Who Is Srikanth Bolla? Bollant Industries CEO Joins Shark Tank India Season 4's Judges Panel

The latest season of Shark Tank India has welcomed a new judge to its panel, Srikanth Bolla, a visually-impaired industrialist and the founder of Bollant Industries. Bolla, who overcame challenges to establish his business, shared the news on social media.

“To survive a pool of sharks, you need to become one yourself," Bolla said, sharing a series of photos from the sets of Shark Tank India on Instagram.

He went on to add, “So yes, I got an opportunity to become a shark on Shark Tank India. Being on the set made me realise that dreams aren’t just for thinkers — they’re for the doers! It was a blast meeting all these accomplished entrepreneurs in the panel, and the pitches made were very inspiring — smelled innovation in the air!”

Bolla expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity, acknowledging the role Shark Tank India has played in nurturing entrepreneurship across the country. “To be honest, entrepreneurship in India has taken a very heartwarming boost because of @sharktank.india. People at the show seemed poised to solve some age-old problems and some modern issues in the society while being visionary,” he wrote.

He also thanked the other judges on the show and ended his post by encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs to take action. He wrote, “Witnessing some great pitches, I’ll just say one thing to all my fellow citizens, don’t just think about your idea, act on it, or someone else will!”

Bolla is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and the CEO, co-founder and chairman of Bollant Industries Pvt. The Hyderabad-based company specialises in eco-friendly disposable paper and packaging products, according to its LinkedIn profile.

According to his website, Bolla is the “first international blind student ever admitted to the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT U.S.)"

Bolla’s LinkedIn profile stated that he is also a motivational speaker and has made contributions to entrepreneurship development, youth empowerment and the welfare of people with multiple disabilities. He has been involved with organisations such as Lead India Foundation 2030, Samanvai Centre for Children with Multiple Disabilities and Surge Impact Foundation. In 2017, Forbes Asia recognised him in its 30 Under 30 list of emerging entrepreneurs.

Bollant Industries is valued at over $60 million and has a workforce, where 36% of employees are physically challenged.

The company has achieved an annual turnover exceeding $150 million and currently employs over 500 people.

Born on July 7, 1991 in Seetharamapuram, a village in Andhra Pradesh, Bolla grew up in a farming family with limited educational opportunities.

At just six years old, Bolla was enrolled in a regular school, where he walked miles each day to attend classes. But instead of receiving support, the education system expected him to keep pace with his sighted peers without any special assistance, according to his website.

Recognising the challenges, his father shifted Bolla to a residential school in Hyderabad, hoping he could develop skills that might one day secure him a clerical job. But Bolla excelled in his matriculation exams, emerging as one of the top scorers in the state.

Then, in his Class 12 board exams, despite scoring 98%, he faced obstacles in securing admission for further studies due to his disability, according to a report in the Economic Times. He even took legal action to assert his right to higher education.

Following the legal battle, he succeeded in gaining college admission. His ambition was to pursue engineering, but coaching institutes preparing students for IIT entrance exams refused to accept him.

Undeterred, he applied to various international universities, including Stanford, Berkeley and Carnegie Mellon. He eventually chose the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), becoming the first visually impaired student to be admitted to its Sloan School of Management.

Bolla has also demonstrated talent in sports, representing India at the national level in blind cricket and international chess. He also participated in baseball and swimming.

Beyond his entrepreneurial ventures, Bolla plays an active role in philanthropy. As Vice President and a Board Member of Lead India Foundation, he is working to revive the organisation as a platform for youth empowerment, continuing the vision once championed by former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.

He is also associated with initiatives like the Surge Impact Foundation, which supports social enterprises and sustainable development goals, and the Samanvai Centre for Children with Multiple Disabilities.

In 2021, Bolla was featured on the World Economic Forum’s list of Young Global Leaders. He has also been honoured as an Outstanding Person in Business by Junior Chamber International.