FounderLabs is dedicated to bringing you stories of visionary entrepreneurs who are reshaping industries with their innovative ideas.
Today, we sit down with Kanav Agnihotri, the Founder of Kantell Entertainment and the creative force behind ‘The Adventures of Super Sharkaru‘.‘Kantell’ is a Youtube channel that creates ‘Kantell Stories’. Kantell – After All it’s Magical.
With a strong background in marketing and HR, and a passion for storytelling, Kanav has successfully brought his unique Indian intellectual property to life, captivating the hearts of children across the country.
FounderLabs: Kanav, thank you for joining us today. To start, could you tell us a bit about yourself and what led to create ‘The Adventures of Super Sharkaru‘?
Kanav Agnihotri: Thank you for having me. I’m the Founder of Kantell Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., and the creator of The Adventures of Super Sharkaru. My journey into entrepreneurship began after I completed my PGDM in Marketing and HR from Symbiosis Centre for Management and HRD. I’ve held senior management positions in some of India’s top corporate houses, but I always knew I wanted to do something creative that could make a difference. The idea for Super Sharkaru came to me after a real-life encounter with a shark many years ago. That experience, combined with my dream of taking an Indian IP to the global stage, led to the creation of this story and its characters.
FounderLabs: That’s fascinating! What inspired you to start this entrepreneurial journey?
Kanav Agnihotri The inspiration really came from that shark I saw in the ocean—it left a lasting impression on me. I wanted to create a story that wasn’t just entertaining but also carried a meaningful message. My goal was to take something uniquely Indian and share it with the world. That’s how The Adventures of Super Sharkaru was born.
FounderLabs: How does Kantell Entertainment help its customers, and what are your core products?
Kanav Agnihotri: Our primary customers are children aged 7-13, and they’ve made our graphic novels, The Adventures of Super Sharkaru and Super Sharkaru Flies to the Moon, bestsellers. The stories are fictional and entertaining but also highlight important issues like marine pollution and climate change. We’ve also developed plush toys of all the characters, which have been a big hit.
Recently, we launched a coloring book that helps kids connect even more with the brand and characters. We’re also planning to relaunch the plush toys soon.
FounderLabs: That’s impressive! How did you win over your first customers, and what has your growth journey been like?
Kanav Agnihotri :I started by conducting workshops in schools, and I’m really grateful to the schools that supported me and allowed me to present my concept.
My first customers were the children who attended these workshops—over 60,000 of them have interacted with me and shown incredible support for the characters and story. It’s been a rewarding journey.
FounderLabs: Every journey has its challenges. What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced?
Kanav Agnihotri: One of the biggest challenges is moving into animation, which would help make the characters even more popular. We have a YouTube channel, Super Sharkaru, with about 10,400 subscribers.
I believe that once we start posting high-quality 2-D animations, the subscriber count will skyrocket. However, these projects require significant investment, which is a hurdle we’re working to overcome.
FounderLabs: What has been your biggest ‘A-ha’ moment so far?
Kanav Agnihotri: There have been several. Both of my graphic novels became bestsellers on Amazon, and last year, I was honored by the Federation of Indian Publishers for my first graphic novel.
Another memorable moment was during a school literature fest where many children dressed up as Super Sharkaru and his friends. That was a huge compliment and a true ‘A-ha’ moment.
FounderLabs: That’s amazing! What keeps you motivated?
Kanav Agnihotri: The love and enthusiasm of the children keep me going. When they meet me before a workshop, they don’t know who I am or what my story is about. But once they hear the live voice-overs and interact with the characters, they become fans.
Their excitement and the positive feedback from parents who say their kids have started reading because of Super Sharkaru—these things motivate me to keep moving forward.
FounderLabs: What advice would you give to new business owners?
Kanav Agnihotri: Believe in yourself, be practically ambitious, and don’t give up. It’s important not to rely too much on others’ opinions about your vision—trust your instincts. There will be ups and downs, so stay positively frustrated and always think about the good things you’ve achieved.
Set challenging KRAs for yourself and keep moving forward. Love your work, but don’t get too emotionally attached. Follow a process; if the process is correct, the product will be good, and eventually, you will see profits.
FounderLabs: Lastly, what market opportunities do you see, and what are your plans for future growth?
Kanav Agnihotri: I plan to expand to more cities in India, starting with the metros, and then take my story to the global stage. We’re also working on making the graphic novels bilingual to reach a wider audience.
There’s so much potential to create more magical stories, and I’m excited about what the future holds.
Plus Kantell has created plush toys of all the characters have also been loved by the childrens who look upto the characters in the graphic novel.
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FounderLabs is proud to highlight the journey of Kanav Agnihotri and The Adventures of Super Sharkaru, a testament to the power of creativity and determination. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories from the world of innovation and entrepreneurship.
