Kanika Tekriwal battled cancer at 22, set up Rs 420-cr ‘Uber for skies’, says she came ‘unprepared’ to Shark Tank India
Shark Tank India 5: In an exclusive interview, Kanika Tekriwal recalls her first experience on Shark Tank, and how her approach to business and overcoming odds helped her on the show too.
JetSetGo’s founder, Kanika Tekriwal, is making her Shark Tank India debut this season. Having built her brand at a time she was dealing with cancer at the age of 22 into a dream today, Kanika has certainly earned the sobriquet of ‘queen of the skies’. JetSetGo was India’s first provider for private jets and helicopter charters, which landed her a spot on the Hurun List as India’s youngest self-made woman entrepreneur and today has a net worth of Rs 420 crores.
Now, as the youngest ‘Shark’ on Shark Tank India 5, she spoke in an exclusive conversation with SCREEN about her first day in the tank that was all about gut instinct and no set strategy. Calling her first pitch the worst one, Kanika also shared how a fellow ‘Shark’ told her not to be terrified of them. She said while she came in ‘unprepared’, that also became her strength — just like in her high-flying business.
Recalling her very first day on Shark Tank India 5, Kanika said, “I didn’t know what I signed up for. I came very unprepared. I am not used to talking in Hindi, and this is primarily a Hindi show, so it took me some time to translate what was going on (in the Tank) in my head, but by then the offers were gone, and the pitch was about to end. That was my initial experience. My first pitch was the worst pitch ever. I think the producer must be thinking why did they bring me on board. I didn’t even open my mouth. By the time I would think of something to say, the pitch was finished. We have human computers like Vineeta and Anupam. By the time I would write the numbers, they would already have processed them. So, I learnt on the tank as we went ahead.”
‘I have been a bit of a misfit all my life…’
At the age of 21, a young girl decided to step into a very niche market. She invested Rs 5600, only to see it grow into hundreds of crores. Facing doubts from investors to being asked, ‘Tumhaari shaadi karaadi to kya hoga’, Kanika went on to build something big. Looking back at her entrepreneurial journey, Kaniks shared the approach she will have in the tank and said, “I always go by instinct, and I think crazy entrepreneurs make things that don’t work, work. So it’s always been about whether the entrepreneur seems fine, so I go ahead.”
She further added, “I started working in an industry where everyone said it had no market size, who would use it? When I went to big funds, they told me, ‘Are you crazy? What’s the market size?’ I don’t think I have gone by any trend, which is how regular investing works; I have been a bit of a misfit all my life. I like to go down the path not taken, of course, I wouldn’t do things that are borderline illegal, so I fit in at least somewhere.”
Battling cancer inspired Kanika Tekriwal’s entrepreneurial journey
Kanika was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer, when she was 22. But what was the biggest challenge of her life also helped her strong enough to face anything. “Cancer inspired JetSetGo’s manifestation,” she earlier told Rediff. “Cancer made me a strong person ready to face any challenge. My brief yet very real brush with the concept of mortality led me to the idea that this life, that we are so miraculously granted, is to be used for dreaming bigger and achieving more. I spent my eight months of treatment analysing, planning, and structuring my vision, and I made it happen.”
Kanika Tekriwal’s success story
From the age of 4, Kanika’s fascination with planes began. The girl who once aspired to become a pilot didn’t give up on her dreams to work in the aviation sector despite her family rejecting her dream. At the age of 21, in 2014, Kanika brought her revolutionary idea into reality and started JetSetGo – India’s first transparent marketplace for private aviation. By putting in an initial investment of Rs 5600, Kanika tried to gather capital by raising funds, but many doors were shut in her face. Having gone through her share of ups and downs, today Kanika has built a company that has handled over 100,000 passengers, operated more than 6,000 flights, and manages one of India’s largest fleets of private jets, with nine private planes and two helicopters.
Kanika’s net worth is estimated at over Rs 420 crore, and she was earlier listed among the youngest richest women on the Hurun Rich List. Her company, JetSetGo, has handled over 100,000 passengers and operated more than 6,000 flights, managing one of India’s largest fleets of private jets, with nine private planes and two helicopters under its wing.
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Kanika Tekriwal will be seen as a judge on Shark Tank India 5, the show streams on Sony TV and Sony Liv from tonight at 8 pm from Monday to Friday.
Nawaz Javed Kochra is a seasoned entertainment journalist at The Indian Express Online, bringing nearly a decade of expertise to the forefront of cultural reporting. With a focus on the television and Over-The-Top (OTT) landscapes, he has established himself as a prominent voice in the industry, known for his high-profile celebrity interviews and insightful coverage of the Indian entertainment sector.
Experience & Career
Nawaz holds a Master of Arts in Communication and Journalism from Mumbai University, providing him with a rigorous academic and ethical foundation. In his 11-year career, he has navigated through several of India's leading media houses, building a portfolio that spans digital, print, and broadcast media:
The Indian Express: Currently leads coverage of TV and OTT content, producing both written analysis and popular video interview segments.
Former Roles: He began his career at the iconic Stardust Magazine and later held key positions at Zoom TV, Zee Multimedia, MissMalini, Bollywood Bubble, and Raindrop Media.
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Nawaz’s beat is characterized by a blend of exclusive access and trend analysis. His core areas of expertise include:
Reality Television: Specialized coverage of major franchises like Bigg Boss, providing behind-the-scenes insights and winner profiles.
OTT Ecosystem: Tracking the shift from traditional cable to digital streaming platforms, with a focus on web series and digital premieres.
Celebrity Profiles & Interviews: Nawaz is celebrated for his ability to foster candid conversations with industry stalwarts, from music composers like Amaal Mallik to other TV legends.
Investigative Entertainment News: Reporting on sensitive industry developments, including legal disputes and personal stories of resilience within the acting community.
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With a reputation built on years of networking and credible reporting, Nawaz Kochra is a "known face" in the Mumbai media circuit. His work at The Indian Express adheres to the publication's "Journalism of Courage" standard, ensuring that even entertainment reporting is approached with accuracy, sensitivity, and transparency. His educational background and extensive tenure across diverse media platforms provide him with the authoritative perspective required to analyze the rapid evolution of Indian show business. ... Read More
Kanika Tekriwal calls OG 'Sharks' Anupam Mittal, Vineeta Singh human computers. (Photos: Anupam Mittal, Vineeta Singh / Instagram, YouTube Screengrab)