At 20, pitching crores: New Shark Pratham Mittal shares why he is betting big on student founders

Young founders are no longer waiting to gain years of experience before building businesses, and investors are taking note. In his debut appearance on Shark Tank India Season 5, Pratham Mittal signalled that shift clearly, backing two student-led startups and placing early bets on what he sees as a new generation of entrepreneurs.

The new Shark closed two deals in the Campus Special episode, investing in Floreal and Two Words Away, both founded by students with sharply defined business ideas and clear growth ambitions.

Crochet bouquets and a ₹1 crore bet

One of Mittal’s first investments went into Floreal, a floral gifting startup founded by 20-year-old Vanshika Mittal, a student at Lovely Professional University. The venture focuses on handcrafted crochet bouquets positioned as long-lasting, premium gifting alternatives.

Vanshika entered the tank seeking ₹1 crore for 3% equity, valuing her business at over ₹30 crore. While the valuation raised eyebrows, the clarity of her pitch drew investor interest. Mittal teamed up with Mohit Yadav, CEO and co-founder of Minimalist, to close the deal at ₹1 crore for 8% equity.

The founder is targeting a turnover of ₹6 crore by FY26, betting on rising demand for personalised and durable gifting options.

Backing a privacy-first event platform
Mittal’s second bet came in Two Words Away, a private-by-default event management platform founded by Sanchit Garg, a student at the National University of Singapore.

Positioned as a more controlled and curated way to organise events, the platform focuses on privacy and selective access, an area gaining attention among younger users. Sanchit pitched for ₹10 lakh for 10% equity and secured the investment at the same terms.

This time, Mittal joined hands with Mohit Yadav and Kunal Bahl, co-founder of Snapdeal and Titan Capital, to back the startup.

‘A new kind of founder’
Reflecting on his first episode, Mittal, who founded Masters’ Union and Tetr College, said he was struck by the maturity of the founders. Mittal said the deals were less about age and more about mindset.

“When you see founders at 20 and 18 thinking and building like this, it genuinely surprises you in the best way,” he said.
“Vanshika and Sanchit came in with a level of clarity and seriousness you would expect from far more seasoned entrepreneurs.”

He added that the trend reflects a broader shift in India’s startup ecosystem, where age is no longer a barrier.

“This is a new India where age is no longer a constraint. Young founders are stepping up to build and scale real businesses from day one. As an investor, that energy is incredibly exciting to back,” Mittal added.

“It really feels like a shift. This is a new India where young founders are stepping up to build and scale real businesses from day one. As an investor, that energy is incredibly exciting to back,” Mittal noted.