Wakao Foods

A criminal lawyer who joined his family's hotel business after his law degree, left after six months, founded a lighting and solar solutions company, then a real estate restoration firm (which was growing well until COVID-19 halted it in 2020), read a newspaper article calling jackfruit the "world's superfood" during the lockdown, invested ₹5 lakh of his own savings, spent a year experimenting with India's top chefs, and launched India's first shelf-stable jackfruit plant-based meat brand in October 2020 — just 10 months before appearing on Shark Tank India. Sairaj Dhond started his career as a criminal lawyer but later pursued his passion for sustainable entrepreneurship. After a year of trials and experimentation with chefs, he founded Wakao to bring his vision to life. Sairaj, who comes from an entrepreneurial family, joined the family restaurant business after finishing his law degree, but left after six months.

Wakao Foods is India's first and only shelf-stable jackfruit plant-based meat brand — ethically sourcing tender raw jackfruit directly from farmers across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Maharashtra, processing it using a proprietary texturisation method (patented) that replicates the fibrous, pull-apart texture of shredded meat, seasoning it in Indian and international flavour profiles, and packaging it with a natural preservative blend (patented, no synthetic additives) that provides a 12-month shelf life without refrigeration — making premium plant-based meat 40% more affordable than imported alternatives and accessible to every restaurant, hotel, and household in India without cold chain investment.

Amount Asked: ₹75 lakhs Equity Offered: 5% Implied Pre-Money Valuation: ₹15 crore

Wakao Foods' pitch was delivered to an episode that featured the three female Sharks (Namita, Vineeta, Ghazal) alongside Anupam and Peyush. The food sampling — multiple jackfruit preparations served to the Sharks — was the pitch's most immediately persuasive element. The Sharks were intrigued but cautious. They praised his passion and Wakao's "jackfruit-from-backyard" authenticity. Anupam Mittal commended the "energy and conviction" behind the brand. But several Sharks questioned whether the market was ready for this, and felt the valuation might be too lofty for an eight-month-old startup. Indian Startup News The pitch made a specific historical claim: Despite India being one of its largest growers, the fruit is remarkably underutilised. A research report titled 'Market Feasibility Study For Jackfruit Value Added Products' suggests that despite its numerous benefits, jackfruit remains an unorganised market.

Anupam Mittal exited on HoReCa channel difficulty grounds. Anupam declines the investment, citing that the HoReCa industry is challenging to capture, but he suggests that Sairaj stay focused. Peyush Bansal made two competing offers — both structured with debt components — and ultimately exited when Sairaj chose the all-equity female Shark coalition. Ghazal Alagh, Vineeta Singh, and Namita Thapar — the three female Sharks — formed the investing coalition. The Sharks who invested in Wakao Foods include Vineeta Singh, CEO and Co-founder of SUGAR Cosmetics; Namita Thapar, Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals; and Ghazal Alagh, Founder of Mamaearth.

Ghazal offers ₹75 lakhs for 30%, with Namita and Vineeta joining. Sairaj counters at ₹75 lakhs for 15% to Namita, Vineeta, and Ghazal's offer. Namita counters at ₹75 lakhs for 21%, to which Sairaj counters at ₹1 crore for 20%. The Sharks refuse that counter, and in the end, they settled at ₹75 lakhs for 21% of the company

On-Screen Deal: YES (Three-Shark All-Female deal) Final Accepted:- ₹75L for 21%