ScrapUncle

ScrapUncle was founded by Mukul Chhabra, a graduate of the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT Delhi). The idea originated from his close exposure to the traditional scrap collection business through his maternal uncle, who worked as a kabadiwala. Mukul noticed that India's recycling ecosystem was highly fragmented, unorganized, and lacked transparency. In 2019, he launched ScrapUncle (originally Swapeco) with the vision of digitizing the scrap collection industry and creating a technology-driven platform that connects households, scrap collectors, and recyclers. His goal was not only to build a profitable business but also to improve recycling rates and contribute to environmental sustainability.

ScrapUncle is a tech-enabled recycling platform that allows households and businesses to sell recyclable waste such as newspapers, plastic, metal, cardboard, e-waste, and other scrap materials through doorstep pickup services. Customers can schedule a pickup through the company's website or mobile app. ScrapUncle then sends trained and verified collection partners equipped with digital weighing scales to ensure transparency and fair pricing. The collected scrap is sorted and sold to authorized recyclers.

Amount Asked: ₹60 Lakhs Equity Offered: 3% Implied Pre-Money Valuation = ₹20 Crore Valuation

Mukul delivered one of the most impactful pitches of Season 2 by highlighting the inefficiencies of India's unorganized scrap industry. He explained how millions of tonnes of recyclable waste either end up in landfills or pass through inefficient collection systems. Through ScrapUncle, customers can schedule scrap pickups digitally while ensuring transparent pricing and proper recycling. The founder demonstrated how the platform works and emphasized that ScrapUncle was not replacing local kabadiwalas but empowering them through technology. He shared business metrics showing rapid growth in Delhi NCR and increasing customer adoption.

Amit Jain:- Amit immediately understood the potential of digitizing an unorganized industry. Anupam Mittal:- Anupam liked the size of the opportunity and the founder's understanding of the market. Aman Gupta:- Aman appreciated the business concept but raised questions about customer acquisition, operational complexity, and maintaining service quality while scaling. Namita Thapar:- Namita praised the environmental impact of the business and acknowledged the importance of formalizing India's recycling ecosystem. Peyush Bansal:- Peyush appreciated the technology angle but questioned whether the business could build a strong competitive moat over time.

The negotiations quickly turned competitive as both Anupam Mittal and Amit Jain expressed serious interest in investing. The Sharks recognized that ScrapUncle was operating in a massive yet largely untapped market with significant social and environmental impact. During the discussion, both investors highlighted how their expertise could help the startup scale nationally.

ScrapUncle successfully secured an investment deal on Shark Tank India. After evaluating the competing offers, founder Mukul Chhabra decided to partner with Amit Jain. The final agreement was closed at ₹60 Lakhs for 5% equity, valuing the company at approximately ₹12 Crores post-money. Amit's expertise in building and scaling large technology-driven platforms through CarDekho played a significant role in the founder's decision. The deal provided ScrapUncle with not only capital but also strategic mentorship for future expansion.

The exposure from Shark Tank significantly boosted ScrapUncle's brand awareness and customer growth. Following the show, the startup raised additional funding from multiple investors and continued expanding its recycling operations. In 2026, ScrapUncle raised ₹22 Crores in a Pre-Series A funding round led by venture investors, further validating the business model. The company has completed tens of thousands of scrap pickups, recycled millions of kilograms of waste, and continues to work toward formalizing India's circular economy and recycling infrastructure.