SaveSage is an AI-powered platform that analyses user spending behaviour, maps it to the most rewarding credit cards, and highlights areas where value is often left untapped.
“Naya Totka?” - The Explanation That Changed the Narrative
Ashish’s deep understanding of credit card rewards and redemptions became evident early in the pitch. When Anupam referred to his approach as a “naya totka,” Ashish reframed the conversation by sharing that he has not paid for flights for himself or his wife for the past 10 years.
Over this period, he has taken 350 domestic flights, 80 international flights, and stayed 100 nights at hotels. He also revealed that he purchased jewellery worth ₹15 lakh without spending a single rupee in cash. Adding further context, Ashish shared that over the last two years, he has generated a 23% return value on all his credit card spending.
When Anupam described him as a “bargain hunter,”
Ashish corrected him instantly saying: “I am a value hunter.”
The Aman Gupta Moment Everyone Remembered
The energy spiked when Aman Gupta challenged Ashish to a simple task: finding the cheapest flight to Dubai. Both walked through their approaches, explaining how they would plan the trip by switching between cards and airlines to maximise savings.
Ashish concluded with a straightforward point - “if I can travel for free, why would I pay for it”. That is when Anupam summed up the moment perfectly:
“Ashish Lath – 100, Aman – 0.”
The moment clearly showed Ashish’s deep, practical knowledge built over years.
Live app demonstration further impressed everyone. While Aman chose to opt out, the remaining sharks came together with an offer of ₹4 crore for 12% equity, valuing SaveSage at ₹33.33 crore.
Ashish negotiated firmly to protect his earlier valuation of ₹44.44 crore and ultimately closed the deal at ₹4 crore for 9% equity, split between Anupam, Kunal, Mohit, and Namita.
Why This Was About Knowledge, Not Hacks
Ashish never positioned credit cards as shortcuts or tricks.Throughout the pitch, he treated them as tools - effective only when used with understanding and discipline.
This message extended beyond the Tank. As discussed in The Indian Express , the pitch highlighted how structured reward optimisation, rather than luxury spending, can unlock meaningful benefits. It reframed credit cards from something people often fear or misuse into tools that can create real value when used responsibly.
In the end, the story was not about showing off rewards, but about making them easier for everyone to understand and use.