Plant-based food isn’t just a trend anymore; it’s a global movement. From New York to New Delhi, people are rethinking what goes on their plates. In India too, the shift is real; more and more folks are exploring meatless meals that are better for their health, the planet, and sometimes, even their wallets.
But what if the next big thing in this plant-powered wave wasn’t tofu or soy, but jackfruit? Yep, that spiky, sticky fruit we’ve seen hanging off backyard trees for generations.
One morning, Sairaj Dhond, a law graduate with a growing interest in clean, meatless eating, saw something bigger, something with the power to change how India eats. Came across a newspaper headline calling jackfruit the “world’s superfood.” Most people would’ve just nodded and flipped the page. But not Sairaj.
And no, this isn’t some high-tech invention from a Silicon Valley lab or a billion-dollar food-tech giant. This story begins under a jackfruit tree in Goa, where Wakao Foods was born.
Today, his brand Wakao Foods is turning this once-forgotten fruit into a global game-changer in the world of plant-based meat. Wakao Foods didn’t just stop at local markets or online shelves. Nope. They took their bold jackfruit vision to national television, entering Shark Tank India. That’s right, the stage where dreams meet deals and ideas go head-to-head with India’s sharpest investors.
Sairaj Dhond stood there, pitch-ready, holding up not just a product, but a promise: tasty, healthy, sustainable meat made from jackfruit, yes, that same fruit we all grew up ignoring at family functions. The Sharks listened, tasted, questioned, and saw what he saw. Potential. Purpose. Profit.
Let’s be honest: in a world flooded with soy and tofu, Wakao Foods carved out something refreshingly desi, ridiculously smart, and seriously good for the planet.
And that, folks, is how a humble fruit from Goa got its moment in the spotlight, proving that investors are not just betting on tech, but on taste, on health, and a greener tomorrow.
The Real‑Life Startup Story: Wakao Foods & Sairaj Dhond
From Courtroom to Kitchen Labs
Sairaj Dhond grew up in Goa in a family steeped in entrepreneurship. He initially pursued criminal law, even running a law practice after graduating. But something didn’t click. According to SMBStory, after dabbling briefly in the family’s restaurants and later entering real estate, the pandemic put a pause on everything by 2020.
The Catalyst Moment
During the COVID lockdown, a seemingly ordinary headline, “Jackfruit is the world’s superfood,” triggered a memory. As a child, Sairaj had eaten jackfruit curry so convincing that he thought it was chicken, thanks to its meat‑like texture. That spark fueled a bold idea: to transform this overlooked fruit into a scalable, plant‑based meat alternative.
Bootstrap Beginnings
Sairaj invested about ₹5 lakh from his own savings and launched Wakao Foods in October 2020. By December, the first products, Jack Burger Patty, BBQ Jack, Teriyaki Jack, Butter Jack, and Raw Jack, hit the shelves in Goa. With production facilities adapted from his family’s hotel kitchens and a network of farmers across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Maharashtra for a year‑round jackfruit supply, the company overcame massive pandemic‑era hurdles.
Growth in Goan kitchens and Beyond
Initially focusing on B2B distribution, Wakao Foods rapidly got into about 30 vegan stores and top hotels like Grand Hyatt and JW Marriott in Goa. Sales grew at around 20% monthly from late 2020 to early 2021, even as lockdowns lingered.
Spotlight Moment (Shark Tank India)
Sairaj’s pitch on Shark Tank India (Season 1, Episode 29) brought national visibility. He asked for ₹75 lakh for a 5% stake and secured a deal with all three female Sharks. After that, luxury hotels like Hilton, Oberoi, and Grand Hyatt signed on, and Wakao’s distribution grew to 500+ restaurants nationwide.
One Big Idea, One Forgotten Fruit, and a Whole Lot of Grit:
A courtroom rebel, a jackfruit legend, and one juicy journey to plant-based fame!
| Stage | What Went Down | The WOW Factors |
| From Law Books to Ladles | Sairaj grew up in Goa with a family that ran businesses. He became a lawyer, but he didn’t feel happy. | “Your honor, I plead guilty to dreaming bigger!” |
| The Jackfruit Flashback | During lockdown, he read that jackfruit is a superfood. He remembered how it tasted like chicken when he was a kid. | “Wait, that wasn’t chicken?!” |
| Bootstrap Bravery | He used ₹5 lakh of his own money to start Wakao in Oct 2020. He cooked the first products in his family’s hotel kitchen. | “No investors. No hype. Just hustle, heart, and homemade hacks!” |
| Jackfruit Hits the Shelves | He made jackfruit foods like burger patties and worked with farmers in 3 states to get enough jackfruit. | “Farm to fork, powered by jackfruit and jugaar!” |
| Goan Growth Spree | His food went into 30 vegan stores and big hotels in Goa. Sales kept growing even during lockdown. | “Wakao wasn’t just in stores, it was on luxury hotel plates!” |
| Shark Tank Takeover | On Shark Tank India, he asked for ₹75 lakh for 5% of his company. All 3 women investors said yes! | “3 Sharks. 1 fruit. Infinite possibilities!” |
| Going Nationwide | After Shark Tank, more hotels like Hilton and Oberoi joined. Now, 500+ restaurants across India sell Wakao. | “This isn’t a side dish anymore, it’s the main course of India’s plant-based future!” |
Whoa, wait, did someone say Shark Tank?
Yup, you heard that right! He went to Shark Tank, pitched his jackfruit-powered mock meat brand, and then what happened? Well, buckle up, because things got real juicy.
The Shark Tank Showdown & Outcome
Sairaj stepped into the Tank with confidence, asking for ₹75 lakh in exchange for 5 % equity in Wakao Foods. He pitched the product’s sustainability mission, ethical sourcing, and the massive untapped potential of jackfruit-based vegan meat.
The Sharks were intrigued, but cautious. They praised his passion and Wakao’s “jackfruit-from-backyard” authenticity. For instance, Anupam Mittal commended the “energy and conviction” behind the brand. But several Sharks questioned whether the market was ready for this, and felt the valuation might be too lofty for an eight-month-old startup.
Even the power-packed female trio, Vineeta Singh, Namita Thapar, and Ghazal Alagh, shared mixed reactions. They admired the concept, applauded the sustainability angle, and clearly appreciated the founder’s mission. But like the others, they raised concerns about scalability, pricing, and whether India was fully ready to bite into jackfruit as a meat alternative. It was one of those moments where belief met business, and both had tough questions to ask.
Namita Thapar voiced her concerns clearly:
“Where’s the proof that your branding, distribution channels, and consumer education can support this?”
Despite the skepticism, the Sharks didn’t shut down the pitch entirely. Instead, they offered insightful advice on tightening go‑to‑market strategies, pricing models, and expanding in the B2B and D2C space.
From Spotlight to Scale-Up: Wakao’s Post-Shark Tank Surge
Post-show, the impact was immediate. Brand visibility shot up, consumer curiosity spiked, and Wakao quickly became a name to know in India’s growing plant-based space. But it didn’t stop there. The brand scaled up fast, partnering with Zepto for dark store deliveries and making major moves in the HORECA sector, where they now supply over 500+ restaurants, with 80% of revenue coming from that channel alone.
They didn’t just grow locally; Wakao went global, expanding into 5+ countries, proving that jackfruit has a place on plates worldwide.
Oh, and about that valuation? It’s no small jump. Post-Shark Tank, Wakao’s valuation grew by nearly 8 to 10 times, showing just how much belief the market now has in clean, green, jackfruit-based eating.
But even with all the buzz and growth, Sairaj and the team haven’t lost sight of the mission: to revolutionize the way we eat, one jackfruit at a time, and to keep sustainability at the heart of every bite.
Why Wakao Isn’t Your Average Jackfruit Story?
Let’s talk about real innovation. While many plant-based brands stick to soy or pea protein, Wakao Foods is rewriting the rulebook, with jackfruit. Their products are made from ethically sourced jackfruit, with no preservatives, and here’s the kicker: they last up to a year without refrigeration. That’s convenience, sustainability, and freshness, all in one.
Their product range? Delicious, ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook options like burger patties, sausages, pulled jackfruit, and rich Indian-style curries, perfect for both home kitchens and pro chefs alike.
The business model? Smart and scalable.
A strong D2C (Direct-to-Consumer) presence through their website and e-commerce platforms.
Massive growth in the HORECA sector (Hotels, Restaurants, Cafes), which now makes up a big chunk of their revenue.
And at the heart of it all? A mission to reduce food waste, make use of underutilized jackfruit, and push veganism forward in a tasty, accessible way.
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Final Act: No Deal, But a Major Win
In the end, Sairaj didn’t seal a deal; the Sharks passed on his equity ask. But this wasn’t a failure; it was a high-stakes masterclass.
Key win: Every single Shark praised his clarity of vision and the product’s plant-based ethos. Sairaj walked away with actionable feedback and nationwide exposure that supercharged Wakao’s growth. From here, the brand went on to land national retail listings, 500+ restaurant tie-ups, and upgraded packaging, thanks to the momentum and credibility he earned in the Tank.
And while no deal was signed, what Sairaj took home was priceless: nationwide exposure, real feedback from top investors, and a boost that helped Wakao level up, fast.
Post-show? Things exploded.
Retail shelves started calling.
500+ restaurants got on board.
Packaging got a glow-up.
And Wakao started rising as one of India’s most exciting plant-based brands, all thanks to the Tank spotlight and the fire it lit.
