A startup founder, previously criticised by Ashneer Grover for inconsistency on Shark Tank India, secures Rs 9.25 crore in funding.

The individual rebuked by the former Shark in the episode was Slay Lavas, founder and CEO of an innerwear brand named ''Bummer''. The brand gained attention recently by securing $1.1 million (Rs 9.25 crore) in funding from the Nikhil Kamath-led fund associated with Zerodha.

In the episode of the first season of Shark Tank India, Ashneer Grover famously used the phrase "Doglapan" (I will expose your duplicity) towards the startup founder. This phrase gained such prominence that Grover titled his autobiography after it.

Despite facing criticism from Grover on national television, Lavas received a deal from other Sharks, Aman Gupta and Namita Thapar, in the same episode. The Shark duo acquired 7.5 percent equity in the innerwear brand for Rs 75 lakh. Bummer has since experienced significant growth, and if we assess the 7.5 percent equity at the current market value, it has increased to over Rs 13 crore.

Over the past 18 months alone, the brand has multiplied its sales by 18 times. Last year, Namita praised Lavas for the substantial growth of the company in a post on Twitter.

Founded in 2020 by Lavas, the brand raised $1.1 million (Rs 9.25 crore) in funding under the Pre-Series A1 funding round led by the Gruhas Collective Consumer Fund, managed by Kamath.

Namita provided a business update regarding Bummer's annual sales in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) last year. Sharing a photo with Bummer's founder and CEO, Lavas, Namita stated, "As sharks, it all comes down to taking a bet on the founder. Today I met Slay of Bummer, he’s one founder who won my heart with his negotiation skills & poise. He was at 60 lakhs annual sales when he pitched & today he’s exited FY 23 at 11 cr with current MRR of around 2 cr!" This unexpected growth of the brand may have come as a surprise to Grover during the pitch.