Excerpt Introduction:
In 2022, The Yarn Bazaar pitched on Shark Tank India, seeking ₹50 lakh. Today, it’s a ₹400 crore+ B2B managed marketplace transforming India’s textile industry with real-time pricing, logistics, and zero payment defaults under the vision of Pratik Gadia.
Introduction: A Shark Tank Pitch That Transformed an Industry
Picture this: Season 1, Episode 13 of Shark Tank India, early 2022.
A young yet seasoned textile entrepreneur, Pratik Gadia, steps onto the stage, pitching a bold vision: to digitize India’s fragmented yarn trade through a transparent, tech-enabled B2B marketplace.
His ask? ₹50 lakhs for 2% equity (valuing the company at ₹25 crore).
What he walked away with? ₹1 crore for 10% equity (~₹10 crore valuation) from all four sharks—Ashneer Grover, Peyush Bansal, Aman Gupta, and Anupam Mittal.
That was the beginning of The Yarn Bazaar’s journey to becoming India’s trusted yarn trading platform, connecting buyers and sellers across the country with real-time pricing, logistics, financing, and expert support.
Today, The Yarn Bazaar is a textile-tech leader facilitating ₹400 crore+ in transactions, with a reputation for transparency, zero payment defaults, and industry-changing impact.
How The Yarn Bazaar Works: A Managed B2B Marketplace
The yarn trade in India was historically opaque, fragmented, and relationship-based, often leaving small manufacturers and weavers at a disadvantage.
In simple terms, The Yarn Bazaar makes yarn trading as easy as ordering on Amazon—except it’s B2B, high-value, and impact-driven.
The Numbers: Scaling the Textile Trade
- Processed over 1,300 orders with zero payment defaults.
- Facilitated ₹212–370 crore in B2B trades (growing to over ₹400 crore+ by late 2023).
- Handles an average monthly order volume of ~₹10 crore, generating ~₹15 lakh in commission revenue.
- Maintains a commission margin of 0.5–1.5% per transaction.
- Grown to a team of 30+, with 1,000+ registered users (500 buyers, 300 sellers).
Funding and Investor Confidence
The Shark Tank Deal:
- Ask: ₹50 lakhs for 2% equity.
- Deal Closed: ₹1 crore for 10% equity (~₹10 crore valuation).
- Sharks Involved: Ashneer Grover, Peyush Bansal, Aman Gupta, Anupam Mittal.
Post-Shark Tank Growth:
In June 2023, The Yarn Bazaar closed a ₹15 crore pre-Series A round from Rajiv Dadlani Group and Equanimity Ventures.
Total funding to date: $1.97 million (₹16 crore across rounds).
Notable supporters include:
- Ashneer Grover (ex-BharatPe)
- Peyush Bansal (Lenskart)
- Aman Gupta (boAt)
- Anupam Mittal (Shaadi.com)
- Rajiv Dadlani Group
- Equanimity Ventures
- Industry luminaries like Ekta Kapoor and Ritesh Malik.
This heavyweight investor backing underscores confidence in The Yarn Bazaar’s vision and execution.
Why The Yarn Bazaar Stands Out
✅ Zero Payment Defaults
In an industry notorious for delayed payments and disputes, The Yarn Bazaar has maintained a 100% payment track record across 1,300+ orders.
✅ Market Trust and Transparency
Sellers get fair prices; buyers get clarity on quality and rates. No backroom negotiations, no undercutting.
✅ Tech-Led Operations
The Yarn Bazaar leverages its managed marketplace platform to ensure order tracking, quality control, and seamless transactions.
Community and Industry Impact
On Reddit, The Yarn Bazaar is frequently cited as one of Shark Tank India’s most impactful pitches, praised for:
“Industry clarity, professionalism, and a pitch that actually solves a large problem.”
Textile manufacturers, weavers, and small businesses now have a level playing field thanks to this platform.
Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
Challenges:
- Managing logistics across diverse geographies with varying transport infrastructure.
- Educating traditional players on digital adoption.
Opportunities:
- India’s textile industry is a $150 billion+ market, ripe for digital disruption.
- Potential expansion into international B2B trade with trusted Indian suppliers.
- Building advanced analytics and AI-driven pricing tools for smarter trade decisions.
- Enabling green yarn sourcing for environmentally conscious manufacturers.
Lessons for Founders from The Yarn Bazaar’s Journey
Focus on Impact: By helping SMEs grow, The Yarn Bazaar creates a ripple effect across the industry.
Technology is the Enabler, Not the Hero: The Yarn Bazaar uses tech to facilitate human-led trade, not replace it.
What’s Next for The Yarn Bazaar?
Pratik and his team are on a mission to scale The Yarn Bazaar into India’s leading digital textile trade network, empowering every weaver and manufacturer to trade with trust, efficiency, and fairness.
With investor support, strong market traction, and a clear operational playbook, The Yarn Bazaar is poised to transform the textile sector, making yarn trading transparent, digital, and scalable.
Interesting External Links for Deeper Insights
FAQs About The Yarn Bazaar
1️⃣Who founded The Yarn Bazaar?
The Yarn Bazaar was founded by Pratik Gadia, a veteran from the textile industry, in July 2019.
2️⃣ What does The Yarn Bazaar do?
It is a managed B2B marketplace connecting yarn buyers and sellers with transparent pricing, logistics, trade financing, and expert support.
3️⃣ How much funding has The Yarn Bazaar raised?
It has raised approximately ₹16 crore across funding rounds, including investments from Shark Tank India, Rajiv Dadlani Group, and Equanimity Ventures.
4️⃣ How much trade has The Yarn Bazaar facilitated?
It has facilitated ₹400 crore+ in total transactions with zero payment defaults.
5️⃣ Why is The Yarn Bazaar important for India’s textile industry?
It is digitizing and bringing transparency to the yarn trade, empowering SMEs and weavers to access fair prices and efficient logistics, thereby transforming India’s textile sector.
Ready to Trade Smarter?
If you’re in the textile business or looking to learn from one of Shark Tank India’s most impactful startups, keep an eye on The Yarn Bazaar.
They’re not just trading yarn; they’re weaving trust, transparency, and technology into the fabric of India’s textile industry.
FOR MORE BLOGS – beyondthepunchlines.com
Author: Team BTP
Add to favorites
