Biography of Debjani Mukherjee: Founder & CEO of Nanighar -Entrepreneur
Nanighar: A Home-Cooked Meal Revolution on Shark Tank India
Debjani Mukherjee, a Kolkata-based entrepreneur and
marketing professional, is the visionary behind Nanighar. With an impressive
academic background, including an MBA from IIM Calcutta and studies at Wharton,
Symbiosis, and MICA, she combined her expertise with her passion for food. As a
mother of three, she understood the importance of home-cooked meals and the
emotional connection people have with them. This inspired her to establish
Nanighar in 2019, providing a platform for home chefs to earn money while
sharing their culinary skills with the world. Her contributions to the food
industry have earned her several accolades, including the prestigious Global 50
Glory Awards in 2021.
Nanighar’s Mission and Operations
Nanighar is a food-tech startup that connects customers with
home chefs, offering freshly prepared meals through its website and mobile app.
Operating with the motto “Ghar se dil tak” (From Home to Heart), the platform
aims to revive the authentic taste of homemade food while empowering home
cooks, particularly women. The service caters to those who miss the comfort of
home-cooked meals, providing high-quality, affordable dishes across various
cuisines. Whether for office lunches or family dinners, Nanighar ensures that
delicious, homemade meals are easily accessible.
The Founding Team and Their Commitment
Debjani Mukherjee co-founded Nanighar alongside Arijit
Chatterjee, sharing a common vision of creating an innovative, customer-centric
food delivery service. Their dedication to quality, innovation, and customer
satisfaction forms the foundation of Nanighar’s success. By offering a platform
where talented home chefs can showcase their skills, the startup fosters
entrepreneurship within households, enabling individuals to turn their passion
for cooking into a sustainable source of income.
Biography of Debjani Mukherjee: Founder & CEO of Nanighar -Entrepreneur# startup#age#net worth#investor#shark tank india#Nanighar story#Debjani M
Nanighar’s Pitch on Shark Tank India
Nanighar entered Shark Tank India: Season 4 seeking ₹1 crore
for a 5% stake, valuing their business at ₹20 crore. The founders passionately
presented their vision of empowering home chefs and delivering authentic
home-cooked meals to a wider audience. They emphasized the uniqueness of their
platform, which prioritizes the warmth and authenticity of home kitchens over
commercialized food delivery services. However, their pitch faced tough
scrutiny from the sharks, who questioned the financial viability of the
business.
Financial Struggles and Revenue Concerns
During the pitch, the founders shared their financial
performance, revealing gross sales of ₹64 lakhs between January and November
2024, up from ₹48 lakhs the previous year. However, the business was running at
a monthly loss of ₹1–1.2 lakh, with an annual loss of ₹25–26 lakhs. Their
projected full-year sales stood at just ₹6 lakhs. These numbers raised concerns
among the sharks, especially Anupam Mittal, who pointed out that the business
was struggling financially despite its noble mission.
Tough Questions and Critical Feedback
Kunal Bahl questioned why Nanighar had not partnered with
food delivery giants like Zomato and Swiggy. The founders explained that they
wanted to preserve Nanighar’s unique identity and avoid being overshadowed by
larger platforms. However, this response did not satisfy the sharks. Anupam
Mittal was particularly critical, questioning if the founders had excessive
funds to sustain losses. He warned that while women’s empowerment is a great
cause, it can only thrive if the business remains profitable.
The Sharks’ Suggestions and Declining Interest
Anupam Mittal strongly advised the founders to reconsider
their approach, stating that their current model was leading to unnecessary
financial losses. He suggested leveraging platforms like Zomato and Swiggy
rather than trying to compete with them. Kunal Bahl echoed this sentiment,
advising the founders to integrate their business with existing food delivery
services for better reach and sustainability. Vineeta Singh pointed out that
Kolkata might not be the best market for such a service and suggested expanding
to cities like Mumbai or Bangalore, where people are more willing to pay for
premium home-cooked meals.
No Deal, But Valuable Insights
Despite their passion and commitment, the Nanighar founders
failed to secure an investment. All five sharks—Anupam Mittal, Kunal Bahl,
Vineeta Singh, Namita Thapar, and Ritesh Agarwal—declined the offer. The sharks
believed that structural challenges in Nanighar’s business model made
profitability difficult. While acknowledging the emotional and cultural
significance of home-cooked meals, they were hesitant to invest in a venture
that was consistently operating at a loss.
Lessons Learned and Future Prospects
Although they left Shark Tank India without a deal, the
Nanighar team received crucial feedback that could help them refine their
strategy. The experience shed light on the importance of balancing passion with
financial sustainability. The suggestions from the sharks—such as expanding to
more lucrative markets and integrating with established delivery
platforms—could potentially help Nanighar scale its operations and achieve
profitability.
The Road Ahead for Nanighar
Nanighar remains a promising initiative with a noble
mission. While the challenges ahead are significant, the platform has the
potential to evolve and find innovative solutions to its current hurdles. With
the right strategy, market positioning, and business model adjustments,
Nanighar can continue empowering home chefs and bringing the taste of
home-cooked meals to more people across India. The Shark Tank experience,
although tough, provided valuable lessons that may ultimately guide the company
towards long-term success.
Timeline for story
2019 – Debjani Mukherjee founded Nanighar.
2021 – Won Global 50 Glory Awards.
2023 – Nanighar scaled operations, refining its platform.
Jan–Nov 2024 – Gross sales reached ₹64 lakhs.
2024 – Faced ₹25–26 lakh annual losses.
2025 – Pitched on Shark Tank India Season 4, seeking ₹1
crore for 5%.
2025 – Sharks declined investment, citing financial
struggles.
Future – Plans to refine business strategy and explore
growth opportunities.
