Meet Shark Tank India judge who started aviation company with ₹5,600, battled Stage 2 cancer; now worth ₹420 crore
Shark Tank Season 5: The fifth season of Shark Tank premiered on January 5, 2026, and this time the popular show brought together 15 judges who will invest in various jobs within days. New sharks include tech entrepreneurs, fintech leaders and consumer brand entrepreneurs. Among these, Kanika Tekriwal, founder and CEO of JetSetGo, stands out with her unique story of resilience and entrepreneurship.
Kanika Tekriwal, the force behind private aviation company JetSetGo, is the founder of India’s first aircraft rental company. Here’s everything you need to know about him.
Who is Kanika Tekriwal?
When Kanika Tekriwal founded JetSetGo in 2014, it was only in 2021. His journey is marked by endurance, willpower, strength and courage.
“I wanted to be a pilot. But I come from a Marwari family. My family said, ‘Is the driver banegi?’ he thought. and that was a no,” he once said in an interview quoted by The Indian Express, highlighting the path he had to go through to become successful.
As he grew up, a groundbreaking idea came to his mind; An Uber service, but for the skies. His idea was simple; Buying and renting private jets. And in 2014, he founded JetSetGo.
In an interview with The Times of India, Tekriwal announced that he has invested so far. ₹5,600 to start your company.
“A lot of people ask me how I do this without raising money. So far I’ve only invested ₹“We operate a fleet of 5,600 private jets, India’s largest,” he said.
overcoming cancer
Kanika Tekriwal’s journey has not been easy. He was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin Lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the lymph nodes.
The diagnosis brought an unprecedented halt to his plans, and his dream of starting a company turned into a survival nightmare. But after treatment and sheer willpower, he emerged victorious and stronger than ever.
building brick by brick
Tekriwal said it is not easy to survive in an industry full of men.
“When I started my business, no one understood this. I had a lethal combination; I was a 21-year-old girl working in a male-dominated industry,” TOI quoted her as saying.
He went door to door looking for investments, but encountered a room full of suspicious investors. Finally, in 2014, Tekriwal launched JetSetGo along with Sudheer Perla.
Today the company is not just a charter flight company. According to its website, JetSetGo manages management, drives ownership, offers special membership programs and is “preparing for the next era of aviation with electric and vertical take-off aircraft.”
Kanika Tekriwal net worth
According to Hurun India Rich List 2022, the latest available data, Kanika Tekriwal’s net worth is estimated as follows: ₹420 crore.
That year, she was listed as the youngest self-made female entrepreneur.
