In the latest episode of Shark Tank India, Dr Parag Gad from Bengaluru left the sharks stunned with his mobility device xStep, which claims to offer non-invasive treatment for paralysis and cerebral palsy. The pitcher has been working on this for the past 17 years and said he wants to create this technology in India for the world. He came before a panel of sharks including Namita Thapar, Vineeta Singh, Varun Alagh, Viraj Bahl and Kunal Bahl, asking for Rs 1 crore for 1% equity.
Parag began his pitch with an emotional story. He said, “Sharks, Khushi is a two-year-old girl. Let’s listen to her growth milestones. At three months old, she couldn’t move her head. At nine months old, she couldn’t crawl. Finally, at one year, walking was just a dream to her. This is the reality of 25 lakh children in India, just like Khushi. The reason, cerebral palsy. A condition, where brain fails to send signals to body parts, compromising their development. But it is said, where there’s a will, there’s a way. It’s time to take xStep.”
Calling his invention a revolutionary medical device, Dr Parag Gad claimed that xStep can help treat paralysis caused by spinal cord injuries and cerebral palsy — and that too without any invasive procedure. He then explained the technical workings of the device and demonstrated how it functions.
Putting forward his ask, Parag said, “It has many treatment possibilities. To explore them, my ask is Rs 1 crore, for 1% equity in my company.” He concluded his pitch with the line, “When it comes to mobility treatment, it’s time to take the next step with xStep.”
The pitch immediately caught the attention of Namita Thapar, Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals and one of the sharks on the panel. She was shocked by the fact that he has been working on this for 17 years.
Parag then shared that he relocated to India in 2023 and officially registered his company, Vivatronix, in January 2025. Speaking about the product launch, he said that xStep was introduced in India just three weeks ago after securing all necessary regulatory approvals. He confidently positioned the device as one of its kind globally.
During the live demo, Parag used the device on Vineeta Singh, who responded with a simple yet powerful reaction: “Great work.”
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As Parag activated the device, Vineeta’s fingers began moving involuntarily, leaving the panel amazed. A stunned Viraj Bahl asked, “This movement is involuntary?” Both Parag and Vineeta confirmed that it was.
Explaining further, Parag said that when the device is used on the spinal cord, it can stimulate neurons and enable multiple muscle movements, including walking. He claimed that patients with cerebral palsy can experience noticeable improvement within just five minutes of using the device.
The sharks described the innovation as “magical,” with Viraj Bahl saying, “God bless you.” A proud Parag responded, “This is 17 years of science for you.”
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Namita then asked Parag to explain the cost impact of the device in simpler terms. “What steps can be eliminated from the process with the introduction of your device?” she questioned.
Parag explained, “For example, cerebral palsy patients need to take Botox every three to six months in every muscle that’s spastic. After the xStep therapy, we observed that they didn’t need Botox injections at all. So it’s a major cost saving that they have.”
While the device is manufactured at Rs 46,000, he plans to bring it down to Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 with higher volumes of production. It is sold at Rs 3 lakh per unit. After an intense round of questioning, the sharks moved to making their offers. While Viraj Bahl and Varun Alagh opted out, Namita, Vineeta and Kunal made a joint offer of Rs 1 crore for 10% equity.
Parag countered the deal, asking for Rs 1 crore for 6% equity. However, Kunal explained, “Primary motivation is around making the business and the product work. If this becomes a successful company, the additional four percent will not make any difference. You will still have 90% of the shares of the company.”
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After considering the advice, Parag accepted the deal — sealing one of the most emotionally charged and impactful pitches of the season.
This article is a factual recap of events and pitches presented in the televised episode of Shark Tank India Season 5, as broadcast on SonyLIV. The information provided, including business valuations, revenue figures, funding amounts, and investment deals, reflects only what was stated or agreed upon during the show’s recording. Indian Express does not independently verify the financial claims, business metrics, or projections made by entrepreneurs or investors on the show.
