Jeevika Tyagi, the co-founder and CEO of athleisure startup Aastey, has publicly criticized Shark Tank India judge Namita Thapar for her remarks about the company’s marketing expenditure. Tyagi took to Instagram to post a video that includes a segment of the show titled “Celebrating Entrepreneurial Breakthroughs” where Thapar is seen expressing a lack of interest due to Aastey’s alleged irresponsible spending. Namita is the Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals in India.
In the Instagram video, Tyagi reveals that the broadcasted episode on Sony had certain sections omitted, specifically around a theme titled “Is this financial indiscipline?”. Tyagi alleges that removed content discussed the startup’s expenditure on inventory, business operations, and manpower cost.
Aastey, a women’s athleisure brand that promotes inclusivity and caters to a variety of body types, was founded by Tyagi and Kanupriya Mundhra during the 2020 lockdown. They spent over a year researching, developing, and importing their products to India at affordable prices. Aastey’s product offerings include sports bras and leggings available in 16 different sizes.
In early 2022, Aastey secured 10 crore in seed funding from CXXO, a Kalaari Capital initiative. This cash injection was intended to bolster the brand’s supply chain and lay the groundwork for marketing endeavours. Tyagi has expressed her concern for the saturated athleisure market in India and emphasizes a need for focus on sustainability. She believes there is significant demand for quality athleisure wear in India and a deficit in domestic supply.
Aastey’s mission, as stated on its website, is to abolish biases and stereotypes faced by women, while also being committed to a positive environmental impact.
