WYLD Card

WYLD Card was founded by Dishant Sanghvi, Rij Eappen, and Yash Sakhlecha. The founders observed that millions of social media users create valuable content, influence purchasing decisions, and promote brands every day without receiving any financial benefit. They believed that social influence itself had monetary value and should be rewarded. To solve this problem, they developed the concept of a "Social Currency" platform. Their vision was to transform ordinary consumers into brand ambassadors by rewarding them for their online influence and engagement. Instead of restricting influencer marketing to celebrities and creators with millions of followers, WYLD aimed to allow everyday social media users to monetize their influence through a payment card linked to social activity.

WYLD Card is a social currency-powered payments platform that combines fintech and influencer marketing. The company offers a payment card that connects users' social media profiles with their spending behavior. Users earn rewards, cashback, and benefits when they engage with partner brands on social media, create content, share experiences, or influence purchasing decisions among their followers. The startup positions itself as the world's first social currency card, where a user's social influence becomes a measurable asset. Brands gain access to authentic word-of-mouth marketing, while users receive financial rewards for engagement that would otherwise go uncompensated. The platform effectively merges payments, loyalty programs, influencer marketing, and social commerce into a single ecosystem.

Amount Asked: ₹50 Lakhs Equity Offered: 0.5% Implied Pre-Money Valuation: ₹100 Crore

The founders delivered one of the most unique fintech pitches of Season 3. They introduced the concept of social currency and argued that social influence has become a valuable economic asset in the digital age. Through demonstrations and examples, they explained how consumers influence purchasing decisions every day through social media posts, reviews, and recommendations, yet rarely receive compensation for their impact. The founders showcased the WYLD Card ecosystem and demonstrated how users could earn rewards based on their social engagement. They revealed impressive user growth numbers and highlighted partnerships with multiple consumer brands interested in accessing influencer-driven marketing through the platform. The Sharks were intrigued by the novelty of the idea and spent considerable time understanding the mechanics of social currency.

Aman found the concept innovative and appreciated the founders' ambition. Peyush appreciated the founders' energy and the uniqueness of the idea. Vineeta acknowledged the potential of influencer-driven commerce but questioned whether social engagement could reliably translate into measurable business outcomes for brands. Ritesh liked the founders and their understanding of consumer behavior. However, he felt the business was still early and required further validation before he could justify an investment at the proposed valuation. Anupam was the most enthusiastic Shark during the discussion. He believed the founders were attempting to build a completely new category and appreciated their bold vision. While he had concerns regarding execution risks, he felt the potential upside justified an investment.

The negotiation became highly competitive because all the Sharks found the concept intriguing, even though they had concerns about execution. Multiple Sharks expressed interest at different stages of the discussion, leading to several conversations around valuation and future growth. The founders defended their ₹100 crore valuation by highlighting user growth, brand partnerships, and the potential size of the social commerce market. As the negotiations progressed, Anupam Mittal emerged as the most committed investor. He believed the startup was creating an entirely new category and was willing to back the founders despite the inherent risks. After discussions regarding ownership and valuation, the founders agreed to revise their expectations and accepted Anupam's offer, bringing the negotiations to a successful conclusion.

WYLD Card successfully secured funding on Shark Tank India. The founders entered the Tank seeking ₹50 lakhs for 0.5% equity, valuing the company at ₹100 crore. After negotiations, Anupam Mittal invested ₹75 lakhs for 1.5% equity, valuing the company at approximately ₹50 crore. Although the final valuation was significantly lower than the original ask, the founders accepted the deal because they believed Anupam's experience in consumer internet businesses and marketplace platforms would help accelerate the company's growth. The startup left Shark Tank India with a deal and one strategic investor.

Following its appearance on Shark Tank India, WYLD Card received significant media attention and user interest. The exposure helped the startup increase awareness around its social currency concept and attract additional users to the platform. The company continued developing its ecosystem of brand partnerships, influencer rewards, and social-commerce initiatives. While the long-term success of the social currency model remains dependent on user engagement and brand adoption, Shark Tank provided substantial visibility and validation for the founders' vision.