After nearly seven years away from mainstream television, media veteran Raj Nayak is back not with a soap, singing contest, or talent show, but with a reality format that fuses business and storytelling. Ideabaaz, launched at the National Stock Exchange (NSE), is his latest project: a hybrid of tech marketplace and television programme designed to democratise entrepreneurship in India and give startups a platform for funding, mentorship, and visibility.
“It’s not that I didn’t want to come back, but I was clear I didn’t want to take up a job. Nor did I want to do a show just for the sake of it—I wanted to create something meaningful. When Ideabaaz came to me and we had our discussions, I genuinely felt there was an opportunity to build something big and scalable,” said Nayak.
The NSE launch was symbolic. Nayak described the platform as playing the role of a stock exchange for startups, providing ideas with a stage and founders with access to capital. The vision is for an ongoing marketplace, where investors and startups can interact 365 days a year, rather than being limited to a broadcast season.
Ideabaaz team at NSE
Not Another Shark Tank
Inevitably, comparisons have been made with Shark Tank India. Nayak acknowledged the influence of the show while highlighting the differences. “To be fair to Shark Tank, they have done a fabulous job of capturing the imagination of the nation and making the concept of startups nationwide. They deserve credit for it and that makes our job easier because now people understand the concept,” he said.
Nayak emphasised that Ideabaaz stands on its own. While Shark Tank operates on a global scale, Ideabaaz is rooted in India, focusing on talent across the country, including cities such as Jabalpur, Tirunelveli, Ajmer, and Uttarakhand.
A key feature of Ideabaaz is accessibility. Founders can pitch in any language. The series will air on Zee TV (Hindi) and Zee5, as well as across nine regional channels, dubbed in eight languages. Nayak highlighted the importance of allowing participants from different regions to present their ideas without language barriers.
Money is not the only measure of success. Nayak’s brief to the investor panel, the “titans,” was that participants should feel good and not be put on the backfoot. Even if an investment is not made, founders should receive mentorship, guidance and encouragement. “Everybody comes with an idea. Nobody comes to fail. Even if you can’t give them investment, give them mentorship, guidance, encouragement and hope. That’s going to be the big differentiator,” he said.
Real People, Real Stories
Nayak stressed that nothing on the show is scripted. There are no staged fights or exaggerated drama. The stories emerge naturally from the families, struggles, and journeys of the participants. Ideabaaz features founders at every stage, from those with just an idea to those with established startups. Investment is seen as “fertiliser to a seed so it can grow into a plant,” as Pratik Gandhi, the host of the show puts it. The show is anchored by Pratik Gandhi, acclaimed for Scam 1992. Nayak explained that Gandhi was chosen for his relatability, intelligence, and understanding of the startup ecosystem rather than star power.
Season one, launching 25 October, spans 26 episodes. The investor panel branded “titans” includes Rishabh Mariwala, managing partner, Sharrp Ventures, Anupam Bansal, executive director, Liberty Shoes, Shaili Chopra, founder, SheThePeople and Gytree, Arjun Vaidya, partner, V3 Ventures & Founder, Dr. Vaidya’s, Archana Jahangir, general partner, Rukam Capital, Jimmy Mistry, CMD, Della Group, Sandesh Sharda, Serial Investor & Venture Capitalist, Washington DC, Simron Mohapatra, partner, Turbo Start, Pawan Jaggi, founder, Genisys Group & Global Director, Turbo Start and Priyanka Salot, co-founder, The Sleep Company. Collectively, they have pledged a INR 100-crore fund.
Already, one startup has received INR 8.5 crore, the highest payout on Indian television to date. For the sake of comparison, the highest earnings on KBC, India’s longest running quiz show, has been INR 7.5 crore.
The Genesis
The concept for Ideabaaz originated when founders Jeet Wagh and Mudit Kumar approached Nayak during the pandemic. Institutional partners such as IIT Madras and incubation firms like Turbo Start were brought in to lend credibility. The decision to create a televised format was strategic: it also serves as marketing for the platform while simultaneously attracting startups and investors.
Nayak has invested in Ideabaaz personally, separate from his other ventures. Zee Entertainment is a strategic partner, investing in the platform itself, providing marketing and distribution support, while Ideabaaz retains operational control.
The Ideabaaz platform offers legal, financial, and compliance support, helping founders navigate GST, taxes, and other regulations. Quarterly reporting and transparent disclosures ensure accountability, showing which startups received funding. Nayak emphasised that the real focus is the platform, with the televised show serving to amplify visibility.
“The other shows will come and go, season two and so on. But we have an exchange. You can seek funding from us every day of the year. That’s the real differentiator,” he said.
Published On Sep 30, 2025 at 03:10 PM IST
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