Building a business without the usual scaffolding. Contributors here cover the operators who talk publicly about failure, debt and doubt, and the unglamorous compounding that rarely makes a headline until it has run for fifteen years.
16 stories
Long before OLAMOR appeared on a product label, Mamtaa Joshi was listening to the questions people asked in salons and styling sessions. Those everyday questions shaped a Mumbai beauty brand built on informed choices.
Founded by Kshitij Goel and Nandini Marwah, New Delhi's Margo Digitech brings strategy, content, SEO, video, technology, AI and localisation under one roof, and is taking that model to North America and the Middle East.
Vikram Sengar started in the Aromatic Intermediate industry doing paperwork as an invoicing clerk. Twelve years, one six-year rise to export leadership, and one company later, Chemilinx is chasing ₹11 crore in annual business — built, by his own account, one relationship at a time.
An entrepreneur, social reformer and philanthropist from Patna, Bihar, Dr. Sameen Hasan has built a career across entertainment, business partnerships and community development — anchored by a belief that success only becomes meaningful when it creates opportunity for others.
Entrepreneur, startup consultant and business growth strategist Raviteja Pulimetla started in 2019 with ₹5,000 and a willingness to learn by doing — building an 8-figure food and hospitality equipment business before turning to consulting other founders.
From selling mobile phones for ₹500 in Hisar's auto market to building Make Way India across manufacturing, real estate and hospitality — the story of a self-taught entrepreneur preparing for a 2027 IPO.
From Kolkata to Krishnanagar, Premasis Bhattacharjee has built the SAP Group across education, finance, events and infrastructure — driven by the belief that a successful enterprise should create employment and strengthen families.
An entrepreneur building at the intersection of organic skincare, business mentoring and corporate training — Abu Amir connects growth, leadership and impact through Mitti Organics, TCC and ProStrategic-H.
At 16, Atharva Jain took his first step into business. At 21, he leads Jynexa — a digital-first e-commerce brand focused on fashion, lifestyle and the belief that the best chapters are still being written.
From financial advisory at American Express to founding a brand strategy firm and launching a podcast, Baani Bathla has built a career around one conviction: that brands are not competing for attention but for trust, relevance and lasting relationships.
From a bedroom office in Valsad to eight-figure monthly revenues, Avi Patel has built Enliven Lifestyle into one of India's most compelling bootstrapped fashion brands — without venture capital, without a metro base, and without a family legacy in retail.
Siddhant Digvijay Jaitha carries forward a family legacy rooted in Indian aviation since 1945 while building his own identity across healthy food, lifestyle, podcasting and publishing. A profile of the entrepreneur behind Crunch & Munch, the SDJ Podcast and Atherton Aero.
Born in Nashik and married in Aurangabad, Poonam Kaur Bindra grew from a small-town girl with big dreams into a celebrated chef, TEDx speaker, author and Founder & CEO of SAACOOR — built on the belief that food should nourish the body and respect ingredients.
Founded in Lucknow in 2020, Foxtella set out to build a fashion jewellery label run entirely by women. We read its catalogue, pricing and dispatch promises to see what six years actually built.
Ankur Warikoo built an audience of millions by doing the un-guru thing: talking openly and honestly about money, failure and self-doubt.
Justin Welsh built a multi-million-dollar business with no employees — and taught a generation that staying small can be the entire point.