Category: Startup
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From IIT Bombay Hostel to Dumka: Mithila Foods: The Origin Story
The idea for Mithila Foods was born not in a boardroom, but in a distant hostel room at IIT Bombay. Three friends—Shubham Sunderka (CEO) and brothers Ankit Kumar (COO) and Anshu Kumar—all hailing from the Bihar-Jharkhand region, realized a common problem: the deep longing for authentic regional staples like sattu, katarni chuda, and makhana that simply weren’t available in big cities. For years, every trip…
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The ‘Swadeshi’ Vision: Sridhar Vembu’s Unconventional Journey
Sridhar Vembu, the founder of Zoho Corporation, is not your typical tech billionaire. An IIT Madras and Princeton alumnus, Vembu famously left the allure of Silicon Valley to return to his roots in rural Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu. This decision became the bedrock of his unique business philosophy: that world-class software can be built in villages by nurturing…
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From Footsteps to Fortune: The Inspiring Rise of Dr. Jupally Rameshwar Rao, India’s Cement King
The story of Dr. Jupally Rameshwar Rao is a powerful testament to the transformative potential of education and entrepreneurial grit. Born into a modest farming family in Mahabubnagar district, Telangana, his early life was defined by necessity—he often walked several kilometers daily just to attend school. That foundational struggle for education fueled a vision that would eventually make him one…
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How Namita Kothari’s Akoirah is Redefining Luxury with Lab-Grown Diamonds
The world of fine jewellery is undergoing a major shift, moving from mined stones to consciously created alternatives. Leading this charge in India is Namita Kothari, a Mumbai-based entrepreneur who has brilliantly blended ethical values with an affordable-luxury positioning. Her brand, Akoirah by Augmont, launched in 2023, is disrupting the diamond market by offering lab-grown diamonds—which are…
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More Than Tech: IITM Pravartak’s Secret to Startup Success is Nurturing and Listening to the Customer
At the forefront of India’s deep-tech revolution is IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation, an entity backed by IIT Madras and the DST, focused on turning high-end research into real-world impact. Dr. M. J. Shankar Raman, Chief Manager – Technical, articulates the foundation’s unique, hands-on incubation philosophy: “We nurture every startup like a child.” In an ecosystem often obsessed…
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From Citibank to Cocopeat: How This Ex-Banker Built a ₹5 Lakh/Month Microgreens Empire in Just 80 Sq Ft
In a world where success is often measured by corporate ladder climbing, Ajay Gopinath chose a drastically different path. After years spent as a Citigroup employee, he traded his high-stakes banking career for the controlled, quiet environment of his own home. His new venture? Growing tiny, nutrient-packed microgreens. Ajay’s story is proof that a massive…