In 2021, Shark Tank made its debut in India, offering a platform for diverse entrepreneurs. Rare Planet, India’s largest airport retailer, emerged as a standout success story. Securing a deal on the show led to a landmark achievement with a 3.5x return on investment for a Shark. Founded by Ranodeep Saha during his BTech and later joined by Vijaya Kumar TR, Rare Planet’s success underscores the opportunities Shark Tank India provides for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Ranodeep Saha and co-founder Vijaya Kumar TR’s impressive pitch in Season 1 caught the attention of the sharks, particularly Namita Thapar, who independently invested in the company due to its social responsibility commitment. Within two years, Rare Planet saw significant growth, with a 5x increase in revenue and double-digit PAT profit.

Namita Thapar was impressed by Rare Planet’s revenue growth and its impact on over 10,000 artisans. Since Namita’s initial investment and their appearance on Shark Tank India 1, Rare Planet expanded its footprint by 12x, operating in over 37 airports with 50 stores nationwide. They introduced Rare Planet Luxe, a luxury format, and SITARA, an Indian Fashion Accessories brand, across multiple airports, with plans to extend further into new airports. They also launched brand 2M Minimart for Convenience Retail format across Tier 2 airports.

Rare Planet’s airport retail stores offer over 10,000 unique handcrafted items, including mugs, copper bottles, Kulhads, stationery, jewellery, and accessories, crafted by over 10,000 local artisans, most of whom are women. Beyond promoting artistic endeavors, Rare Planet actively contributes to the education funds for the children of these artisans, resulting in over 8,000 artisans experiencing a substantial 180% increase in income and enabling the education of over 1,000 children.