OYO CEO Ritesh Agarwal Shares Insights on Shark Tank India Journey

Ritesh Agarwal, the founder and CEO of OYO Rooms, has recently joined Shark Tank India 3 as its youngest shark. In an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times, Agarwal shared his journey so far on the show and described it as ‘fascinating.’ The show portrays entrepreneurship as an appreciated art and skill, and Agarwal expressed his gratitude for the feedback and experience gained from fellow co-Sharks Amit Jain, Vinita Singh, Namita Thapar, and Piyush Bansal.

As an entrepreneur accustomed to taking time in making decisions, Agarwal highlighted the challenge of instant decision-making in Shark Tank India. He compared it to mental jogging, as judges have to quickly evaluate pitches and ask the right questions before making investment decisions. Regardless of investing or not, the Sharks’ main focus remains on adding value to the entrepreneurs and helping them grow.

Agarwal clarified that the show is not scripted and reflects the real interactions between the Sharks and entrepreneurs. He personally experiences the pitch for the first time when the door opens, just like the viewers. Transparency in startup investments is essential for Agarwal, as he wants to communicate openly about the decisions made and any changes that may occur. By providing high transparency, Agarwal aims to generate more excitement among founders and investors.

OYO Rooms, founded by Ritesh Agarwal at the age of 24 in 2013, has transformed the hospitality sector and brought affordable hotel accommodations to a national scale. The company draws inspiration from the successful American venture Airbnb. Although OYO has faced controversies, its commitment to quality and affordability remains.