Rize Bars

Sahil Manral and Dhruv Verma are Season 3's most emotionally bonded childhood-friend founders. Both 21 years old at pitch, both raised by single mothers, they connected through shared personal experiences that gave them empathy for wellness challenges most young men do not typically address (menstrual pain relief, sleep disorders, energy management). The founding spark came from Dhruv's observation that India had no caffeine-infused energy bar: coffee was beloved for its energy boost but was only available as a beverage. He envisioned a solid snack format that delivered the same caffeine energy with added nutritional benefits. Sahil's culinary education gave him the formulation capability to convert Dhruv's idea into actual products in their kitchen.

RIZE is India's first problem-solving wellness snack brand, producing treats that address specific health challenges (low energy, poor sleep, menstrual pain) through functional ingredients delivered in delicious chocolate and bar formats. The brand's positioning is specific: each product solves a defined problem rather than offering generic "healthy snacking." Energy Bars solve the energy problem with caffeine plus prebiotics, minerals, fibre, and protein, targeting gym-goers, travellers, and health enthusiasts who want sustained energy without sugary drinks. Dream Bites solve the sleep problem with melatonin, chamomile, valerian root, and glycine, targeting urban professionals and students with sleep disorders. Bliss Bites solve the menstrual pain problem with 10 natural herbs, vitamins, potassium, and magnesium, targeting women seeking drug-free period pain relief.

Amount Asked: ₹45 lakhs Equity Offered: 6% Implied Pre-Money Valuation: ₹7.5 crore

Sahil and Dhruv walked into Season 3 Episode 32 (Campus Special continuation) as the episode's youngest founders. They opened with their personal story: two childhood friends raised by single mothers, bonded by shared experiences, driven to create wellness products that solve real health problems through delicious treats. The product tasting confirmed quality: the Sharks sampled Energy Bars, Dream Bites, and Bliss Bites and found the taste genuinely good. The functional positioning (each product solving a specific health problem) was clearly communicated and differentiated from generic healthy snack competitors.

Aman Gupta delivered the episode's most brutally honest assessment: "I started my first business when I was around 21, and it shut down. Namita Thapar cited concerns about the valuation for a pre-revenue brand. She could not justify ₹7.5 crore for a company with zero sales history, regardless of the product quality or celebrity investment. Anupam Mittal appreciated the founders' passion but found the business too early-stage for investment. neeta Singh exited on similar early-stage grounds. The healthy snacking market was too competitive and the brand too nascent for her investment framework. Ritesh Agarwal did not invest but acknowledged the founders' resilience in securing Sunny Leone's investment after being rejected by 40 plus VCs.

No Shark made a formal offer. All five exited before entering negotiation. The unanimous concern was timing: a pre-revenue brand (launched January 31, 2024, just weeks before the episode aired) seeking ₹7.5 crore valuation in a highly competitive healthy snacking market was commercially unjustifiable for every Shark's investment framework, regardless of the product quality, celebrity backing, or founders' resilience.

Sahil Manral and Dhruv Verma left Shark Tank India Season 3 Episode 32 without any investment. All five Sharks declined, with Aman's direct "this business won't thrive" prediction becoming the episode's most memorable Shark statement. The founders left without a deal but with a national television appearance, existing Sunny Leone investment, and the specific motivation that Aman's doubt provided: proving him wrong.

Dhruv Verma recollected, "Despite one of the sharks saying that our business would fail, we want to keep pushing ourselves to reach newer heights." RIZE continues operating and growing. The founders took Aman's harsh prediction as fuel rather than defeat, projecting ₹1.5 crore revenue and expanding their product range and distribution. The 60% gross margin validates the unit economics, and the ₹30,000 marketing spend (with growth driven almost entirely organically) demonstrates capital efficiency that most well-funded snack brands cannot match. Sunny Leone's continued brand ambassadorship gives RIZE celebrity visibility that most pre-revenue brands cannot access. The specific combination of Leone's massive social media following (50 million plus across platforms) and the functional wellness positioning creates a unique marketing asset: a Bollywood celebrity endorsing problem-solving health snacks rather than generic consumer products.