Viral 'Chaiwala' Arshad Khan secures investment of Rs 1 crore on Shark Tank Pakistan

By Sandy Verma On Nov 17, 2024

VIRAL: In the year 2016, a picture of a young Pakistani tea seller with blue eyes went viral and became a topic of discussion on the internet. At the time, very few people knew the man, but this viral moment would pave the way for a business empire. Fast forward to today, Arshad Khan is not only serving tea on the streets of Islamabad, but he also runs a growing café chain, Café Chai Wala, at international locations including a flagship café in London. In the latest development in this regard, Arshad Khan along with his business partner Kazim Hasan in a recent episode of Shark Tank Pakistan sought an investment of Rs 1 crore to further expand Café Chai Wala.

Both bid for 5 percent equity in return for the investment. Meanwhile, Kazim detailed the story of opening his first café in 2020, when the world was grappling with lockdowns and restrictions. Nevertheless, the café quickly adapted and began to flourish, becoming popular with locals and visitors alike. The business now operates in multiple locations in Pakistan and has even expanded its reach to the UK with cafes in London, Birmingham and Manchester.

As Arshad and Kazim shared their journey, the Sharks were divided in their opinions. Junaid Iqbal, although impressed by the concept and its international reach, ultimately backed out of the deal. Faisal Aftab also backed out of the deal, acknowledging Arshad's viral appeal and the café's potential. But, investor Rabil Warraich made an offer that Arshad and Kazim couldn't refuse: an investment of the entire Rs 1 crore in exchange for 24 percent equity, which was more than the 5 percent they had originally asked for.