# Rimigo Said No to Anupam Mittal — And the Internet Is Talking About It

URL: https://technosports.co.in/rimigo-said-no-to-anupam-mittal/  
Published: 2026-03-05  
Updated: 2026-03-05  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

Not every founder walks into the Tank wanting to please everyone. The founders of **Rimigo**, a Bengaluru-based AI-powered travel-tech startup, made headlines on **Shark Tank India Season 5** by doing something few entrepreneurs dare — they turned down Anupam Mittal and closed a deal with newcomer Shark Shaily Mehrotra instead. Bold, deliberate, and unapologetically strategic. This is the kind of pitch moment that makes Shark Tank India unmissable.

[Shark Tank India Season 5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shark_Tank_India_season_5), which premiered on January 5, 2026, on Sony LIV and Sony Entertainment Television, features 13 Sharks this season including five new faces — Shaily Mehrotra (FixDerma), Varun Alagh (Mamaearth), Mohit Yadav (Minimalist), Kanika Tekriwal (JetSetGo), and Hardik Kothiya (Rayzon Solar) — with Aditya Kulshrestha as host.

## Rimigo on Shark Tank India 5 — Deal Breakdown

| 📋 Detail | ℹ️ Info |
| --- | --- |
| 🏢 Startup | Rimigo |
| 📍 Based In | Bengaluru, India |
| 🧠 Category | AI Travel-Tech / Collaborative Trip Planning |
| 👥 Founders | Sahil Sharma, Shubham Chintalwar & Aditya Shirole |
| 💼 Ask | ₹1 Crore for 1% equity (₹100 Cr valuation) |
| ✅ Deal Closed | ₹1 Crore for 1.5% equity |
| 🦈 Shark Who Invested | Shaily Mehrotra (FixDerma) |
| 📊 Post-Deal Valuation | ₹66.67 Crore |
| ❌ Shark Rejected | Anupam Mittal |
| 📺 Platform | Sony LIV / Sony Entertainment Television |

## What Is Rimigo and Why Did the Sharks Care?

Rimigo isn’t your typical travel app. The platform combines **AI-driven personalisation, collaborative itinerary building, and curated travel insights** to simplify international trip planning — particularly for groups. Think of it as a smart travel companion that eliminates the chaos of WhatsApp planning threads and scattered booking tabs.

The founders came in with serious credibility too. They had previously built and sold a company to **PhonePe**, giving them founder pedigree that immediately caught the Sharks’ attention. However, the panel also grilled them hard — pointing out their limited knowledge of competitors and flagging that parts of the pitch felt rehearsed rather than authentic. It was a tense room.

![](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Rimsoso.avif)

## Why They Rejected Anupam Mittal

Anupam Mittal, the Shaadi.com founder and one of the most experienced Sharks in the Tank, made an offer — but Rimigo’s founders didn’t bite. The founders reportedly found Shaily Mehrotra’s offer and mentorship profile a better strategic fit for their growth trajectory. As a founder who built FixDerma over 15 years from scratch into a leading dermatology skincare brand, Mehrotra brings deep D2C brand-building expertise and a founder-first investment philosophy.

Mehrotra has previously said she looks for founders with conviction, honesty about challenges, and a readiness to do the real work. Rimigo’s founders clearly impressed her enough to bridge the gap between their ₹100 crore ask valuation and the deal’s final ₹66.67 crore post-money valuation.

## A New Shark Making Big Moves

Shaily Mehrotra’s investment in Rimigo is exactly the kind of moment Season 5 was designed to deliver — a new Shark with a distinct lens proving her value in the Tank. With a net worth of approximately ₹120 crore and 15 years of brand-building experience, Mehrotra is fast establishing herself as one of the most thoughtful investors on the panel this season.

For more Shark Tank India Season 5 episode recaps, startup pitch breakdowns, and deal analysis, visit [TechnoSports Entertainment & Business](https://technosports.co.in/category/entertainment/) — updated after every episode. Also check out [TechnoSports for the latest Indian startup and business news](https://technosports.co.in) all season long.

## FAQs

### **Q: How much did Rimigo raise on Shark Tank India Season 5 and at what valuation?**

Rimigo secured ₹1 crore for 1.5% equity from Shark Shaily Mehrotra, giving the Bengaluru-based AI travel-tech startup a post-deal valuation of ₹66.67 crore on Season 5.

### **Q: Who is Shaily Mehrotra and why is she on Shark Tank India Season 5?**

Shaily Mehrotra is the Founder and CEO of FixDerma, a leading dermatology skincare brand she built over 15 years — she joined Shark Tank India Season 5 as one of five new Sharks, bringing deep D2C and consumer brand expertise to the panel.