A young entrepreneur’s dream turned into disappointment after his much-celebrated deal on Shark Tank Pakistan failed to materialise, exposing the harsh reality behind the scenes.

 

Abdul Rehman Tasleem, a young entrepreneur from Lahore, captured the nation’s attention when he appeared on Shark Tank Pakistan in 2024. As the founder and CEO of Stuffeez.pk, a brand that makes eco-friendly teddy bears stuffed with recycled plastic bottles, his pitch stood out for its sustainability and creativity.

 

Abdul Rehman was in 12th grade when he started Stuffeez.pk in April 2023. Within one and a half years, the startup generated around Rs 4.9 million in revenue with an average order value of Rs 7,400 and healthy gross margins of about 31 percent. 

 

On Episode 7 of Shark Tank Pakistan, he pitched his business seeking Rs 2.5 million for 10 percent equity. His idea impressed the sharks so much that they offered him Rs 5 million for 22 percent equity, which he happily accepted.

 

However, soon after the cameras stopped rolling, things began to fall apart. In a post shared on Instagram, Abdul Rehman wrote, "In mid-September, I pitched my startup on Shark Tank Pakistan and received a PKR 5 million commitment in exchange for 22% equity from three sharks. It felt like the start of a dream."

 

He added, "Soon after the shoot, I was added to a WhatsApp group with the investors. A detailed meeting followed in October, where we discussed growth plans but funding was never mentioned. Despite completing all assigned research and sharing over 40 verified documents of due diligence, my efforts were met with silence. Follow-ups were ignored, and key meetings lacked full attendance, stalling any real progress."

 

 

In December, one investor privately called him, saying, "The other two sharks were scammers with no funds." The investor promised to proceed alone, but according to Abdul Rehman, "he too eventually cut off communication."

 

"The experience was deeply disheartening, not just because the investment fell through, but because of the disrespect and ghosting I endured," he wrote. "What started as a dream turned into a painful lesson. Yet, this has only fueled my resolve to build my startup with honesty, strength and on my own terms."

 

Some people have shown support, while others are asking for more clarity. Comments under his post include “Mention their names as well,” “Do you have any proofs??,” “Sue them,” “Seems like Aman Gupta was right about this show!” and “Very happy to see someone openly raising his voice more power to you.”

 

However, Shark Tank Pakistan and the investors are yet to respond to these claims.