Shark Tank India returned with its much-anticipated Season 5, and a recent episode ignited an engaging discussion around the evolving dynamics of modern dating in India. The episode featured Offline by Happy Hour, an offline dating and social meet-up platform aiming to shift young Indians away from swipe-based dating apps toward curated, in-person experiences.
Founders Tanay Baweja and Aastha Sethi opened their pitch by candidly highlighting the challenges of today’s dating landscape. The duo emphasized how dating apps continue to dominate the global market, while positioning their platform as an alternative that enables offline dating events curated according to individual personalities and preferences.
The founders sought an investment of ₹50 lakh for 5% equity, valuing the company at ₹10 crore. While the concept intrigued the Sharks, it also prompted serious conversations around user safety, scalability, and long-term sustainability of offline dating platforms in India.
Shaily Mehrotra, the newest Shark on the panel and Founder & CEO of Fixderma, a dermatologically trusted skincare brand, shared a candid perspective while delivering her verdict. Highlighting safety as a critical concern, Mehrotra pointed out that dating-based events in India still face challenges when it comes to security and responsible participation.
She explained that offline dating platforms need very strong safety systems. In India, especially among young male users, dating apps are often taken lightly and seen more as a form of entertainment, which raises doubts about responsibility and seriousness at such events. Because of these concerns, she decided not to invest.
Shaily Mehrotra’s IG LInk talking about the dating app market: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTAgrtWCWUf/?igsh=anBrMzBhbHE2aWtv
Other Sharks shared the same concerns. Aman Gupta explained the risk in a light-hearted but clear way, saying that with such a platform, you are just one ‘kaand away from shutting the business.’
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