Doctors once told Shark Tank judge Kanika Tekriwal she could only survive 4 days. How she fought back and built a net worth of Rs 420 crore

During a recent episode of Shark Tank India Season 5, judge and entrepreneur Kanika Tekriwal spoke candidly about her past as a cancer survivor after listening to a pitch centred on easing long-term physical suffering. The conversation unfolded when Delhi-based founder Shivraj Sharma presented his startup, Wholeleaf, which focuses on solutions designed to manage persistent pain.

A Pitch Rooted in Pain Management

Shivraj Sharma introduced Wholeleaf as a company developing pain-relief products derived from cannabinoids extracted from the Vijaya plant. While explaining his offering to the panel, he highlighted that his formulation is officially authorised and positioned as a legitimate option for individuals dealing with ongoing discomfort. Sharma entered the tank seeking an investment of Rs 50 lakh in return for a 2.1 percent equity stake, placing his company’s valuation at approximately Rs 23.8 crore.

A Personal Connection Behind the Idea

While sharing the story behind his venture, Sharma explained that his exposure to cannabinoid-based relief came during his aunt’s cancer treatment. At that time, his family had sourced CBD-based products from outside India to help manage her pain, an experience that later inspired him to develop a similar solution domestically.

Kanika Tekriwal Opens Up About Her Journey

Moved by the pitch, Kanika Tekriwal reflected on her own battle with cancer at a young age. She revealed that she was diagnosed at 21 and endured severe physical distress during intensive treatment cycles. According to Tekriwal, chemotherapy sessions conducted every two weeks left her in extreme agony, and doctors had advised her family to explore CBD oil as a pain-management option. However, such alternatives were unavailable in India at the time. She acknowledged that surviving the illness and being present on the show years later filled her with gratitude, while also emphasising that the suffering caused by treatment can often be more devastating than the disease itself.

Views on Treatment and Ethical Support

Tekriwal further explained that although she personally does not favour allopathic medicine, she completed chemotherapy and radiation as part of her recovery. She recalled being given bleak prognoses by multiple doctors before meeting a specialist in Mumbai who restored her confidence and determination.

"I was 21 and 40 doctors told me that you will survive for 4 months or 4 days. I then met a doctor in Mumbai and I told him, ‘We will have a drink 40 years later, now, let’s talk’,” she shared.

She clarified that access to CBD-based relief was not possible during her treatment years and expressed her desire to back an Indian enterprise that approaches such solutions responsibly and ethically.

Clinical Validation Impresses the Sharks

Fellow judge Namita Thapar responded positively to the presentation, noting that Sharma had already conducted 13 clinical studies. She highlighted that two of these trials involved groups of 50 to 75 participants each and appreciated the founder’s focus on data-backed, evidence-driven medical practices.

The Final Deal

After deliberation, Aman Gupta, Namita Thapar, and Kanika Tekriwal jointly finalised an investment of Rs 1.5 crore for a 7.5 percent stake in Wholeleaf, assigning the company a valuation of Rs 20 crore.

Cancer, Resilience, and Success

According to an interview Kanika Tekriwal gave to Outlook Business, her professional journey was just beginning to take shape when a sudden health setback changed the course of her life. After returning to India from the United Kingdom, where she had completed her MBA, Tekriwal was preparing to enter the entrepreneurial world. Those plans were abruptly interrupted when she was diagnosed with stage-2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at the age of 22. A period that should have been defined by ambition quickly turned into one centred on medical treatments, hospital visits, and the fight to recover, forcing her to put her career goals on hold.

As Outlook Business reported, the months that followed were physically exhausting and emotionally demanding. When she eventually came through the treatment, Tekriwal emerged with greater mental strength and a clearer sense of direction. The experience reshaped her understanding of success and resilience, pushing her to reclaim control over her future rather than letting illness define her limits. She viewed the disruption not as a conclusion, but as a temporary pause before moving forward with renewed determination.

Tekriwal also shared with Outlook Business that her recovery was followed by family resistance. Her parents, still affected by her illness, were hesitant about her decision to move to Delhi and launch a venture in a high-risk industry. Despite their concerns, she chose conviction over comfort, relocated to the capital, and founded JetSetGo in 2014. In the early days, she stayed with a friend while adjusting to the new city, supported by peers who encouraged her bold vision of creating an Uber-like model for private aviation.

According to the Hurun Rich List, Tekriwal’s current net worth stands at an estimated Rs 420 crore.