Hecoll

Deepthi Nathala is one of the most credentialled solo founders to appear on Shark Tank India Season 1 — an IIT Madras graduate in nanotechnology who spent a decade working across the globe before returning home to Hyderabad with both the scientific knowledge and the personal motivation to build something genuinely transformative. After working for a decade in the Middle East, USA and South America, Deepthi Nathala came back home to Hyderabad in December 2018. Upon arrival, however, she realised that her body could not adjust to the environment. Suffering a mild headache and skin irritation during regular drives in the city, Deepthi realised she needed some protection from the burning rays of the sun, excess dust, air pollution and germs.

Hecoll is a patented nanotechnology-based fabric that simultaneously blocks 95% of air pollutants, blocks 99% of UV rays, and kills bacteria and viruses on contact — all while being eco-friendly, breathable, and biodegradable within 14 weeks. The core innovation lies in what Deepthi calls "bodyguard molecules" — nano-scale particles embedded into the cavities of conventional cotton fabric that give it protective properties that raw cotton alone cannot achieve. The "bodyguard molecules" in Hecoll fabric come from three sources: plant extracts like turmeric and neem (with germ-killing abilities and UV ray absorption capacities); metal components such as nanosilver and nano copper (which possess germ-killing properties and UV ray absorption capacity); and specific chemical compositions created through nanotechnology. As part of their R&D, Deepthi explored all three options.

Amount Asked: ₹1 crore Equity Offered: 1% Implied Pre-Money Valuation: ₹100 crore

Deepthi entered the Shark Tank room covering her face with a piece of cloth. She then began her pitch by saying that crores of Indian women cover themselves this way to save from pollution and men do so by covering up with handkerchiefs. However, this cloth only saves them from 15% of the pollution. The visual opening — a solo founder walking in self-demonstrating the problem she was solving — was one of the most confident and self-aware pitch openings of Season 1. She then demonstrated Hecoll fabric's properties: the protection percentages, the lab certifications, the biodegradability, the variety of applications across healthcare, defence, children's products, and everyday lifestyle. The scientific depth of the pitch was genuine — Deepthi spoke with the fluency of a trained nanotechnologist rather than a business school graduate trying to explain technology she only partially understood.

Ashneer Grover gave the most detailed and pointed exit. Anupam Mittal was impressed by Deepthi personally but cited it was too early to invest the business needed more commercial traction and strategic clarity before it was ready for institutional funding. Namita Thapar — who as an Emcure Pharmaceuticals executive was perhaps the most technically qualified to assess an antimicrobial fabric product — said she wouldn't be able to add value to the company and therefore exited. Vineeta Singh raised two concerns: the valuation was too high, and separately, she acknowledged her IIT Madras alumni connection to Deepthi while still declining. Aman Gupta delivered the most strategically focused critique. Aman chose not to invest, stating he thinks Deepthi was very confused and was trying to do too many things at one time.

There was no formal negotiation phase. No Shark made an offer during the episode.

No final deal