Small Businesses of India

Raised by two tribal women, Satendrasingh Lilhare grew up closely observing the issues of the community. He started 'Bastar se Bazaar Tak' - a forest-to-fork business that sells the produce directly to the consumer eliminating all middlemen.

From playing basketball in a wheelchair to establishing her own spice business, Sumarty from Kashmir has shattered multiple stereotypes to prove her mettle despite her disability.

Taking India's food and beverage industry by storm, these women entrepreneurs are making waves with their delicious food and business acumen.

Bengaluru-based Organic Tap, founded by Hasan Chaithanya, is a marketplace that connects organic farmers with consumers directly, while assuring fair pricing and high visibility for farmers, and fresh and verified produce for consumers.

Milind Shah from Kolkata founded ‘Gauraa’ to address the problem of massive wastage in the FMCG sector by selling dented, near-expiry and slightly damaged products at discounted prices.

Renjini Thampi turned her love for art into the sustainable venture Vapasee, wherein she upcycles discarded glass bottles into stunning home decor items, preventing thousands of pieces from entering landfills.

Noida resident Shweta Joshi started baking and selling cakes after she was forced to shut down her art and craft venture because of the pandemic-induced lockdown. Today, she caters to many customers in India and abroad.

At just 15, Coimbatore resident Smrithi launched Shika Creations, a terracotta jewellery and decor store that earns her Rs 25 lakh per year and sells to different parts of the world. She shares what it has been like to foray into the world of entrepreneurship.

After completing a master’s in Law in London, Kalyani Pandya returned to Vadodara and decided to scale her father’s organic venture, called Shankar Farms, by branding and marketing their desi ghee. Here’s how she did it.

T Jayalakshmi, a former teacher from Visakhapatnam makes edible tea cups using ragi and rice flour. Today, she manufactures around 30,000 to 40,000 cups per month.