In Episode 2 of Shark Tank India Season 5, the startup EMOMEE presented a unique idea focused on children’s storytelling and emotional development. Founded by Varun Duggirala and Pooja Jauhari, the startup aims to build a global kids’ content ecosystem through short stories, characters, and interactive experiences.
The founders entered the tank seeking ₹1 crore for 2% equity, valuing the company at ₹50 crore. Eventually, the startup secured a deal of ₹2 crore for 4% equity from Aman Gupta and Namita Thapar, keeping the valuation close to ₹50 crore.
Startup Overview: EMOMEE
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Startup Name | EMOMEE |
| Founders | Varun Duggirala, Pooja Jauhari |
| Industry | Kids Edutainment / Children’s Content |
| Target Age | 3–8 years |
| Headquarters | Mumbai, India |
| Core Idea | Micro-story universe for children |
| Official Website | emomee.com |
EMOMEE focuses on teaching emotional intelligence and life skills to children through storytelling and play. The startup publishes short story content regularly and plans to expand into toys, experiences, and merchandise.
Idea Behind Emomee
EMOMEE is building what the founders call a micro-story universe where stories and characters help children learn emotional and social skills.
The company follows a “Screen → Stage → Shop” strategy.
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| Screen | YouTube storytelling content |
| Stage | Play areas and physical experiences |
| Shop | Toys and merchandise |
This model allows the startup to build strong intellectual property (IP) that can scale globally.
Founder’s Background
Pooja Jauhari
- Started working at the age of 15
- Became Marketing Manager at The Times of India
- Later became CEO of The Glitch, a digital agency
- Eventually served as Group CEO managing multiple agencies
Varun Duggirala
Varun is an entrepreneur and content strategist with strong experience in the creative industry. Before starting EMOMEE, both founders built and scaled the creative agency The Glitch, which was later acquired by WPP around 2017–2018.
The founders are also husband and wife, combining creative storytelling with business experience.
Read More: Latest Shark Tank Season 5 Episodes – All Details
Youtube Growth Journey
| Date | Subscribers |
|---|---|
| April 2025 | 1K |
| August 2025 | 1 Million |
| November 2025 | 1.5 Million |
This rapid growth shows strong demand for kids’ storytelling content on digital platforms.
Content Strategy of Emomee
The EMOMEE team uses a mix of creativity, data, and technology to build scalable content.
Key elements of their strategy include:
- relatable characters for kids
- AI-assisted content creation
- constant testing of content ideas
- combining human creativity with AI tools
Currently, the company focuses mainly on YouTube content distribution.
Business Model of Emomee
The startup currently earns revenue through brand collaborations and digital content partnerships.
Example mentioned during the pitch:
| Revenue Source | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand Collaborations | ₹6–15 lakh per video |
| Future Products | Toys, books, learning kits |
| Experiences | Play areas and interactive events |
The founders plan to expand into merchandise, licensing, and physical experiences once the brand ecosystem grows
COGs and Marketing Spend
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marketing Spend (Till Nov 2025) | ₹70 lakh |
| Marketing Spend (Oct 2025) | ₹1.5 lakh |
| Total Burn | ₹13 lakh |
Production Cost
| Stage | Cost per Video |
|---|---|
| Initial Production | ₹30K |
| November 2025 | ₹9K |
| Future Target | ₹1K |
The founders aim to reduce production costs significantly using AI tools and automation.
Funding History
Before appearing on the show, the startup had already raised funding.
| Date | Funding | Valuation |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 2024 | ₹8.3 crore | ₹42 crore |
The pre-seed round was backed by investors including Whiteboard Capital, Gruhas Collective, and DeVC.
Founder’s Equity Split
| Founder | Equity |
|---|---|
| Varun Duggirala | 21.5% |
| Pooja Jauhari | 57% |
| Others | 21.5% |
Shark Tank Season 5 Pitch, Ask, Offer, Counter & Final Deal for Emomee
Shark Tank Pitch
| Ask | Equity | Valuation |
|---|---|---|
| ₹1 Crore | 2% | ₹50 Crore |
During the discussion, multiple sharks showed interest in the startup.
Shark Offers
| Sharks | Offer |
|---|---|
| Aman Gupta, Mohit, Namita & Kunal | ₹1 crore for 9% |
| Anupam Mittal | ₹2 crore for 5% |
Anupam suggested the founders should build a global YouTube content brand similar to large kids’ channels and focus on building strong intellectual property.
Founder Counter Offer
| Funding | Equity | Investors |
|---|---|---|
| ₹2 crore | 4% | Aman Gupta & Namita Thapar |
The valuation remained around ₹50 crore.
Final Deal
After negotiations, the founders closed the deal with:
| Investors | Deal |
|---|---|
| Aman Gupta & Namita Thapar | ₹2 crore for 4% equity |
The deal valued EMOMEE at approximately ₹50 crore.
Conclusion
EMOMEE is building a children’s storytelling ecosystem that combines digital content, toys, and real-world experiences. With experienced founders from the creative industry and a fast-growing YouTube audience, the startup aims to create a global kids’ IP brand from India.
The pitch on Shark Tank India Season 5 demonstrated how storytelling, technology, and emotional learning can combine to create a scalable business in the children’s entertainment space.
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