Remember Disha Shidham? The brave teenager who stood before the Sharks in 2018, pitching her innovative shopping app Savy while asking for $100,000? Her nervous but determined pitch captured America’s attention and sparked conversations about young entrepreneurship. But what happens when the TV lights dim and the business doesn’t take off as planned?
In the years since her Shark Tank appearance, Disha’s journey has taken a surprising turn—from the high-stakes world of startup funding to the academic halls of Yale University. While many wonder about her current net worth and whereabouts, her story reveals a more profound truth about success: sometimes it’s not about the business you build, but the person you become in the process.
Quick Facts About Disha Shidham
Table: Disha Shidham at a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Known For | Founder of Savy app, Shark Tank contestant |
| Shark Tank Season | Season 9, Episode 18 (2018) |
| Education | Yale University, Environmental Engineering |
| Notable Achievement | D. Allan Bromley Prize in Environmental Engineering |
| Early Venture | TacBoard (pre-Savy startup) |
| Entrepreneurship Programs | MIT Launch, Catapult Ideas, Draper University |
Who Is Disha Shidham Net Worth? The Woman Behind the Pitch
Disha Shidham represents a new generation of entrepreneurs—those who aren’t afraid to pivot when circumstances change. Best known as the founder of Savy, the shopping app that allowed users to “name your price” for products, Disha captured national attention when she pitched her business on Shark Tank at just 20 years old .
What makes Disha’s story particularly compelling isn’t just her entrepreneurial spirit—it’s her intellectual curiosity and willingness to learn from failure. From teaching herself to code to pursuing environmental engineering at an Ivy League institution, she embodies the idea that our paths aren’t linear, but rather journeys of continuous growth and reinvention .
Her story resonates because it reflects the reality many young entrepreneurs face: not every startup succeeds, but every experience contributes to your development. As Disha herself noted, “I will always be a student, regardless of whether I’m in school or not” .
Early Life and Education: Building the Foundation
Disha’s entrepreneurial spark ignited early. As a child, she loved tinkering with broken radios, displaying the same problem-solving mentality that would later define her business ventures . Her first formal introduction to entrepreneurship came through the MIT Launch Summer Program in 2014, a four-week intensive that she described as her “introduction to entrepreneurship” .
Educational Crossroads
Disha’s educational journey reflects her thoughtful approach to career building:
- Accepted to University of Michigan for engineering but deferred admission to focus on Savy
- Balanced academics and entrepreneurship during high school, often feeling “my work was compromised when either school or my business became particularly busy”
- Ultimately chose business temporarily, noting that “the opportunity of school would always be available to me but in a startup, it’s either grow or stagnate”
- Later enrolled at Yale University around 2021 to study environmental engineering
This educational path demonstrates her capacity for strategic thinking—recognizing that different seasons of life call for different focuses, and that learning happens both inside and outside the classroom.
Career Journey: From TacBoard to Savy to Yale
The Beginning: TacBoard and Early Entrepreneurship
Before Savy, Disha developed TacBoard, an aggregate shopping site that taught her crucial lessons about e-commerce and customer behavior . Through TacBoard, she gained experience talking to businesses and customers, eventually realizing that “the core problem that I wanted to solve could be done through another model” .
This early venture helped her develop confidence in reaching out to her community for support, including contacting State Representative Stephanie Kunze and speaking with Ohio’s Speaker of the House about increasing diversity in business .
The Pivot: Creating Savy
The inspiration for Savy struck in an unlikely place: her AP European History class . Disha noticed a classmate manually tracking prices of products she liked in a Google Doc and realized “price is really important” . This observation sparked the idea for what would become Savy—a platform that allowed shoppers to set their desired price for products and receive notifications when items reached that price .
Savy’s unique value proposition included:
- Win-win dynamics: Businesses gained pricing insights and customer emails while consumers saved money
- Data-driven pricing: Provided valuable pricing data to retail partners
- Community building: Created a “Savy Stores” community of partnered businesses
Shark Tank Experience: The Pitch That Captured America
Disha’s Shark Tank journey began with an unexpected email that she initially thought was spam . After verifying its authenticity, she embarked on the preparation process that would lead to her national television debut.
The Pitch Details:
- Ask: $100,000 for 10% equity (valuing Savy at $1 million)
- Traction: 1,000 retail partners and 2,000 registered users
- Revenue: None—the app was free with plans for a paid version
Shark Reactions:
- Mark Cuban: Withdrew after learning Disha deferred college, emphasizing education’s importance
- Robert Herjavec: Felt Disha didn’t seem “fanatically obsessive” about Savy
- Kevin O’Leary: Saw potential but considered it too early-stage
- Lori Greiner and Daymond John: Also declined, citing similar concerns about traction
Despite leaving without a deal, Disha reflected positively on the experience: “It was an experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything… I’m so happy that I got to stand in front of those five people and gain their insight and their advice” .
Post-Shark Tank Challenges and Pivot
After the episode aired, Disha faced the double challenge of business growth and public perception. Unlike many Shark Tank contestants who experience a “Shark Tank bump,” Savy received largely negative attention focused on Disha’s nervous pitch performance rather than her business idea .
Key post-Shark Tank developments:
- Continued development: Disha worked on a paid version with improved features
- Stanford StartX accelerator: Savy participated in this prestigious program after Shark Tank
- Scalability issues: The app struggled to attract larger commercial brands
- Eventual shutdown: By late 2018, Savy’s website and social media became inactive
Disha Shidham Net Worth: The Financial Reality
Current Net Worth Assessment
Based on available information, Disha Shidham’s current net worth is likely minimal in terms of business assets or liquid wealth. The $1 million valuation during her Shark Tank pitch was based on future potential rather than actual revenue or assets . With Savy no longer operational and Disha focused on her studies rather than active entrepreneurship, her financial picture has likely shifted significantly.
Understanding the $1 Million Valuation
The $1 million valuation during her Shark Tank pitch requires context:
- Pre-revenue startup: Savy had no sales at the time of pitching
- Based on potential: The valuation reflected market potential and user growth prospects
- Standard startup math: Early-stage tech companies often use similar valuation methods
As one analysis noted: “She was putting a $1 million price tag on a business that had never made a buck” .
Income Sources and Financial Philosophy
While specific current income sources aren’t publicly documented, what emerges from Disha’s story is a financial philosophy centered on investment in human capital:
- Education investment: Pursuing a Yale degree represents investment in future earning potential
- Experience over immediate profits: Choosing learning opportunities throughout her journey
- Adaptive career planning: Willingness to shift strategies based on circumstances
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Current Status and Life at Yale
Academic Focus and Achievements
In recent years, Disha has largely stepped away from public life to focus on her environmental engineering studies at Yale University . Her academic journey includes:
- Excelling academically: Receiving recognition including the D. Allan Bromley Prize in Environmental Engineering
- Maintaining privacy: Keeping a low profile compared to her Shark Tank days
- Continuous learning: Embodying her statement that “I will always be a student”
This academic pivot demonstrates her growth mindset—the understanding that skills and knowledge transfer across domains, and that sometimes stepping back from one path allows advancement in another.
Reflections on Entrepreneurship
In a February 2025 interview, Disha shared that she has been “refining her skills and investing in her personal development” . This ongoing commitment to growth—whether in business or academics—highlights what might be her most valuable asset: not a bank account balance, but a rich repository of experiences that inform her evolving career path.
Lessons from Disha Shidham’s Journey
For Aspiring Entrepreneurs
- Failure is education: As Disha noted, “Confident CEOs have a plethora of experience in failing—again and again—but they’re failing in the right direction”
- Timing matters: Sometimes pursuing education first provides better foundation for future ventures
- Authenticity over perception: Staying true to your growth path matters more than public opinion
Broader Life Lessons
Disha’s story offers insights beyond business:
- Adaptability is strength: Recognizing when to pivot demonstrates wisdom, not weakness
- Multiple forms of success: Academic achievement represents success as meaningful as business funding
- Continuous learning pays: Each experience builds valuable skills transferable to new contexts
Social Media Presence and Public Persona
Unlike many Shark Tank alumni, Disha has maintained a minimal online presence in recent years . This intentional privacy reflects her focus on academic pursuits rather than personal branding—a choice that itself speaks volumes about her priorities and definition of success.
FAQs About Disha Shidham
What is Disha Shidham’s net worth in 2025?
Disha Shidham’s current net worth is not publicly known, but likely significantly less than the $1 million valuation placed on Savy during her Shark Tank pitch. With her business no longer operational and her focus on academics, her wealth appears primarily in the form of education and experience rather than financial assets .
What is Disha Shidham known for?
Disha is best known as the founder of Savy, the shopping app that allowed users to set their desired price for products. She gained national attention after pitching Savy on Shark Tank Season 9 in 2018 while still a teenager .
Where did Disha Shidham go to university?
After deferring her admission to the University of Michigan, Disha eventually enrolled at Yale University, where she studies environmental engineering. She has excelled academically, receiving awards including the D. Allan Bromley Prize in Environmental Engineering .
Is Savy still in business?
No, Savy is no longer in business. The app struggled to gain traction after Shark Tank and eventually became inactive around late 2018. The website and social media accounts are no longer active, and the app is unavailable on app stores .
What is Disha Shidham doing now?
As of 2025, Disha is focused on her environmental engineering studies at Yale University and has largely stepped back from public life and entrepreneurship. She continues to invest in her personal and academic development .
Conclusion: Redefining Success Beyond Net Worth
Disha Shidham’s journey from Shark Tank sensation to Yale student reminds us that success has many dimensions. While the public may focus on net worth and business valuations, true achievement often lies in the courage to pursue different paths as we grow and learn.
Her story demonstrates that sometimes the most valuable “net worth” isn’t measured in dollars, but in knowledge gained, character built, and the wisdom to recognize when a new direction offers the greatest potential for growth. In a world obsessed with overnight success and viral moments, Disha’s path serves as a powerful reminder that our most meaningful journeys often unfold beyond the spotlight.
What lesson from Disha’s journey resonates most with you? Share your thoughts in the comments below!