Summary
Highlights
The show Pitch Please introduces its concept: startups deliver 90-second elevator pitches to an esteemed panel. The panel consists of two corporate titans, Mohit Sadaani (founder of Mom's Co.) and Nitin Jain (IIT Delhi topper and investment banker), and two comedians, Pranav Sharma and RJ Kisna. The audience and panel vote on a scale of 1 to 10 for each startup.
Shailja Mittal from RxMen pitches her startup, highlighting the neglect of men's health issues like sleep and erectile dysfunction, which are often treated superficially. She emphasizes RxMen's system that addresses root causes through doctor consultations, lab tests, and personalized treatment plans, moving beyond quick fixes. The panel and audience discuss the taboo surrounding male sexual health and the digital, private nature of RxMen's consultations, which alleviates apprehension. The discovery call costs 99 rupees and involves certified sexual health counselors.
The discussion delves into RxMen's business model. The current monthly revenue is 75 lakhs (with a projected 1.25 crores by March 2026), but the company is currently at a -20% EBITDA, aiming for profitability by December. The startup explains their counselors are trained to use an AI-backed system to identify root causes. The panel questions the need for fundraising if profitability is near and the qualifications of their 'experts'.
The judges give high scores to RxMen, acknowledging the significant problem they are solving and the guts it takes to address male sexual health openly. Rahul Dua highlights the importance of sex education. The final pitch score for RxMen is 8.6, with judges averaging 9.5 and the audience 7.7.
The team from RiceKraft.com pitches their Korean skincare brand tailored for Indian skin. They argue that imported Korean products don't suit Indian climate and skin issues like pigmentation and high sebum production. RiceKraft offers an innovative solution, having sold over 35,000 units with a 4.4+ average rating. They seek 2 crore rupees for 10% equity at a 15 crore pre-money valuation and aim to address environmental concerns related to stubble burning.
The founders, with a background in product development for skincare brands, explain that RiceKraft utilizes unique formulations, like adding Fuller's Earth to a detan pack, to better suit Indian skin. Their products are manufactured in India, drawing inspiration from Korean ingredients. They announce an initiative to prevent 1 kg of stubble (parali) from being burned for every product sold, explaining various uses for stubble and the economic challenges farmers face in repurposing it.
A panelist raises a concern about environmental consciousness, questioning the presence of EDTA in their toner. The team explains their aspirational goal to innovate and address environmental issues at scale. They discuss their sales figures, with a last month's gross sale of 20 lakhs (12 lakhs GMV on Blinkit, 7 lakhs net sales), and a plan to expand product availability and invest in R&D to create truly innovative products not currently manufactured in India. They currently operate with 45 lakhs in combined investment and expect to be profitable by November.
The judges provide varied scores, with some acknowledging the passion and impact of the product, while others question the brand's story and market scalability. Nitin Jain emphasizes the need for a clearer brand story beyond 'try it and see.' The final pitch score for RiceKraft is 6.1, with judges averaging 6.58 and the audience 5.7.
Deepali Singh Parmar and Suraj present OGblend, a clean, herbal, nicotine-free blend made from flowers and herbs like rose, mullein, lavender, and spearmint. Designed for those looking to reduce or quit nicotine, it can be brewed as tea or rolled. Launched 70 days prior, they have seen good responses on Amazon and Shopify without ads. They seek 20 lakhs for 10% equity.
The panel tastes the product as tea, noting its pleasant taste. They clarify that it's nicotine-free and serves as a cigarette replacement, while also being consumable as a calming herbal tea. The founders explain the dual use of the blend and the benefits of herbs like mullein for lung health. They acknowledge competition but highlight their branding and consistency. They have a gross margin of 58-62% and plan to reduce manufacturing costs by 40% with bulk production.
The panel raises concerns about the target market and pricing, suggesting it might be expensive for some. They also question the market size for such a niche product. The founders explain their target audience is travelers, artists, and creators who value quality. The discussion touches on the legality and marketing of such a product, and the small funding request of 10-15 lakhs is deemed insufficient for marketing, retail expansion, and manufacturing at scale.
The judges give lower scores, citing concerns about market size, scalability, and the small funding ask. They advise the founders to potentially bootstrap or focus on slow growth through word-of-mouth. The final pitch score for OGblend is 5.7, with judges averaging 5.04 and the audience 6.5. The audience then votes for RxMen as the 'Pitcher of the Day'.