21 modern businesses
Modern businesses can deliver during the lock-down
Corona virus has disrupted the traditional businesses. It has also boosted the modern businesses, which were not able to stand up to the traditional businesses.
India announced a 21 days lock-down for the entire country. Can these 21 days help the modern businesses gain the foothold?
1. Broadsheet: 2 member daily newspaper for women
Lakshmi and Shuba founded a newsletter for Indian women. Broadsheet curates the newsletter from 200 news sources. Topics include biggest stories about the day such as Corona, health, technology, psychology or culture.
2. All things aside: packaged food for the fit
Shashak started ‘and nothing else’ to expose how packaged goods are not healthy. It sells six types of protein bars. Customers can buy or subscribe. He also runs a blog, where he shared how he lost 40 kgs and started running marathons.
3. Bombay Trooper: quirky tees and crazy bottoms
Jugal Mistry started Bombay Trooper by selling comfortable travel bottoms. Sherpas in Nepal had inspired him. It is a five member team. It sells tees, hoodies, troopers and accessories such as bags.
4. Cureveda: vegetarian non-prescription supplements
Bhavna Sharma launched Cureveda combining their expertise in ayurved and scientific processes. They sell supplements online for common ailments such as diabetes, thyroid, and heart health. Customers can consult about 5000 doctorsonline for free.
5. Bare Anatomy: custom beauty products
Founders Sifat, Vimal and Rohit believe that personalizing is the new way to Beauty. Bare Anatomy sells haircare products that include shampoos, hair oils, hair serums, and hair masks. Take the ‘hair quiz’ to customise your shampoo.
6. Andme: health solutions for women
Ankur started ‘Andme’ as he could not see his mother suffer from osteoporosis. The brand focuses on solving daily lifestyle challenges of Indian women with drinks that relieve PMS symptoms, help with PCOS and enhance their hair and skin quality from within.
7. Great Learning: the original upgrad
Mohan, Hari and Arjun started Great Learning in 2016 to offer up-skilling courses such as Business Analytics. Only 30 people joined the first batch, who became their brand ambassadors. They have crossed INR 150cr in revenues.
8. Himalayan Natives: natural food from the hills
Founder Bhupendra Khanal came to India from Nepal. After chucking his techie life, he founded Himalayan Natives. It sells pure Himalayan ghee, wild honey and pink salt. He had also set up India’s first dog cafe Therpup.
9. Tea trunk: hand crafted tea blends
Tea sommelier Snigdha Manchanda started Tea Trunk in 2013. After completing the tea course in Srilanka she decided to source teas direct from farmers. It sells five types of tea such as green, white, black, herbal, oolong, and DIY blend. People from 15 countries buy tea from Tea Trunk.
10. Mint & Oak; socks as gifts
Ex marketer Purvi Modi Monga is reimagining socks. She stated Mint & Oak to sell socks, which are style statements. It sells crew socks, ankle socks and no show socks. Facebook had included it in the first batch of VC Brand Incubator Program.
11. Gobbly: automated food shop
Amit and Ankur started Gobbly to automate food and beverages retail. Gobbly instals vending machines with fresh food at locations such as offices, gyms, colleges, and hostels. One can purchase the food by scanning the QR code.
12. Hunger Inc: India’s best restaurant
Chef Floyd Cardoz died yesterday. He had created history by owning and running Tabla. Tabla was part of small giant Union Square Hospitality. Later he started Bombay Canteen, India’s best restaurant, O Pedro and Bombay Sweet Shop. RIP.
Dig deeper: The mind behind the chef. Link
13. Smartbusiness Box: ready to use business documents
Waqar Azmi started his entrepreneurial journey by helping companies recruit employees. After placing lakhs of employees he came up with Startup HR Toolkit and Smartbusiness Box. It has 400+ ready To use business agreements, pitch-decks, legal notices & reports.
14. To Be Honest: vegetable crunchy chips
Ritika, Anuj and Mayank started 100% vegetarian snacks brand ‘To Be Honest’ in 2017. They started with okra, sweet potato and beetroot. Later they added three more flavours. In the beginning it retailed at Foothall. Now customers can shop online.
15. Bombay Perfumery: high end Indian perfume
Manan Gandhi grew up with the smells of the geranium, patchouli and rose oil extracts in his home. After growing up he set up an essential-oil trading company in France. In 2016 he started a high end perfume brand in India. It sells the perfumes through its business’s website and at 15 high-end concept stores and multibrand boutiques across India.
16. Kaze Living: direct to home micro greens
Kaze Living produces greens and vegetables using hydroponics. Its produces 100% pesticide and chemical-free crops. It operates from the urban farms around NCR. Customers can order online.
17. Coffeeza: premium coffee capsules
Rahul Aggarwal is founder of Coffeeza. It supplies coffee capsules and coffee machines. It sells five types of coffee capsules ( intenso, classico,chocolate, hazelnut brownie, coffee and decaf) and two types of coffee machines. Customers can subscribe capsules for never ending supplies.
18. Homey domey: innovative home furnishings
Homey Domey is a home improvement D2C brand. It sells unique home decor items such as lightings, dining, decor, barware, bath and furniture. Two of their innovative products are flask planter and motion sensor LED light.
19. Panda Wokk: tasty Indian Chinese
Gunjan started Panda Wokk in Noida in 2012. Earlier she worked as a chef at five star hotel brands. Later she shifted her restaurant to GK3. Panda Wokk also delivers to homes using Zomato and Swiggy.
20 Morning Context: technology and chaos
Ashish Mishra was one of the co-founders of The Ken. Later he quit it to join Morning Context as its editor in chief. Harveen Ahluvalia is its founder. Their stories are in depth and incisive. They also send a weekly newsletter. Customers can subscribe here.
21 Foodlovers TV: gourmet food channel
Kripal Amanna had worked with Taj Group. Later he started a food magazine called Foodlovers. In 2018 he turned it digital. His food trail videos are very popular such as Bengaluru dose trail. He also organises food experience events.
