The latest episode of Shark Tank India Season 4 sparked heated debates as business and finance influencer Vijay Nihalchandani presented his app, Make My Payment. Designed to send automated reminders to defaulting debtors, the pitch drew a wide range of reactions from the panel of sharks: Anupam Mittal, Namita Thapar, Aman Gupta, Peyush Bansal, and Ritesh Agarwal.
Accompanied by his wife, brother, and business partner, Vijay’s pitch turned into one of the season’s most polarizing moments, raising questions about the app’s feasibility and sparking lively discussion among the sharks.
The Pitch: A Money Recovery App with a Twist
Vijay’s app, Make My Payment, seeks to tackle a common problem—recovering unpaid debts—by sending automated reminders to defaulters. While the concept sounded straightforward, it raised skepticism among the sharks.
Namita Thapar questioned the app’s effectiveness, pointing out that defaulters could easily ignore or block automated calls. Vijay’s wife countered by explaining that the app could repeatedly make calls from different numbers, but this sparked further doubt. Anupam Mittal couldn’t contain his reaction, letting out a sarcastic laugh that set the tone for the rest of the pitch.
An Influencer’s Side Hustle
A curious twist in the pitch came when Aman Gupta asked Vijay about his other ventures. Vijay revealed that he’s an Instagram influencer with over 1 million followers and also runs a profitable hotel bookings business.
This led to Peyush Bansal asking about Vijay’s earnings through Instagram. When Vijay revealed he makes around ₹5 lakh per month, Peyush expressed mild surprise, suggesting it was a modest income for an influencer with such a large following. Namita, however, dismissed the figure entirely, urging Vijay to “stop this business and focus on something more meaningful.”
Sharks’ Reactions: Divided Opinions
The Make My Payment founders walked away without securing any investment. Namita and Anupam were blunt in their feedback, with Namita emphasizing the importance of educating founders about viable business opportunities. Anupam added, “This is not a business. Get serious.”
However, after the pitch concluded, the debate among the sharks escalated. Namita accused Peyush of “cheerleading” Vijay’s influencer success rather than evaluating the business potential of the app. Peyush defended himself, saying he admired Vijay’s ability to attract a large audience, which is no small feat. Anupam retorted, “If it’s so impressive, why didn’t you invest?”
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A Lesson in Business Viability
The episode highlighted a critical takeaway: having a unique idea or personal success doesn’t necessarily translate into a scalable business model. While Vijay’s accomplishments as an influencer and entrepreneur are noteworthy, the panel unanimously agreed that Make My Payment lacked a strong foundation.
What’s Next for Vijay Nihalchandani?
Despite leaving without a deal, Vijay’s appearance has likely amplified his visibility as both an influencer and entrepreneur. While the sharks dismissed the app’s business potential, Vijay’s journey highlights the challenges of blending technology with practical solutions in the finance space.