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Shark Tank reshapes Indian business-school career ambitions beyond placements

Shark Tank reshapes Indian business-school career ambitions beyond placements
‘I raised funding’ is new ‘I got placed’: How Shark Tank is changing B-school ambitions · livemint.com

Many students at Indian business schools traditionally wanted a good company job through campus placements.

Now, some students are choosing to start businesses instead.

Masters’ Union says 22% of its 2026 students chose entrepreneurship over placements, compared with 7% in its 2021 group.

The school says its students and alumni have created more than 50 ventures.

These ventures have raised over ₹100 crore from institutional investors.

They have also reported more than ₹70 crore in combined yearly recurring revenue.

Some founders have appeared on Shark Tank India, where entrepreneurs pitch businesses to investors.

Pratham Mittal says younger people may not want to wait many years to move up a corporate career ladder.

This means building a startup is becoming a more accepted first job for some students.

Key facts

Entrepreneurship choice
22% of the Masters’ Union 2026 cohort chose entrepreneurship over placements, compared with 7% of the 2021 cohort.
Capital raised
More than 50 student and alumni ventures have raised over ₹100 crore in institutional venture capital.
Combined revenue
The ventures reported combined annual recurring revenue of more than ₹70 crore.
Shark Tank appearances
Five student founders or ventures appeared on Shark Tank India.
Eight Network
The company raised ₹27 crore and reported ₹13 crore in annual recurring revenue; founder Yugal Tamang exited this year.
SeedAI
The enterprise AI platform was acquired by Girnar Finserv in November 2025.
Selected deals
Hookd secured ₹50 lakh for 20% equity from Varun Alagh, while Project Clay received ₹15 lakh for 10% equity from Namita Thapar.

Quotes

Pratham Mittal

Founder of Masters’ Union and a judge on Shark Tank India

“Gen Z and Alpha aren’t very patient, and climbing the corporate ladder slowly feels like a risk to them.”
livemint.com

Sources

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