The Neon Show Ganesh Balakrishnan on Shark Tank, Comeback of Flatheads and his Mantra for Entrepreneurship; Down But Not Out
In the recent episode of Shark Tank India which went viral, we saw Ganesh Balakrishnan, the Co-Founder of Flatheads Shoes, pitch his sustainable and ethically-made footwear brand to the Sharks.
Although Ganesh faced some initial skepticism from the Sharks, he didn't give up and continued to present his vision with confidence and determination.
And through his pitch, he made everyone realize that entrepreneurship is not only Unicorns, fundraisers, and large secondaries for the founders. It's mainly about the fight that goes on within an individual and with the outside world.
Ganesh's tenacity and perseverance in the face of rejection are an inspiration to all entrepreneurs, and his story is a reminder that success doesn't come easy and entrepreneurship is a long journey.
In this episode, we talk to Ganesh about his journey as an entrepreneur, the inspiration behind Flatheads Shoes, and the challenges he's faced along the way.
Listen to the full episode to learn more about Ganesh’s new Mantra for Entrepreneurship "Down but not out"
Notes -
01:22 - Intro to Ganesh
02:42 - Getting into Shark Tank
05:02 - What happened once the episode aired?
07:32 - The Joy of Creation
14:12 - Emotional Journey with family as an Entrepreneur
20:51 - Impact of Covid on Flatheads
28:44 - What’s next for Flatheads?
33:15 - Pandemic-driven thought process: Offline vs Online
35:28 - What else was discussed in the Shark Tank pitch that wasn’t aired?
38:12 - Why didn't he take the Shark Tank offer?
39:45 - What brings humility to an entrepreneur?
43:50 - Knowing what he got to know after Shark Tank, what would he have done differently in Flatheads' journey?
47:11 - His focus in 2023