Online book marketplace NearBook appeared on Shark Tank India Season 4, Episode 31 and successfully secured a ₹40 lakh investment.
Founded by Sanjay Kumar, the startup is a platform designed to connect book lovers by enabling the buying, selling, and renting of books.
The app offers thousands of books across various genres, formats, and languages, catering to readers with different preferences and budgets.
Sanjay Kumar entered the tank seeking ₹40 lakh for 20% equity, valuing NearBook at ₹2 crore.
During his pitch, he emphasized the platform’s mission to make books more accessible and affordable while fostering a strong community of readers.
While his vision, confidence, and the platform’s potential impressed the sharks, they identified several shortcomings, leading all five investors to initially withdraw from making an offer.
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As Sanjay prepared to leave without a deal, Anupam Mittal asked him to wait. Reflecting on his own journey, Mittal shared how he started at 13 without a mentor and faced numerous challenges.
Seeing a reflection of his younger self in Sanjay, he decided to offer the exact deal Sanjay had asked for.
Following discussions, Sanjay secured an investment from Anupam Mittal—₹40 lakh for 20% equity, aligning with the startup’s initial valuation of ₹2 crore.
Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Jaipur, NearBook operates in the education sector, simplifying book exchanges and promoting the culture of reading.
The platform serves as a one-stop solution for buying, selling, and renting both old and new books.
After securing the deal, Sanjay shared that he had hoped to strike a deal with Anupam Mittal. Expressing his emotions, Mittal said, “This is more for me than you. Main poori raat so nahi pata, agar mein ye offer nahi karta.”
