Gautam Krishnankutty
International relations graduate and Co-founder, Thulp
Gautam Krishnankutty went to study Computer Science in the United States, and switched to International Relations after a struggle with maths. The culinary bug bit him in the US, as he worked part-time in restaurants and served tasty meals to friends. “I love Thai food and learnt to create many Thai dishes watching chefs. I worked in many restaurants and gained valuable insights.”
Once he returned to India, Gautam decided to give the culinary business a try and started a small delivery venture, Asia in a Box in 2008 with a partner.
“I figured that not many jobs were available for international relations graduates at that point. At our space in Koramangala, we decided to start a fun casual cafe where the food would be good and affordable. I specialised in Thai cuisine. However, I loved burgers and found that not many restaurants in Bengaluru served nice, meaty, beef burgers. I am happy that the Moo burger is one of our fastest selling items. It has been a fun journey and we have expanded to more outlets across the city in the past decade. It makes me really happy when people say that our beef burgers, are their favourites in town. It took me time to end up doing something I enjoy.”
He points out, “Thulp means excess. At a personal level, it connected with us and brings out memories of partying, growing up and playing. I’m a huge comic and movie buff, and there is a lot of influence of those two elements in the names of the dishes on our menu.”
Does he have any regrets? “ Not really, It has been a great learning experience and a joyride. I would not change anything. I often think that a culinary degree would have helped though.”
Anupam Behera
Business analyst and co-founder, What's in a name, a cafe in HSR layout
For Anupam Behera, food was always a passion. Working as a business analyst, he hoped to start a small cafe after retirement. However, Anupam and his partner decided to take the plunge in mid-2015.
“We wrestled with many ideas and were thinking of taking up one of the brands. However, we ended up taking a chance and decided to create a brand on our own. We were always interested in the food industry and had a basic idea about the menu, the chefs and the ambience. We literally built the place from scratch. We initially kept our regular jobs, to maintain some sort of financial support but eventually had to quit to devote more time to the restaurant. We have learnt a lot. It was not a smooth ride always, but the journey has been worth the effort. I do not regret giving up my job to follow my true calling.” One the reasons that made him choose the career path, he says, “We were working on a new product design. I was feeling that life has become very monotonous and needed to do something different. I decided to chase my dream.”
He adds, “We plan to expand. We are currently getting into corporate deals. I think sticking to building something on our own has changed us tremendously.”
Mayura Kadur
Dentist and co-founder of Do Bandar, an organic store
Five years ago, Mayura was happy with her day job as a dentist at a government hospital in the city, where she loved her job and the people. She started Do Bandar, a firm that specialises in creating organic body care products, after a conversation with a friend.
“In school, we were taught to make things with our hands as opposed to buying them and that’s what spurred us into soap making. My friend liked the smell of the organic soaps she discovered in Vietnam. We researched it and started making the soaps from natural ingredients. It was an instant hit.”
She adds, “We want to promote a nature-friendly and safe way to beauty. We work with a team of Ayurvedic doctors from Thirthahalli, Shimoga. Our formulas contain no pre-made bases – every ingredient has a specific purpose and delivers targeted results. Our formulas are developed using the most ancient natural skincare techniques. We are inspired by traditional body care preparations – ancient Ayurvedic recipes, royal Mughal recipes, and similar preparations. Unlike synthetic soap, they smell good too.”
Mayura left her dentistry practice four years ago and says, “It has been a fun ride. Working for Do Bandar has changed me completely. From being a shy introvert, I have become someone who can have a conversation with anyone. I have learnt a great deal about the manufacturing and marketing aspect of the trade and it has been an eye opener. Having said that, I do miss being a dentist. It was fun in its way and showed me a slice of life I had not seen before. I got to do a lot of good work in government hospitals and an NGO. However, if you ask me to choose between Do Bandar and private practice, I would pick Do Bandar without any hesitation.”
Arpita Ganesh
Founder and CEO at Buttercups Intimates Pvt. Ltd.
Arpita ran an ad agency for 10 years. But then an idea would change things not just for her, but for countless other women. There is little awareness about the right bra size among Indian women. It is this that Arpita addresses in her company Buttercups Intimates Private Limited. A chance bra fitting in New York, says Arpita, changed the way she felt about herself knew this was an experience she had to bring to India. She attended a class on bra fitting with an international brand, and this led her to introduce the concept of bra fitting to India. “I started as a retailer of international brands,” says Arpita. But that didn’t work out. “I had huge losses and had to shut down.” This set back didn’t deter her, instead she thought of an even better idea, and it worked! “I understood there is still a space for something like this. And it took me about four years to launch Buttercups.”
Also, choosing the right fit isn’t easy. There is a method to it. For this, she started the ABTF app, India’s first bra sizing app in 2013. Arpita asks a pertinent question: “Do you even know what a right size means?” While you ponder over that, she adds that the right bra size can make a world of a difference to a woman’s body and her confidence. “I thought I was fat, but when I got the right bra I realised I wasn’t, I was normal. The right bra is important because a wrong fit can lead to back and neck aches. I have seen women constantly adjusting their bras. Wearing the right bra is about comfort. If you wear the right size, you feel it.”
