Very Much Indian

Slony Gambhir is the founder of Very Much Indian. At the age of 14, she used to sit in her father's textile store, manage clients, and handle accounts. She worked in corporate for 10 years after her BTech and MBA studies. In 2016, she quit her job and started her own saree business from her Pune home. She started the business by taking a loan of 25 sarees from her father and her husband supported her in this business. Slony Baldev Gambhir is Season 2's most textile-heritage-rooted female entrepreneur a woman who grew up inside the fabric business (her father's textile store), earned a BTech and MBA, spent 10 years in the corporate world, and then returned to her family's deep-rooted textile knowledge to build a brand that connected India's most culturally significant handwoven sarees to modern consumers nationwide. Her husband Manish Gambhir works at a bank but fully supported her entrepreneurial journey.

Very Much Indian represents Paithani sarees worldwide. This startup aims at improving the demand and uplifting the culture of Paithani sarees and Paithani weavers. These sarees are 2,000 years old and are considered the "Queen of Silk Sarees." Very Much Indian is India's most mission-driven Paithani saree brand connecting urban consumers directly with handloom weavers from Yeola, Maharashtra, eliminating middlemen, ensuring weavers receive fair prices, and preserving a 2,000-year-old craft tradition. The brand offers sarees in cotton, linen, silk, and blended fabrics with traditional motifs each taking approximately 2.5 months to complete. The direct-from-weaver model benefits both ends: weavers receive better income; consumers receive authentic quality at fair prices.

Amount Asked: ₹50 lakhs Equity Offered: 3% Implied Pre-Money Valuation: ₹16.67 crore

The discussion started when Slony explained about handloom and traditional sarees, especially Paithani sarees. Vineeta and Namita tried on two different sarees which really looked pretty. Slony and Manish opened Season 2 Episode 2 with the most culturally grounded pitch of the episode presenting the Paithani saree not just as a product but as a 2,000-year-old living tradition at risk of extinction. The live handloom demonstration by their 63-year-old weaver weaving Paithani fabric on stage — transformed the pitch from a business presentation into a cultural experience. Vineeta Singh and Namita Thapar both tried on the sarees during the pitch an organic, participatory product demonstration that visually communicated the quality, drape, and aesthetic beauty of handwoven Paithani better than any slide could achieve.

Anupam Mittal exited on category awareness grounds. Anupam says that GenZ does not care about the saree, so you will have to market your category. Vineeta Singh exited after Namita had already made an offer deferring because she did not want to compete with a fellow Shark who had moved first. Peyush Bansal exited citing the same reasons as Vineeta once Namita offered, he stepped back rather than competing. Peyush, Vineeta, Anupam were out because Namita had already offered. Namita Thapar was the first and most enthusiastic investor immediately connecting with the brand's mission of artisan empowerment and the cultural significance of Paithani sarees. Aman Gupta joined Namita's offer forming the two-Shark coalition that eventually closed the deal.

Namita made the first offer: ₹50 lakhs for 10% equity (₹5 crore valuation). Aman joined Namita. The founders countered at ₹75 lakhs for 10% equity seeking more capital at the same equity. Counter offer by Manish and Slony 75 Lakhs for 10% equity. 75 lakhs for 10% equity valuation 5 crores. Deal closed by Aman and Namita. However, available sources indicate the final closed deal was at ₹50 lakhs for 10% equity — the Sharks holding their original capital amount.

Slony and Manish accepted Namita Thapar and Aman Gupta's joint offer of ₹50 lakhs for 10% equity valuing Very Much Indian at ₹5 crore. The deal represented a significant discount from the founders' ₹16.67 crore implied valuation but brought two strategically complementary investors: Namita's healthcare distribution and institutional network supporting the artisan welfare mission, and Aman's boAt marketing and D2C brand-building expertise to help Very Much Indian reach younger consumers.