In an unfortunate turn of events, Manjeet Singh, co-founder of the Pune-based wellness and fitness startup FlexifyMe, recently shared his harrowing experience on LinkedIn, detailing how what initially seemed like a dream come true transformed into a nightmare for him and his team. Their troubles began just 30 days after their appearance on the popular business reality show, Shark Tank India.
Singh described the situation as a rollercoaster ride, where the excitement of being featured on national television quickly turned into despair when their Instagram account was unexpectedly blocked. The reason? Alleged logo infringement and other copyright violations, reportedly flagged by Sony, the production company behind Shark Tank India.
Expressing his disbelief and frustration, Singh explained that their social media presence, which had seen a tremendous surge in engagement following their television debut, came crashing down overnight. Despite their best efforts to resolve the issue, including writing apology emails to Sony Pictures Entertainment, Shark Tank India, and Meta teams, they received no response.
The repercussions of the Instagram account block were severe for FlexifyMe. Their advertising account was also suspended, leading to a significant drop in revenue and a worrying decline in organic traffic. With their online visibility dwindling, the once-promising startup found itself struggling to meet its targets and retain clients, whose confidence waned due to the absence of a social media presence.
The irony of the situation wasn't lost on Singh, who reflected on the irony of their Shark Tank India success resulting in such dire consequences. Despite securing ₹1 crore in funding on the show and experiencing a surge in traffic and leads, the startup now faced an uphill battle to salvage its reputation and business operations.
As Singh and his team continue to navigate this challenging ordeal, their story serves as a cautionary tale for aspiring entrepreneurs about the unforeseen challenges that can arise, even in the wake of apparent success on a platform as prestigious as Shark Tank India.
