Skippi Ice Pops Update | Shark Tank India Season 1

Skippi Ice Pops is India’s first ice pop brand, founded by husband-and-wife duo Ravi and Anuja Kabra in 2020. Both founders have over a decade of experience in the FMCG sector in India and Australia, with Ravi holding a diploma in Business Management and Anuja having an MBA in Human Resources. The idea sparked when Anuja’s sister packed ice popsicles to bring from Australia to India, making them realize the gap in the market and the high nostalgia value the product carries. They found that parents needed a trustworthy brand and decided to launch without artificial flavors.

Skippi Ice Pops on Shark Tank India Season 1

Ravi and Anuja Kabra pitched on Shark Tank India Season 1, with their episode airing on December 27, 2021, featuring all five sharks: Ashneer Grover, Anupam Mittal, Aman Gupta, Vineeta Singh, and Namita Thapar.

Ask	Valuation	Deal	Season	Sharks Present
₹45 lakh for 5% equity	₹9 crore	Yes – ₹1 crore for 15% equity from all sharks	Season 1	Ashneer Grover, Anupam Mittal, Aman Gupta, Vineeta Singh, Namita Thapar

The Pitch

Ravi and Anuja noticed a major gap in the Indian market – while ice candies were popular among kids, they lacked hygiene, branding, and consistency. By creating 100% natural, preservative-free, and safe ice pops, they reintroduced a nostalgic product with a modern twist. Before appearing on Shark Tank, the company was generating monthly revenue of ₹4-5 lakhs and operated regionally. The duo had suffered losses of ₹11 lakh due to the pandemic-induced lockdown after investing nearly ₹55 lakh.

The ice pops are made using 100% natural colors and flavors with no artificial sweeteners or preservatives. A key innovation is that these ice pops are portable in liquid form at room temperature and can be frozen by customers in their freezers, eliminating cold-storage from the supply chain. The brand launched with six flavors: Cola, Lemon, Raspberry, Orange, Mango Twist, and Bubble Gum.

What the Sharks Said

Skippi created history by becoming the first brand on Shark Tank India to receive an All Shark Deal. All five sharks – Ashneer Grover, Anupam Mittal, Aman Gupta, Vineeta Singh, and Namita Thapar – were impressed by the pitch and product. Namita Thapar was particularly impressed by the founders’ drive, passion, and the fact that the ice pops didn’t need a cold chain and could be carried at room temperature.

Peyush Bansal was so impressed that he came on board as the sixth investor after the show, bumping up the total investment to ₹1.2 crore. The sharks collectively invested ₹1.2 crore for an 18% equity stake.

What Happened After

The brand experienced a 40x boost in revenue after Shark Tank, with monthly sales reaching ₹2-2.8 crore in 2022. The company had to process over 21,000 orders for online platforms overnight. The brand evolved from a regional manufacturer and distributor to an international exporter.

Skippi’s ice pops became available in over 1,500 outlets in Hyderabad and 8,000 outlets across the country, apart from Amazon and Flipkart. In August 2022, the brand launched Skippi freezer bikes, providing franchise opportunities. The company raised ₹10 crore in a Pre-Series A funding round co-led by Hyderabad Angel Network and Venture Catalysts in May 2024. In June 2025, Skippi raised an additional ₹12 crore in an extended pre-Series A funding round.

However, the success story took a turn. Skippi’s operating revenue plunged 59% to ₹8.2 crore in FY25 from ₹20 crore in the previous year. After rapid expansion to 14,000+ outlets following the Shark Tank hype, demand cooled, leaving distributors with unsold inventory. Employee benefit expenses fell to ₹5.3 crore in FY25 from ₹11.5 crore in FY24, indicating significant layoffs.

Current Status (2025)

The startup claims its business is back on track and envisions becoming a large category player, targeting ₹100-150 crore revenue in the next financial year. Skippi is focusing on metro cities in India and exploring international markets, with current shipments to the US, Australia, and New Zealand. The company plans to seek a Series A funding round of ₹30-50 crore by mid-2026.

Revenue (FY25)	Team Size	Funding Raised	Website