Rajshree Upadhyaya | Business Remedies | By building Medial, a professional social networking platform for the startup and tech ecosystem, Niket Raj Dwivedi, Aishwarya Raj Pandey, Harsh Dwivedi, and Prateek Kaien have carved out a distinct space for themselves. In 2023, amid Bengaluru’s rapidly growing startup ecosystem, the four young founders came together with a simple yet powerful idea. They believed that India’s expanding community of founders, professionals, and tech enthusiasts lacked a dedicated space for meaningful conversations, startup discovery, and professional interactions.
Even though platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter already existed, the founders felt these spaces were either too crowded or too noisy. This thought led to the birth of Medial. From the very beginning, Medial positioned itself as more than just another social app. Its goal was to bring thoughtful discussions, curated information, and community-driven insights into a single ecosystem.
The platform allowed users to engage in conversations with real identities while also offering the option of anonymous participation. This encouraged more honest discussions around careers, startups, and workplace realities. Alongside discussions, Medial introduced a curated feed for startup news, industry trends, funding updates, and ecosystem developments, giving users a single destination for information without having to chase multiple sources.
As the platform evolved through 2023 and 2024, Medial consistently attracted early-stage founders, developers, and professionals who were seeking relevance over virality. Instead of chasing vanity metrics, the founders focused on building engagement, experimenting with features that encouraged participation and peer learning. This traction eventually brought Medial into the national spotlight when the founders appeared on Shark Tank India Season 4, presenting their vision to some of the country’s leading investors.
A Shift in Valuation and Strategic Direction
On the show, the team asked for Rs. 50 lakh in exchange for 1 percent equity, valuing the company at Rs. 50 crore. The pitch sparked intense discussion. Several sharks questioned Medial’s positioning, comparing it to existing social platforms and raising concerns about clarity of focus. Some felt the product seemed like a mix of borrowed ideas rather than a clearly defined core offering.
Despite the criticism, the founders remained confident about the long-term potential of building a focused professional network for India’s startup ecosystem. The turning point came when Ritesh Agarwal saw promise in the larger vision. He offered Rs. 50 lakh for 2.5 percent equity, suggesting that Medial sharpen its identity as a startup showcase and professional discovery platform. The founders accepted the deal, marking a significant shift not only in valuation but also in strategic direction.
Appearing on Shark Tank brought visibility, feedback, and momentum, motivating the team to refine both the product and its positioning.
Medial Reflects the Challenges and Strengths of Modern Indian Startups
After the show, Medial continued to grow. The company expanded its offerings to include startup showcase tools, professional networking features, and premium capabilities such as funding and investor tracking, startup job discovery, and enhanced profile visibility. These features were designed to help founders gain exposure and professionals find better opportunities within the startup ecosystem.
Notably, the company continued to prioritise community engagement over mass-market scale. As of early 2026, Medial is operational and evolving rapidly, serving a growing user base across India, supported by regular product updates and continuous community engagement.
While competition in the professional networking space remains intense, Medial’s journey reflects both the challenges and resilience of modern Indian startups-navigating criticism, pivoting strategy, and steadily building a distinct identity. From its launch in 2023 to its post-Shark Tank phase, Medial stands as an example of how focused communities, when built thoughtfully, can find their place even in an already crowded digital world.
