WHERE RESILIENCE MEETS INNOVATION.
Let me walk you through my journey… a journey that has been a roller coaster of constant reinvention and resilience. A journey where I was tested and pushed to the edge often – personally and financially.
From being a teenage hustler to being an award-winning business builder… all of it started with an early blow! What really happened… what happened next? Read below...
At 13, our family faced unexpected financial hardship and personal losses. The kind that is enough to drive people to the edge.
Necessity became my greatest teacher, driving me to find some ways to survive. This adversity formed the genesis of me taking a stab at earning a few bucks during my school days.
Early brutal blow helped me build resilience that would shape my future.
Jeans, groceries, bags, computers... you name it, I probably sold it. I wasn't an entrepreneur by choice, but that hustle? It funded my education... and sparked something bigger - it eventually became my choice of life.
My first "real" business? It was building PCs for friends. Side hustle turned into a main business, it was my first taste of creating something from the ground up. But the heart wanted more...
Recognising a market need, I co-founded Dreamturtle, a discount card company. We achieved rapid early growth, reaching over 2800 stores in record time. It wasn't internet era and we're ahead of time. Dreamturtle exploded, then fizzled due to market shifts (a bigger story for later).
Though external factors led to its closure, the experience imprinted lessons in timing, adaptability, and the unwavering belief in building something larger and impactful.
Seeking the next problem to solve, I landed on printer cartridges. This was the Birth of Re-feel. Bad quality plagued the industry. There was a gap waiting to be filled... with a better product and a better business model. But no money!!!
Zero funds forced us to think creatively. That's how our franchise model was born. We never opened a single owned store.
Strategic innovation and limited resources drove us to find success and put us on the map as India's fastest-growing franchise network. We made our presence in over 90 cities in India through 250+ retail stores, emerging as a market leader in the category.
We were on fire – growth, funding, media recognition... then the market shifted. Cheap Chinese imports & spurious products flooded the market... sometimes, it's not about fighting, but knowing when to pivot.
Shutting down Re-feel was brutal - mass layoffs, closing branches... but here's the thing about failures that shape you: They leave the belief behind.
Another success failed, but not the belief. New search, new struggle... with a lot learnings we forayed into another unorganised sector - Awards & Trophies. Started with import and trading.
Driving initial success from trading, I transitioned from importing to domestic manufacturing of recognition products. Proud believer and promoter of MAKE IN INDIA.
New sector, new challenge – it's where I thrive. From imports to manufacturing, within 5 years today we are a major player and a market leader in our industry.
After hitting the bottom, building the next national business ground up and emerging as a market leader filled me with the confidence of replicating success.
The startup world... It's my passion. I advise, mentor, and fuel the next generation of problem-solvers, just like someone once helped me find my feet.
The best learning experiences I have, come from consulting my entrepreneur friends across diverse industries during their times of transition and transformation.
They appreciate brainstorming with me on strategy, planning, decision support, brand communication, and addressing inherent challenges.
I love to express what crosses my mind...
my experiences and my learnings. Linkedin is my white board
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