“Aman Gupta, change your perspective on investing in startups at Shark Tank”: Union Minister Piyush Goyal at Startup Mahakumbh 2025

At the highly anticipated Startup Mahakumbh 2025, Union Minister Piyush Goyal made a strong statement directed at Aman Gupta, co-founder of boAt and a prominent investor on Shark Tank India. 

He urged Aman Gupta and other investors to rethink their approach towards funding startups, emphasising the need to support ventures that prioritise deep-tech innovation over consumer-driven business models.

Shark Tank Needs Change

Piyush Goyal’s remarks come amidst growing criticism that Shark Tank India has been favoring D2C (Direct-to-Consumer) brands and lifestyle businesses, often overlooking high-tech, scalable innovations. 

The minister highlighted that while consumer startups have played a role in boosting entrepreneurship, the nation’s long-term economic growth depends on cutting-edge technology, manufacturing, and deep-tech sectors.

He directly addressed mentors from the popular show Shark Tank India and appealed to them to support sustainable and value-driven companies. “Aman Gupta, change your perspective in Shark Tank,” Goyal said.

He also questioned the tendency of startups to prioritise low-value goods and quick delivery services.

“Are we going to be happy being delivery boys and girls... Is that the destiny of India... this is not a startup; this is entrepreneurship... What other side is doing -- robotics, machine learning, 3D manufacturing, and next-generation factories,” he said.

Also Read:‘Caught On Video Conspiring To Create FALSE Fraud Claims’, Byju's Founder Alleges Amid Legal Woes

Startups Need to Focus on Deep-Tech Sectors

"Some people may criticise me for comparing Indian startups with another country's startup; I don't mind it; we have to be willing to evolve, we have to be willing to learn, we want to aspire to be bigger and better, and we have to be bolder," Union Minister Goyal said at the Start-up Mahakumbh event.

The minister further underscored the urgent need for India’s startup ecosystem to pivot towards high-tech sectors, including artificial intelligence, robotics, and deep-tech research.

He noted that global markets are increasingly being driven by technological advancements, and India must keep pace to remain competitive.

"Do we have to make ice cream or chips?" Minister Piyush Goyal asked.

He assured that the government will handhold and support those who face challenges in their startup journey, encouraging them to persevere and try again.

Highlighting the role of startups in making India a Viksit Bharat by 2047, he said the country will only get there if Indian startups innovate in robotics, machine learning, and automation and explore technologies like 3D printing to make manufacturing efficient.

Also Read: Indian Founders Launch An AI School With Apple Co-founder’s Tech Platform; Offer Students A Chance To Work With Silicon Valley Companies