'Investor rejection forces you to...': Shark Tank India judge Vineeta Singh shares why it might be the best thing for founders

Investor rejection can feel like a dead end, but for many founders, it's just a redirection. It forces them to rethink strategies, refine pitches, and explore alternative funding sources. Shark Tank India 4 judge and SUGAR Cosmetics CEO Vineeta Singh knows this firsthand — having faced over 100 investor rejections herself, she now encourages founders to see these setbacks as stepping stones, not roadblocks.  

Vineeta Singh recently took to LinkedIn to remind entrepreneurs that investor rejection is far from "the end of the world." Sharing her own journey, she admitted, “I used to think investor rejections were the end of the world too.”  

She cited the example of The Ring, a startup that initially struggled to secure funding but was later acquired by Amazon for over $1 billion. Emphasizing the importance of persistence, she said, “A NO from an investor is not actually a NO — it’s a NOT YET. Investors who say NO today may reconsider later as your business grows.”  

Acknowledging that rejection can trigger self-doubt, Vineeta encouraged founders to embrace investor feedback. “There is a lot to learn from these conversations. Feedback can highlight gaps, refine your strategy, and sometimes even save your business,” she said.  

She also reminded entrepreneurs that investor capital isn’t the only way to scale. “There’s customer capital, which makes a company profitable. You can also raise money through debt, family, or friends,” she added.  

According to Vineeta, rejection can sometimes be the best thing that happens to a founder. “It forces you to be profitable and to never give up,” she noted.  

Her post resonated with many entrepreneurs, sparking an outpouring of comments. One user wrote, “My problem isn’t the rejections. I know I’ll build no matter what. My real challenge is how to meet a shark just to hear the NO at least!”  

Another echoed her perspective, commenting, “Great point, Vineeta. Investor rejections can feel daunting, but they’re far from the end of the road. Resilience often leads to bigger opportunities.”  

“Every rejection is just a redirection,” added another, urging founders to stay focused and refine their approach.  

For many in the startup ecosystem, Vineeta’s message was a powerful reminder: setbacks are inevitable, but persistence makes all the difference.