A spoon and a ₹3.3 crore deal? It may sound surprising. Who would invest crores in something as ordinary as a measuring spoon, a kitchen essential found in every households around the world? But Indian-origin designer Rahul Agarwal has done exactly that, turning a simple everyday utensil into an innovative product that caught the attention of investors on Shark Tank USA.
An alumnus of the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, Agarwal secured a $350,000 deal, approximately ₹3.3 crore (33238555.00), from investor Lori Greiner and guest shark Mindy Kaling for his company, Polygons Designs. The deal was offered in exchange for 8% equity and an additional 2% in advisory shares, valuing the company at ₹33.33 Crore ($3.5 million).
But behind this deal is a story of design thinking, innovation and looking at an everyday object differently.
How an ordinary measuring spoon became an innovation
Back in 2014, while studying at the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, Agarwal was told by a senior that the spoon had already reached its final form. It was an ordinary object that had served its purpose for generations, leaving little room for innovation.
However, what seemed like a finished design became an opportunity for Agarwal to rethink how a familiar kitchen tool could work better.
Traditional measuring spoon sets typically contain several individual spoons, each designed for a specific measurement. They can take up drawer space and become inconvenient to organise.
Agarwal’s Polygons measuring spoon set approaches the problem differently. Inspired by origami, the design transforms two flat, flexible tools into six different measuring options.
The larger spoon can measure half a tablespoon, one tablespoon and two tablespoons. The smaller one offers quarter-teaspoon, half-teaspoon and one-teaspoon measurements. Users can simply pinch the marked points to fold each spoon into the required shape.
When flattened, the spoons measure just 2.8 mm thick, making them compact and easy to store. They are made from food-grade thermoplastic and hydrophobic silicone, while embedded neodymium magnets allow them to stick to a refrigerator.
Instead of creating another kitchen gadget, Agarwal reimagined an existing one, combining multiple functions in a compact design.
From a simple idea to global sales
The product’s appeal has extended well beyond the United States. Agarwal has reportedly sold more than 250,000 measuring spoon sets across over 120 countries.
The products have also been sold through well-known retailers and design destinations, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Williams-Sonoma and Uncommon Goods. The design has reportedly received more than 20 international design awards.
These milestones highlight how a small change to a familiar object can create a product with international appeal. Rather than introducing an entirely new kitchen appliance, Polygons focuses on making an existing household essential more practical.
The Shark Tank USA deal
Agarwal took his product to Shark Tank USA, where he pitched Polygons to the investors, including guest shark Mindy Kaling, the actor and producer.
The pitch resulted in a ₹3.3 crore investment offer from Lori Greiner and Kaling in exchange for 8% equity and an additional 2% in advisory shares. At the agreed terms, the deal implied a company valuation of ₹33.33 Crore.
Kaling praised the product, describing it as “really ingenious” and “very useful”.
The deal brought attention to a product built around a simple idea: even objects used every day can be redesigned to solve familiar problems.
For Agarwal, the journey from a design classroom in Ahmedabad to an American television investment stage demonstrates how observation, practical thinking and a willingness to question established designs can turn an everyday object into a global business opportunity.
From Ahmedabad to the American startup scene
Agarwal’s professional journey began with design roles in India. He worked at Ahmedabad-based Inventindia Innovations from 2013 to 2014, followed by a stint as a consultant designer at Storebound from 2014 to 2015. He also contributed to design and innovation education as a faculty member at IIT Gandhinagar.
In 2016, his career took him to Mumbai, where he became chief design officer at Trip In Inc. He also spent time as a visiting professor at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad before founding Polygons Designs in October 2016.
With a background spanning industrial design, product design and user experience, Agarwal set out to solve a problem that many people encounter in their kitchens: storing multiple measuring spoons without creating clutter.
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