Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal Claims He Was Kicked Out of Shark Tank by Swiggy
Deepinder Goyal was removed as a judge from Shark Tank India Season 4 due to a sponsorship deal with Swiggy, Zomato's main competitor.
As you all know, Shark Tank India is a popular Hindi business reality TV show that airs on Sony TV. It is the Indian version of the famous American show Shark Tank. In this show, aspiring Indian entrepreneurs and inventors present their business ideas to a panel of top Indian business investors, also known as the judges. These judges then decide if they want to invest in the businesses.
Some of the famous judges on the show include:
- Anupam Mittal: Founder & CEO of Shaadi.com
- Namita Thapar: Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals
- Aman Gupta: Co-founder & CMO of boAt Lifestyle
- Ritesh Agarwal: Founder & CEO of OYO Rooms
- Peyush Bansal: Co-founder & CEO of Lenskart
The first season of Shark Tank India aired in December 2021 and has been loved by audiences since then. However, as the show prepares for its 4th season, there has been controversy involving one of its judges, Deepinder Goyal, the founder & CEO of Zomato.
Goyal joined Shark Tank as a judge in Season 3, which premiered in January 2024. He became very popular for his sharp observations and honest feedback, and he was set to continue as a judge for Season 4. But recently, Goyal revealed that he was “kicked out” of the show because Zomato’s main competitor, Swiggy, is the sponsor of Season 4.
Goyal explained, “I wanted to bring a real perspective to the startup culture in India, which is often more about showmanship. I felt a duty to be on Shark Tank India. I even shot for one weekend, but after that, I was removed because Swiggy, who sponsored the show, didn’t want me to continue. At least that’s what I heard.”
Reports suggest that Swiggy signed a ?25 crore sponsorship deal with Shark Tank India for Season 4, which included a special clause to remove Goyal and any association with Zomato from the show.
Kunal Bahl, co-founder of Snapdeal and Titan Capital, has replaced Goyal as a judge and has already started shooting for the upcoming season.
The premiere date for Shark Tank India Season 4 has not yet been announced.
Do you think removing a business rival like this is ethical? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
