The SharkTankIndia Comeback Story: Announcing our Fundraise
by Kalpana Jha on Jan 21, 2023
In the first season of Sony Network’s Shark Tank India, Uma & I pitched to raise funds for our business, JhaJi Store.
We had started selling Bihari pickles & chutneys a few months ago, and had been clocking 50 orders per day. :).
However, the Sharks felt it was too early to be raising funds and nudged us to be back the next year with more traction.
Thankfully, people from all over the country watched our feature and ordered their favorite pickles & chutneys.
As we would hear Vinita mention a few months later in an interview, her mother had ordered the pickles.
What caught Vinita’s attention were the emails we send out to every customer after ordering.
Vineeta couldn’t see earlier how the Nanad-Bhabhi ki jodi will build a large brand, but the email communications impressed her and she felt regret not investing into JhaJi Store.
In the meanwhile, we had been working to raise a fund with the help of Jharkhand Angels Network(JAN), Karekeba Ventures and SIA Angel Network.
Jayant, from Jharkhand Angels, reached out to Vineeta & Namita to see if they will want to participate.
On the evening of 6th July, 2022 Shark Tank’s production visited our kitchen-factory in Darbhanga. And expressed a desire to share our journey since the episode in season 1.
The most humbling experience of our lifetimes unfolded the next day when the Sharks Vineeta & Namita along with our friend Prabhash from JAN surprised my team & I, with a visit to our kitchen-factory.
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They spent a couple of hours, and charmed everyone around with their grace, kindness, and inquisitiveness. And joined the fund raise to hand over an investment cheque of INR 85L to JhaJi Store. By the time round closed, we had finalized a total investment of Rs. 1.3 Crores from a group of 25 angel investors. We know what appearing on TV on Shark Tank India brings. And we had to prepare. Last time, we sold out all the mango pickles we had within 3 days. This time, we spent money beforehand in summer to stock more than 30,000 kgs of pickles so that we have all the mango pickles we want until the next season. |
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Last year, we also launched Lal Mirchi Bharua late into the season and could only make so much. This time, we already have the Red Chilli pickle in stock and we aim to make another 10,000 kgs of it before the season gets over in March. Finally, we have the pickles stored in warehouses in Gurgaon, Patna, and Bengaluru so that we can get these pickles to your home fast. We have reduced the time to deliver by 60%, and hope to make it even faster in the next few weeks.. |
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Now that the Sony TV team has made the news public, we hope to delight many more amazing families with the earthy, rustic flavors of Bihar that pulled the Sharks all the way to Darbhanga. and enjoy these two best-selling pickles from JhaJi Store while you're watching :) |
प्रेम सहित,
Kalpana Jha
Chief Pickle Maker, JhaJi Store,
In Laherisarai, Darbhanga
"पग-पग पोखर माछ मखान
सरस बोल मुस्की मुख पान
इ थीक मिथिलाक पहचान"
Good in taste
Wish you Happy New Year and with attachment & dealings with shark tank India.All the best. Thanks.
Congratulations to team Jhaji.
Ur pickles are just yummmmm. Can’t find the right words for authentic taste like proper Ghar ka Achar wala feeling. Do keep n preserve the authentic flavour forever for ur business to grow
Very happy to learn this.You really deserve whatwhat you have got.The pickles are very tasty.I have not ordered lately as i have been travelling here and there.Shall soon be doing so.Congratulations on your success with Shark tank.My best wishes for your business.
आप का अचार शुद्धता और स्वाद का मिश्रण है इसमें ना सिर्फ घर का बल्कि मां के हाथों का स्वाद महसूस होता है
आप नारी सशक्तिकरण का एक सशक्त उदाहरण है आपने समाज के सामने एक उदाहरण प्रस्तुत किया है कि स्त्री ठान ले तो वह सब कुछ कर सकती है