Jaipur | Rajshree Upadhyaya | By launching Emomee in 2023, founders Varun Duggirala and Pooja Jauhari established a unique identity in the children’s learning space. When they appeared on Shark Tank India with Emomee, they brought much more than just a children’s startup idea. Both founders were already well-known names in India’s advertising and creative industry.
Varun was recognized as the co-founder of one of India’s leading digital agencies, The Glitch, while Pooja Jauhari played a significant leadership role in growing the company before it was acquired by WPP. After spending years building campaigns and brands for major companies, the couple’s perspective changed when they became parents. That personal transformation became the foundation of Emomee, a Mumbai-based startup launched in 2023. The founders realized that while schools focus heavily on academics and IQ, children often receive very little guidance in emotional intelligence, communication, empathy, resilience, and confidence. They wanted to create a platform where children could naturally learn life skills through engaging stories and relatable characters rather than traditional classroom teaching.
This vision led to the creation of Emomee, which positions itself as a “big skills brand for little kids.” The company focuses on storytelling content, emotional intelligence learning tools, educational toys, books, and interactive learning products designed primarily for children aged three years and above. Unlike many traditional children’s brands, Emomee adopted a digital-first growth strategy from the beginning. The founders placed significant emphasis on YouTube and short-form storytelling, consistently releasing fresh content to build engagement among young audiences and parents. Their rapid content experimentation and platform-first distribution model helped the startup grow quickly.
Millions of Views Through Daily Uploads
Reports surrounding the Shark Tank India episode revealed that the company grew from around 1,000 subscribers in early 2025 to nearly 1.5 million subscribers within just a few months, while its daily uploads generated millions of views. The founders also built the company around a “3S Model” – Screen, Stage, and Shop – where storytelling content could eventually expand into physical experiences and merchandise.
Emomee’s appearance on Shark Tank India Season 5 became one of the most talked-about pitches of the season. Varun and Pooja initially sought Rs. 1 crore in exchange for 2% equity, valuing the company at Rs. 50 crore. The pitch immediately attracted attention because several sharks were already familiar with the founders’ previous work in the advertising industry.
Aman Gupta openly acknowledged that Varun and his former creative agency had helped shape boAt’s early branding and communication strategy. This led to competitive discussions among multiple sharks, eventually resulting in a deal with Aman Gupta and Namita Thapar. They invested Rs. 2 crore for 4% equity, keeping the company’s valuation close to Rs. 50 crore and significantly increasing public attention around the brand.
Establishing a Presence in the Emotional Learning Space
Following the episode’s broadcast, the startup also became the subject of mixed online discussions. While many viewers praised the founders’ experience, storytelling vision, and execution capabilities, some online conversations questioned whether the appearance was also a strategic marketing move supported by the founders’ established industry reputation and network. Others defended the startup by highlighting the founders’ creative credibility and their long-term ambition to build a globally scalable intellectual property brand for children from India.
As of 2026, Emomee appears to be operational and rapidly expanding both its digital presence and product ecosystem. The brand continues to strengthen its position in the emotional learning space while growing its online platform and child-focused offerings. Emomee’s journey demonstrates how storytelling, technology, and emotional learning are becoming increasingly important components of modern parenting and early childhood education in India.
