Corel Lifecare, an aquaculture inputs startup, secured investment on Shark Tank India after a measured pitch that highlighted its diagnostic-led approach to pond health, steady revenue traction and science-backed products. The deal underscores growing investor interest in sustainable, tech-enabled solutions for India’s fish and shrimp farming sector.
A founder-led, field-focused approach
Founded by Nikhilesh Hajare, Abhijeet Naohate and Rohit Patel, Corel Lifecare supplies mineral mixes, probiotics, oxygen enhancers and other pond-health solutions tailored to aquaculture needs. The company emphasises diagnostics: field teams assess pond conditions and specific farmer problems before prescribing customised interventions rather than selling standardised kits.
This close alignment between the founders’ technical expertise and on-ground farming challenges was central to their pitch. Investors on the show noted that such founder–market fit often determines whether agritech ventures in complex domains like fisheries scale sustainably or falter.
Business model, traction and financials
Corel Lifecare operates on a B2B2C model, distributing through dealers and distributors while keeping direct farmer engagement to ensure adoption and feedback. The product catalogue exceeds 11 formulations, and the firm reported around ₹2.3 crore in revenue by October 2025, with projections approaching ₹6 crore for the full financial year.
Notably, the startup was EBITDA-positive at the time of the pitch, a factor that strengthened investor confidence. The founders proposed an investment of ₹1.2 crore for 2% equity, intending to deploy funds into research and development to improve product efficacy and broaden the portfolio.
Negotiations and the final deal
Valuation sparked intense discussion. Some Sharks suggested royalty-based or other capital-efficient structures, arguing they suit asset-light input businesses. The founders pushed back, cautioning that royalties could constrain long-term R&D and limit their ability to reach smallholder farmers.
After negotiations, Anupam Mittal and Kunal Bahl jointly offered ₹1.2 crore for 8% equity, taking the post-money valuation to ₹15 crore. The founders accepted, valuing the strategic mentorship and operational experience the investors bring despite the lower valuation compared with the original ask.
Implications for India’s aquaculture and agritech
The investment signals stronger investor appetite for scientifically driven, scalable solutions in aquaculture—a sector where India is a global leader in fish and shrimp production. Demand for inputs that raise productivity while safeguarding pond ecosystems is rising as farmers face disease pressures, water-quality issues and market volatility.
Corel Lifecare’s trajectory illustrates a broader trend in Indian entrepreneurship: domain expertise, demonstrable unit economics and on-field execution now weigh heavily in investor decisions. With capital and mentorship, the startup aims to deepen farmer trust, expand distribution and contribute to the modernisation of India’s aquaculture value chain.
