwal has consistently maintained a balanced view on education. As per The Indian Express, he believes education is essential, but formal university education is only one of many paths to learning.
He has spoken about how universities are valuable but need to evolve with time. Education, he believes, can come from multiple sources — structured programs, real-world experiences, or even observing entrepreneurial journeys on shows like Shark Tank India.
What to Expect From Shark Tank India 5
With its sharper focus and more thoughtful evaluations, Season 5 aims to go beyond surface-level pitches. The show will air every Monday to Friday at 8 pm on Sony TV and Sony Liv.
As founders step into the tank, judges like Ritesh Agarwal bring not just capital, but lived experience — making this season one of the most grounded and insightful yet for India’s startup audience.