Introduction
Zorko is a rapidly growing affordable vegetarian fast-food chain in India, offering a franchise model to help people easily start their food businesses. Zorko entered the Quick Service restaurant business during the COVID-19 period and later introduced a franchise model after successfully overcoming various challenges. Key points about their franchise model include no royalty or profit-sharing, in-house production of sauces and syrups, and a chef-less kitchen model with low investment. Like Zorko, if you want to start your food business then you can also enroll in the cooking course at Alippo.
| Startup | Zorko |
| Founder | Amrit Nahar and Anand Nahar |
| Ask | ₹ 1.5 Crores for 1% equity |
| Final Deal | No Deal |
| Shark Onborded | No Deal |
All About the Pitch
The co-founders, Amrit Nahar and Anand Nahar shared their journey on Shark Tank India season 3, highlighting their growth from one outlet to over 150 outlets in 42 cities and villages. They serve over 80 affordable food items.
The founder sought INR 1.5 Crores for a 1% stake at a valuation of INR 150 Crores. Following the pitch, they treated the Sharks to delectable dishes, sparking positive reactions. Subsequent discussions revealed Ritesh Agarwal's interest in their journey and OYO investment, Peyush Bansal's inquiries into business details, Vineeta Singh's admiration for the founders but scepticism about the business model, and Anupam Mittal's opting out due to uncertainties about their processes and future growth.
Takeaways from the Pitch
From Amrit Nahar and Anand Nahar's pitch on Shark Tank India, we can learn several skills:
1. Effective Communication: The founders demonstrated clear and effective communication, presenting details about their business growth and franchise model concisely and engagingly.
2. Resilience and Adaptability: Starting their business during the challenging COVID-19 period reflects resilience. Adapting to various challenges and evolving their model to a successful franchise system showcases adaptability.
3. Business Knowledge: Responding confidently to questions about their journey, business model, franchise fees, and profit margins indicates a deep understanding of their industry and business.
4. Energetic Pitching: The founders maintained an energetic and positive attitude during their pitch, creating a favourable impression and keeping the audience engaged.
5. Networking and Relationship Building: Mentioning Ritesh Agarwal's interest in OYO rooms demonstrates an understanding of networking and building connections, which is crucial in business.
6. Product Presentation: Serving delicious food items to the Sharks showcased their product in action, leaving a memorable impression and emphasizing the quality of their offerings.
7. Negotiation Skills: Despite not closing the deal, the founders navigated negotiations with potential investors, showcasing negotiation skills and business acumen.
8. Transparency: Being open about their business challenges and growth journey demonstrates transparency, an essential quality in building trust with potential investors.
Overall, their pitch showcased a combination of communication, resilience, business knowledge, and interpersonal skills that contribute to a successful entrepreneurial endeavour.
