Meet new Shark Tank India judge, who sold his house to fund startup, then built Rs 1000 crore empire, he is...

Shark Tank India returns for its fourth season, streaming exclusively on Sony Liv from January 6. This season welcomes a new judge, Viraj Bahl, the founder and managing director of Veeba Foods, who joins the panel alongside Aman Gupta, Anupam Mittal, Namita Thapar, Vineeta Singh, and Peyush Bansal.

Who is Viraj Bahl?

Viraj Bahl is a prominent figure in India’s FMCG sector, known for building Veeba Foods into a leading sauce manufacturer. His journey to success, however, was filled with challenges. Viraj’s passion for the food industry started early, inspired by his father’s factory and the Fun Foods stall in Aahar, Delhi. Although eager to join the family business, his father encouraged him to prove his financial independence first. Viraj pursued marine engineering at Singapore Polytechnic and secured a well-paying job in the merchant navy. By 2002, he earned his father’s approval by meeting the financial goal of a Rs 3 lakh monthly salary, which allowed him to join Fun Foods.

In 2008, Viraj faced a turning point when his father sold Fun Foods to Germany’s Dr. Oetker for Rs 110 crore. Viraj opposed the decision but channeled his disappointment into exploring new ventures. He entered the restaurant business with 'Pocket Full' in 2009, but despite his efforts, the business struggled and closed in 2013. In a bold move, Viraj and his wife sold their house to fund his next venture, Veeba Foods, which he founded in Neemrana, Rajasthan.

Veeba quickly gained recognition for its high-quality sauces and established itself as a leader in the industry. Today, Veeba Foods is projected to generate Rs 1,000 crore in revenue for 2023-24. Despite being privately held, the company’s success is driven by Viraj’s major stake and investor support.