Women Entrepreneur

Tech Queens: Unleashing the Power and Benefits of Women in Tech

In-depth analysis of the influence and advantages of women in technology is provided in this article, along with examples of their achievements and future prospects.

Welcome to the world of Tech Queens, where women’s strength and technology’s enchantment converge! Women are dismantling obstacles, dispelling misconceptions, and permanently changing the IT sector in an area that is frequently controlled by males. In-depth analysis of the influence and advantages of women in technology is provided in this article, along with examples of their achievements and future prospects.

Key Takeaways

With their distinctive abilities and views, women play a crucial role in tech.
Diversity in the computer industry promotes better creativity, problem-solving, and overall success.
Various efforts and support systems may be used to attain gender parity in the IT industry.
We require mentoring, fair chances, flexible work schedules, social support, and education to advance women in IT.

Closing the Gender Gap: The Importance

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A gender gap has long plagued the IT sector, with women underrepresented in technical professions. However, both the timeframes and the numbers are evolving.
Research continually demonstrates that diverse teams are more innovative, creative, and capable of addressing problems.
Companies with diverse leadership teams are 33% more likely to outperform their industry peers, according to a McKinsey analysis.
We can access a wide skill and perspective pool by supporting women in technology, which will result in better, more prosperous businesses.

The Rise of the Tech Queens: Inspiring Success Stories

“Girls Who Code” creator Reshma Saujani has devoted her efforts to eliminating the gender gap in technology education and encouraging females to go into the field of technology.
Facebook’s COO Sheryl Sandberg is a well-known name in the IT industry and a supporter of women’s equality in the workplace.
Ada Lovelace, regarded as the first computer programmer in history, pioneered the door for women in technology and showed that gender is not a factor in technological ability.

These remarkable women have broken glass barriers and paved the way for the following generation of Tech Queens, along with countless more.

Women in Technology: Benefits

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The benefits of women in tech are clear because they contribute a distinctive set of talents and views to the field, which has many positive effects:

Creativity and Innovation- By bringing varied perspectives, experiences, and methods for tackling problems to the table, diverse teams promote creativity.
Better Interaction- Women frequently prioritize cooperation and collaboration, which promotes an inclusive and encouraging workplace culture.
Better user experience- Women frequently have a profound awareness of consumer preferences and demands, which results in better-designed goods and services.
Greater Market Coverage- Due to the fact that women make nearly half of the global population, having diverse employees may help businesses better understand and serve a wider range of customers.

Efforts Fueling Change

Through workshops, mentorship, and support networks, organizations like Girls Who Code, Women Who Code, and AnitaB.org are actively attempting to close the gender gap in technology.
To create an atmosphere where women can thrive and successfully contribute their abilities, tech businesses are putting diversity and inclusion programs into practice.
Schools are putting more effort into encouraging females to study STEM fields, offering scholarships, and questioning conventional gender stereotypes.

Building a Helpful Ecosystem: Supporting Women in Tech

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For women to be more powerful in the IT sector, a supporting ecosystem must be established. Here are some crucial actions we can do to support and promote women in tech:

Role Models and Mentoring

Aspiring female engineers can receive direction, motivation, and support through mentoring programs that are established and by looking up to successful women in IT as role models.

Opportunities for Everybody

Encouraging fair recruiting processes, doing away with discrimination based on gender, and giving women in tech equitable compensation and professional growth chances.

Policies for Flexible Work

Women may successfully manage their home and professional life by implementing flexible work rules, such as remote work choices and flextime.

Creating Collaborative Environments

It promotes a sense of solidarity and belonging to provide venues where women in IT can interact, network, and exchange experiences, such as online groups, conferences, and meetings.

Education and Developing Skills

Girls and women may be given the information and skills they need to succeed in the computer business by providing educational programs, scholarships, and seminars that are particularly geared toward them.

We can unleash the full potential of women in tech, foster creativity, and sculpt a future where gender diversity is the norm by adopting these proactive steps and working together to create an inclusive and supportive tech community.

Final Thoughts: Empowering Tech Queens for a Better Future

It’s time to acknowledge and capitalize on the power of women in tech as the sector changes. Adopting diversity and gender equality not only results in more inventive and prosperous businesses but also in a more inclusive and equitable environment. Let’s keep advocating for women in technology, dismantling obstacles, and empowering the Tech Queens of now and future. Together, we can realize the full potential of the technology sector and create a future that is better for everyone.

Top 6 Lucrative Industries for Women Entrepreneurs in Virginia

Unleash your entrepreneurial spirit in thriving industries for women entrepreneurs in Virginia! Discover the top lucrative sectors in this state.

Dreaming of becoming a successful woman entrepreneur? Look no further than the enchanting state of Virginia, where opportunities abound for trailblazing businesswomen. Get ready to embark on a captivating journey as we unveil the top six lucrative industries for women entrepreneurs.

Tech And Innovation

There is no doubt that this is a thriving and lucrative industry. It presents tremendous opportunities for entrepreneurs. With government support and a robust tech ecosystem, they are breaking barriers. Furthermore, the state boasts renowned research institutions. These include institutions like Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia.

Additionally, tech giants such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have established a significant presence in this state. So, they are creating a supportive environment for women-led ventures. The state offers resources like grants, mentorship programs, and networking events tailored to women entrepreneurs. Women in tech are excelling in fields like cybersecurity, software development, and artificial intelligence. However, they are not only building successful businesses. Rather, they are also driving meaningful change in society.

Overall, the tech industry here thrives on diversity. The industry provides opportunities for collaboration and scaling up. Women entrepreneurs in tech are leading the way. They are demonstrating that innovation knows no gender. The dynamic landscape of the tech sector inspires ambitious women to write their own success stories.

Food And Beverage

Another thriving and lucrative industry is the food and beverage business. The state is known for its diverse culinary scene. It attracts food enthusiasts from near and far. Professionals are carving their niche in this delectable domain. They are launching successful ventures and captivating taste buds. Overall, this state offers a wealth of business opportunities in this sector. Also, they range from specialty foods to craft breweries and unique dining experiences.

Moreover, they are bringing their culinary passions to life. They are infusing innovation and creativity into the industry. With a strong emphasis on sustainability, the food and beverage sector goes perfectly with the values of conscientious consumers. Also, the state hosts vibrant food festivals and farmers’ markets. These provide an avenue for people to showcase their creations.

Furthermore, collaborations with local farmers and artisans further enhance the authenticity and quality of their offerings. Virginia’s thriving tourism industry acts as a catalyst for women-led food and beverage businesses. Also, the supportive community of fellow entrepreneurs, food critics, and food lovers fuels their success. Overall, women entrepreneurs in the food and beverage industry are contributing to the state’s economic growth. Virginia’s flavorful landscape awaits women entrepreneurs ready to whip up their culinary triumphs.

You can connect with other entrepreneurs in Virginia and share experiences.

Creative Arts And Design

Next, creative arts and design are some of the best industries for women entrepreneurs in Virginia. The state’s vibrant arts scene provides a place for visionary women to turn their creative passions into thriving businesses. With its rich cultural diversity, Virginia offers opportunities in fashion, interior design, graphic design, and crafts. Women entrepreneurs are leaving their mark through unique designs, captivating aesthetics, and innovative concepts.

Virginia’s art galleries, craft fairs, and design markets serve as platforms for women entrepreneurs to showcase their talent. Furthermore, the state’s supportive network of artists, designers, and enthusiasts nurtures creativity and fosters collaboration. Women in creative arts and design leverage digital platforms and social media to reach a global audience, expanding their market reach beyond state borders.

Next, Virginia’s commitment to cultural preservation creates a demand for authentic, handcrafted creations. This is providing a niche for women entrepreneurs to thrive. The state’s growing tourism industry acts as a catalyst, as visitors seek one-of-a-kind artistic experiences. If you’re looking for a new career opportunity in this sector, Virginia is the place to be. For your relocation, commercial movers can step in and make it a smooth process. This will leave you with more time to work on the first steps of building your career in Virginia.

Green And Sustainable Businesses

The state’s commitment to environmental stewardship creates a place for women to make a positive impact through their ventures. Opportunities abound in eco-friendly products, renewable energy, and recycling. Virginia’s supportive ecosystem encourages women to embrace sustainability as a core business principle. Women entrepreneurs are leading the charge, developing innovative solutions that address environmental challenges.

Furthermore, the state offers resources and grants specifically targeted at women-led sustainable businesses. Consumers are increasingly demanding eco-conscious products and services, providing a ready market for women entrepreneurs. Virginia’s emphasis on clean energy and green initiatives creates a favorable environment for businesses in this sector to thrive. To make your move to Virginia more sustainable, moving experts from Helix Move VA advise you to reuse as many packing supplies as you can. This way, you can path the way to your sustainable and eco-friendly business.

So, Virginia’s sustainable and green industry is a beacon of hope, inviting women entrepreneurs to build profitable businesses while championing the cause of environmental sustainability. The state’s forward-thinking approach and supportive infrastructure ensure that women entrepreneurs have the tools and resources needed to make their sustainable dreams a reality. Virginia is a great place for women to nurture green businesses that reap both financial rewards and ecological benefits.

These industries for women entrepreneurs in Virginia offer many opportunities for growth.

Hospitality And Tourism

Finally, hospitality and tourism stand as one of the top lucrative industries for women entrepreneurs in Virginia. The state’s rich cultural heritage and captivating attractions create a thriving landscape for women to establish successful ventures. Furthermore, opportunities abound in boutique hotels, unique dining experiences, event planning, and more. Virginia’s diverse tourism offerings attract visitors from all corners, providing a steady stream of customers for women-led businesses.

Next, the state’s stunning landscapes, historical sites, and vibrant cities serve as a backdrop for unforgettable experiences. Women entrepreneurs in the hospitality and tourism sector are leaving their mark. They are curating exceptional accommodations, and unforgettable dining experiences, and organizing remarkable events. Virginia’s supportive network of industry professionals, tourism associations, and government initiatives fosters growth and collaboration. Women entrepreneurs in this industry seize the opportunity to showcase the state’s charm and provide memorable experiences for travelers.

Overall, Virginia’s commitment to promoting tourism and supporting small businesses amplifies the success of women entrepreneurs in this industry. They are transforming Virginia’s hospitality and tourism sector into a lucrative domain. So, the state’s dynamic tourism landscape invites them to build their businesses.

Education And Training

Firstly, this state boasts a strong education system with high demand for tutoring services. Additionally, online learning platforms are gaining popularity, creating opportunities for women entrepreneurs. Moreover, vocational training is in demand, providing a niche market for specialized programs. Furthermore, women entrepreneurs can tap into the educational needs of specific industries.

For example, healthcare and technology sectors require specialized training programs. Moreover, its proximity to Washington, D.C., opens avenues for government training contracts. Furthermore, women entrepreneurs can offer educational consulting services to assist schools and organizations. In addition, the state’s diverse population creates demand for language and cultural training.

Finally, women entrepreneurs in the education and training industry can leverage technology for scalability and reach a wider audience. With careful planning and innovation, women entrepreneurs can establish successful ventures in the education and training sector.

You can find success as an entrepreneurs in Virginia in any of these six industries.

Summing Up Industries For Women Entrepreneurs In Virginia

Virginia, with so many opportunities and industries for women entrepreneurs, beckons you to unleash your potential. With a supportive ecosystem, this state provides the perfect canvas for women to turn their entrepreneurial dreams into reality. So, let your passion guide you and embark on your journey as an aspiring woman entrepreneur. Embrace the challenge, make your mark, and contribute to the sustainable and thriving business landscape of this state. Your entrepreneurial journey awaits, and the possibilities are endless.

Ankita Kumawat, an IIM grad, quit her high paying job to adopt organic farming

Leaving a palatial and well-settled job, Ankita choose to become a full-time farmer, being the first-generation entrepreneur.

A very large part of the youth while chasing at the white-collared jobs forget about the Indian backbone of economy-farming. And while Ankita Kumawat has proved it wrong. After her post-graduation in Business Administration from the Indian Institute of Management of Calcutta in 2009, she started working with the companies until 2014 when she came back to her native Ajmer and adopting farming as her profession.

She felt it to be her duty and moral responsibility to look after the family business which was started by her father. Though her parents were government employees they started the dairy business after taking voluntary retirement.

While the various sectors were observing huge growth, the farming sector was losing its shine. Ankita decided to use the latest technologies in farming for the operation of the activities and taking it to new heights. She introduced the “Maatratav dairy and Organic food” as an attempt to get into organic farming.

Leaving a palatial and well-settled job, Ankita chose to become a full-time farmer, being the first-generation entrepreneur. She feels very proud to be an entrepreneur and instead of working under someone else she now provides job opportunities to various people.

In the starting days, they earned very little revenue and she had to pitch in money from her own pocket. She never once lost hope and believed that one must put in a minimum of 1000 days of hard work to achieve the desired results.

Breaking the standard pattern, she brought in organic farming and also started the home-delivery of dairy products. She started selling organic vegetables, flour, spices, honey, and grains, etc. and all of these products were home delivered, and very soon her business started to spread.

She says that the real challenge was to make her customers aware of how different their approach was towards farming and how were their products different from theirs. She says that it wasn’t a cakewalk to explain to the rural people about this who hardly cared about the quality or the way the products were manufactured.

She also believes that organic farming has huge potential as various brands have started to associate themselves with solar energy and various non-conventional methods and their future also seems to look bright.

Here’s how a 34 year old single broke mother became the owner of Halli Mane Rotties in Mangalore

Shilpa, a 34-year-old mother based in Mangalore who went through hell and back, now owns a food truck and is a successful woman entrepreneur.

All of us go through bad days in our lives and these days can make you or break you. It all depends on how you seem to look at them and how determined are you towards your goals. Shilpa, a 34-year-old mother based in Mangalore who went through hell and back, now owns a food truck and is a successful woman entrepreneur.

She completed her education to standard 10^th and lived a happy and contented life. After getting married, she moved to Mangalore with her husband, Rajashekar, a city-based businessman. After a few years of their marriage, he went to Bangalore stating some business purpose but never returned. He left Shilpa with their three-year-old son. Their families tried looking for him and also lodged a complaint, but nothing helped.

Only when the bills started to pile up and with no money in her hands, Shilpa started taking small jobs. But with an income of only Rs 6000, it didn’t help meeting her needs and so she started looking for other better options.

One day, during a family conversation, everyone started praising about Shilpa’s cooking skills and emphasized about her ability to make delicious Karnataka cuisine. For all this time, experimental cooking was her hobby but this time she was thinking about it seriously. She told her brother about starting a venture which serves healthy food.

While leaving, her husband did not leave a single penny for them but she had Rs 1 lakh in her bank account which she saved for her child’s education. After a lot of thinking she used up that money. She saw a Mahindra showroom nearby and planned on getting a truck but 1Lakh wasn’t enough for it and so she had to sell her jewelry.

In 2015, she bought a Mahindra Bolero pick-up truck and started a food joint called Halli Mane Rotties.

She was criticized by many for her decision to sell north Karnataka cuisine in South Karnataka. But to everyone else’s surprise, her stall became a hit and everyone was gob smacked. Working from 4 pm to 10 pm every day, she earns around Rs10,000 every day. They key to her popularity is the material from her hometown and they don’t add additives or colors thereby keeping the food homely.

For having online visibility, a few students helped her map her food truck on Google maps which only added to her customer base. She also plans on opening a second outlet with her brother and Anand Mahindra has offered to buy her Bolero as an investment.

Today with a turnover of Rs 3 lakh a month, she has set an example that our fate lies in our hands.

16 year old Arushi Agarwal, founder of Unknown16 is providing free virtual education to children in Bihar from New Jersey

Along with this, Arushi also happens to be a UN Climate Action Speaker and activist. She has also launched her first book Project: Hackathon which is available on Amazon.

Charity begins at home and Aarushi decided to go the extra mile at a mere age of 16. Arushi Agarwal has been helping kids get an education, and that too free of cost.

Born in Hisar, Arushi is currently residing in New Jersey in Class XI. In the year 2016, she joined FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and was able to understand how important programming learning at an early age was.

She would spend five hours of her day coding, programming games and designing bots and helped her team in getting selected in FIRST World Championship. However, during the contest she realised that there were only boys and very few girl participants.

When she dug in deep, she came to know that due to a lack of resources and confidence, they were not able to make the progress they should have. She wanted to do something to change the then situation.

So, in 2018 Arushi came up with an initiative named Unknown16 where she not only organized workshops but also created resources online which focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics along with programming and it wasn’t limited to school going students of New Jersey but also to the ones in College.

She even went on to collaborate on a youth collective in Bihar, Lahanti Club, and took virtual classes on the weekends. She teaches about 300 students in Bihar’s villages of Kumbadih, Naiadih, Jabardah and Govindpur.

In fact, she even ended up setting up computer labs for the students. Her parents provided all the support and even helped her build her website for her initiative Unknown16.

After her website was completed, Arushi also added resources for students who wanted to learn Python, Scratch, Java, CSS and HTML along with Data Visualisation. She also conducts workshops at libraries that are located in her neighbourhood.

She even started a campaign on GoFundMe in October 2019 to help her raise a thousand dollars to help her build the infrastructure including purchasing the computers and furniture. So far, she has already raised $450.

Presently, Arushi is teaching those kids in Bihar to read and write in English, as for coding, the basic knowledge of the language is a necessity. Once they learn this, she will start with the basics of coding for those underprivileged children.

Along with this, Arushi also happens to be a UN Climate Action Speaker and activist. She has also launched her first book Project: Hackathon which is available on Amazon.

From leaving home at 15 to starting Ruban Accessories, Chinu Kala’s story is all about winning battles

To all those people who think that they cannot make it big, Chinu’s story of being a rebel and taking control of her life will definitely inspire you.

If you are one of those who think life is too unfair and everything is getting difficult by the day, you need to hear the story of Chinu Kala. It was at the mere age of 15 that Chinu decided to leave home after she had an argument which turned out to be a very heated one. She was at the Mumbai station with just Rs. 300 in her pocket.

Being as young as 15, she was noticed by a lady who asked her to go home. However, when Kala explained that it wasn’t an option, the lady helped with an address where she would get a job and also a dormitory where she could get a place to stay for Rs. 25 a day.

She then became a salesgirl and faced challenges since it isn’t ever easy to be a door to door salesperson without most people choosing to not entertain such sellers. Along with that job, Kala also worked part-time as a receptionist, a makeup artist, tele caller, and even an emcee.

In 2004, Chinu got married and after a bit of a nudge from both her husband and friends, she entered the Gladrags Mrs. India contest. While she did not win the pageant, she understood how important accessories were in a woman’s life.

She gathered all her savings and launched her own accessories brand called Ruban Accessories. Her sales background helped her climb those stairs of success without too much difficulty. Now, Ruban Accessories sells jewelry right from Rs. 200 to Rs. 10000, and is sold online and at a retail outlet in Kochi.

To all those people who think that they cannot make it big, Chinu’s story of being a rebel and taking control of her life will definitely inspire you.

From failing to crack IIT to assisting aspirants, Aditi Avasthi’s ed-tech startup Embibe is all about helping students

The startup has received a total of 590 crores since February 2020 as funding from Reliance Industries

In the era of digital learning, teaching several thousand students via audio-video classrooms has become a business but what teachers fail to understand is as to how will a student’s weakness be identified by the teacher in such a setup.

Aditi Avasthi identified the problem since she went through a similar phase after not being able to get into the IITs because of her not so amazing chemistry skills and no teacher in sight, to help her fix the problem. In fact, since Aditi could not crack the IIT’s, she went ahead and pursued an MBA in Chicago and worked for several popular firms like Barclays, Ben and Co., etc.

While Aditi had several other options abroad to explore her career options further. However, she decided to come back to India and in the year 2007 toured 15 Indian cities, meeting with teachers and students from coaching classes, which made her realize that it was not the right way for students.

It is then when she established the online test preparation portal Embibe. It was in December 2013, when her venture got funding of Rs.24 crore from Kalaari Capital and Lightbox Ventures. In fact, in April 2020, Reliance Industries invested a whopping Rs. 500 crore on the ed-tech startup

Now, there are over 3 lakh students who take the Embibe online test. Embibe has a team of 70 analysts, who after the test give a detailed explanation to students regarding their weaknesses along with ways and methods to make them right.

As per Avasthi, while coaching centres end up charging about a lakh rupees, Embibe does the same in a third of the amount. In fact, since there is no classroom involved, the cost is way less.

The test will be soon made free of cost and there will just be the analysis fee for students to pay. In fact, she is also planning online tests for students from Class 8 to 10. As per Aditi, the analysis by Aditi for JEE students has an accuracy of about 92 percent.

Scoopski, an all women dessert startup has recorded 120% CAGR generating revenue of over 30 Lakhs

Scoopski, Kolkata based foodtech startup is a result of an ‘impatient millennial who couldn’t wait for her dessert

People have the habit of criticizing everything that comes their way. The most popular misunderstanding and myth about young adults are they are a bunch of slackers who most often sit idle. The previous generation of elders tends to think and complain about the laziness and impatience they have.

Scoopski, Kolkata based foodtech startup is a result of an ‘impatient millennial who couldn’t wait for her dessert,’ 23-year-old founder Vedika Tibrewal said

Scoopski was founded in August 2018 by Vedika Tibrewal mother Sonal Tibrewal. Scoopski produces edible cookie dough which can be consumed straight from the jar or can be baked into cookies or used as a topping.

Vedika was an economics major student in Kolkata’s St. Xavier’s College. She travelled to the US in 2017 to attend Harvard Summer School. She was on a trip to New York city with her friends when she visited a cafe Cookie DO Confections. It was flooded with people which included even celebrities standing in the queue for the unique offering – edible cookie dough

Vedika was astonished to see the flock. She recalls, “I would have never waited that long to try the cookie dough if my friends hadn’t insisted.” After two hours wait, she tasted something which she hadn’t eaten ever before. “It super fudgy and indulgent.”

A month after she returned to India, she realized, the concept of cookie dough is still a foreign thing to the people in India. Vedika says, “Going by the late adopters of trends that we Indians usually are, I would it take a while for this product to take off.”

Her home kitchen became her experiment lab as she tried to recreate the edible cookie dough of New York. She says, “My inexperience in the kitchen was an advantage as I tried creating a no-frills dessert that could be customised and played with.”

She had finally cracked the recipe after spending immense hours in the kitchen and then sent out scoops of cookie dough to her friends and family. She received positive feedback and her friends wanted more so Vedika started taking orders for scoops of cookie dough, which she christened Scoopski.

Sonal, Vedika’s mother helped Vedika in preparing the dough and supplied the resources needed for the business. In February 2018, this mother-daughter duo tested their product at outdoor marketing in Kolkata’s Hindustan Park in February.

Vedika was encouraged by the response that she received. After this, she went ahead to do the products and development of packaging. After some efforts, she finally managed to convince her mother to join her venture.

Vedika says, “Being homemaker for last 25 years, she knew how to operate a small team and get the best out of them.”

As she was just 21 at the time of incorporation of the company, the beginning days were challenging for the entrepreneur. The first challenge she faced was at the time of incorporation itself when she approached some agents to help for with the procedure.

She says, “They charged me four to five times more than the market rate for licensing. They thought I was too young, inexperienced, and had not researched much. My father wanted me to go along with the rates they offered but I refused. Getting a company registered was not rocket science.”

Vedika still remembers how she used to visit and revisit the government offices, Police Stations to get her company registered. She adds, “For something that took only a couple of minutes, I had to spend two months doing the rounds of offices. I was not taken seriously.”

With an initial investment of Rs. 1 lakh, the company was finally incorporated in August 2018 under the name of Vikson Foodworks. After overcoming the initial challenges, in 2019, Vedika was awarded with the youngest finalist of Times of India Women Entrepreneurship Award. Her startup, Scoopski was also featured in LBB’s Emerging Brands Award in Customer Product category.

The tie ups

For local delivery of Scoopski in Kolkata, Vedika tied up with Swiggy, Zomato, and a couple of delivery agencies. She focused more on marketing, product, and business development while Sonal took charge of production and other operations. Apart from this mother-daughter duo, Scoopski has a team of three women who are managing production.

Through Scoopski’s Facebook and Instagram pages, people started reaching out to her from other parts of the country as well. From Sonal’s home kitchen, Scoopski has moved into production unit. In October 2018, it further pivoted its model so that it could serve and cater to a larger audience.

The edible cookie dough has now moved to reusable glass jars from scoops, with proper labeling and usage descriptions and instead of selling on a third-party company, it is sold on its own website. Vedika tends to target the “magical generation of millennials that all marketers strive to catch.”

Presently, Scoopski is offering 11 flavours of cookie dough as well as a prepaid Gift Card. The range of cookie dough jars is between Rs. 300 and Rs. 500. Nutella Chocochip, Caramel Sea Salt, Biscoff, Monster, Mint Chocolate, and Red Velvet are some flavours among others.

Vedika reveals, “My 7-year-old neighbor, Cookie, helps me create the flavors, and I consider views from our existing customers through social media polls before launching a new flavour.” She cites an example and says, the blue-colored Monster cookie dough was launched last year during Holi which is made using digestive biscuits and M&Ms. “It was created to stimulate the nostalgia of eating tongue coloring candies.” Likewise, during Valentine’s week, the Red Velvet cookie dough was launched.

Through the sales from its website, the main revenue of Scoopski is generated. Scoopski also takes part in expos and exhibitions around the country. In Kolkata and Surat, Scoopski has tied up with four cafes where its products are stocked.

The cookie dough is completely preservative-free; hence it has a shorter life. It stays fresh for about 20 days in ambient condition and about three months in a freezer. Vedika says, “At this time, it serves as a solution for all working couples who do not have want to take the effort of whipping up something from scratch on a date night.”

Since establishment, Scoopski has recorded up to 120%, CAGR and in the previous financial year, generated revenue of over 30 lakhs. Vedika adds, “We are anticipating a surge in e-commerce sales and are looking to double the sales figure this year.” Scoopski soon has plans to list its products on Amazon and LBB.

Presently, Vedika is pursuing her master’s in Food and Beverage Management at Bocconi School of Management in Milan and the business back home is managed by Sonal. Vedika says, “Many thought my venture was a past time, but I am very passionate about sport Scoopski and I am still too young to fail.”

Teacher to Entrepreneur: an inspiring journey of Swati Chugh, director of dessert chain 7th Heaven

Many women opt for conventional careers without realising that they can do wonders in the business world and address its risks, challenges and successes whereas some women believe that being an entrepreneur would be a part of their destiny. Entrepreneurs are born, not made. Such an example is Swati Chugh, the director of 7th Heaven, a popular chain of dessert stores across India.

Such an example is Swati Chugh, the director of 7th Heaven, a popular chain of dessert stores across India.

Decision to step into a job

After completing her master’s in psychology from Jai Hind College, Mumbai, she decided to take up teaching. After she got married, she joined Delhi Public School as a teacher and then thought of helping her husband Arjun in his dessert business called 7th Heaven.

Inception of entrepreneurship

They were blessed in many ways. In 2013, the startup was established as a part of Kitchen Fragrances India LLP. Then a year later, in 2014, it became a franchise model. In terms of traditional and trendy concept, 7th Heaven has grown up quickly in the retail space with more than 150 stores in over 75 cities and 21 states.

Swati expressed “The F&B sector is extremely dynamic, but has immense potential if you understand the segment well. We have always been interested in food and desserts, and believe they are an integral part of any home. Whether it’s a big family, small or for someone living alone, the target consumer belongs to a wide range. So, we decided to take the plunge to pursue the passion of bringing innovations in the bakery industry and building a brand on quality and values.”

Smart work and hard work need appreciation

Before ensuring that they had all the business elements right, they had faced a lot of hardships. Swati said,

“We invested in the right places to make sure there was no compromise on quality. Efforts were made to figure out the logistics and make sure they functioned seamlessly. The break-even time ended up being longer than expected, but we remained resilient and soon enough, our persistence bore fruits.”

To attract customers and for them to stick to the brand, they have given an international look and feel to their stores making it the perfect ambience. The store consists of brownies, cheesecakes, customised cakes and macaroons in its list.

Further, she said,

“We understand that different people h-ave different taste palates, and that’s why we have something for everyone with a huge variety of desserts.”

7th Heaven has bellied up with the concept of Live Kitchen. In this, they show cakes are made within 7 minutes which is a proof of fresh products they sell out.

Swati explained, “Unlike other bakery chains that use a central kitchen to bake cakes and then distribute to various outlets, we have a live kitchen in every outlet so that we serve only fresh and soft cakes. This is a huge hit with our customers because the difference in quality is a distinguishing factor that makes us stand apart from the rest.”

7th Heaven also offers fancy desserts to its customers such as 3D designer cakes, macaroons, chocolate pizza, mug cakes and cupcakes.

The tipping point of 7th Heaven is the reasonable costs of desserts which help in reaching out to more people without compromising on the quality of products.

They not only fulfil customers’ demand but also become a small and significant part of their lives.

Swati showed her concerns, “We believe our job is to spread happiness wherever and whenever possible. Some interesting ones that have stayed with us are stories like this couple who would visit us daily to share a paneer puff. Another customer ordered cakes from us right from her baby shower to her son’s fifth birthday party a few weeks ago. So, we feel really grateful to be able to play a vital part in the lives of our customers and grow with them, in good times and the rest.”

Formation of ideal strategies

Staying relevant to customers, 7th Heaven has opted both forms of advertising – above the line (ATL) and below the line (BTL). This balances aptly between being informative and creative in its communication.

Swati said, “From print ads like leaflets to newspaper ads, radio ads, hoardings, movie theatre collaborations, free sample tasting to customers, online ads, and membership programmes, we have used different media vehicles to form a certain connection with our customers. This has helped us in forming a bond with our existing customers while constantly reaching out to potential customers.”

Swati has entered in such an industry about which she was not completely aware of, so she has faced many obstacles.

On this note she said,

“We learnt on the go as we put in a lot of efforts, constantly studied the market, had a few setbacks that we overcame, took some time to break even, but overall it was a wholesome journey.”

However, the business broke in three years and then started making profits. Right now, the outlets are closed due to COVID-19 crisis and they are looking to resume the catering side of the business.

The story of Vera Bradley: From sewing bags on a ping pong table to becoming one of America’s most loved brand

Together, Barbara Bradley and Patricia R. Miller founded Vera Bradley, a popular American handbag, and luggage design company.

Inspiration can come from anyone at any time. Homemakers can do wonders too, Barbara and Patricia proved it right by building a new business with just Rs 32000 investment together.

Together, Barbara Bradley and Patricia R. Miller founded Vera Bradley, a popular American handbag, and luggage design company. They are two of America’s most successful self-made women according to Forbes.

“If you have an idea run with it. Don’t think twice, just go with it like I did.” said a very successful woman to those who are looking to start their own business.

The success story of Vera Bradley, a superhit brand has its own interesting back stories and the extremely unexpected beginning.

It was 1982, when Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and her close friend as well as neighbour, Patricia Miller were boarding a flight from Atlanta. They tend to notice how uninteresting women’s travel bags looked at the airport. The lack of feminine looks on the luggage bags disappointed them completely and that is when they decided to create their own brand.

Both Barbara and Patricia were homemakers and did not have money to fund their company. They decided to borrow $250 which comes upto Rs. 16,000 now each from their husbands. Out of that, they both purchased some floral, quilting fabric made in USA to make the colourful bags.

Their initial workplace was Barbara’s basement. They put up an advertisement in the newspaper for people who wished to take up sewing work from their homes. They cut fabric out in a Ping Pong table and put it with zipper and other elements in a bag. Later, this bag was passed on to women who took it home to sew.

Their important source of inspiration was Barbara’s mother, a former model and that is how the company was named after her name, Vera Bradley.

They soon ran out of funds and needed more to take their work ahead. Just then, friend of theirs who believed in their idea, gave them cheque of $2,500 which is around Rs. 1,60,000. He said, “If they were successful it was a loan. If they were not, it was a gift.” That cheque worked like magic for them and helped them achieve great heights.

In the first year, they sold products for $10000 (Rs.6.44 lakh) and by the end of third year, the revenue was $1 million.

In the year 1984, these two ladies decided to rent a space for sewing so that they could concentrate on marketing and sales alone. In the beginning, they had no idea about how to price the bags or do a cost analysis. It is then that they got in touch with SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives), a non-profit organisation providing free business mentoring to the entrepreneurs and there, a volunteer was appointed to help them.

The sales touched the sky when they started calling the stores and showcasing their bags. In 2007, Barbara and Patricia open their first retail store. Customers from the age group of 8 to 80 visited their store.

According to the designers, the designs were created after keeping the American taste in mind. They have also launched a wide variety of baby bags, student backpacks and accessories. Some of the bags are also inspired by English and French designs. For both the ladies, the business has seen the growth because of their family and friends.

Barbara still remembers what her father said to her that ‘In business, you sell yourself first, your company second and the product third. Business is all about forming relationships and having company that reflects your value.”

Early in the 1990s, Barbara and Patricia lost a close friend to breast cancer. They then decided to establish the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer which has donated more than $10 million to the Indiana University Cancer Centre. Barbara Bradley and Patricia Miller have now become quite famous because of their business.

From homemakers to founders of a brand whose annual sales is over $550 million. The true friendship of theirs has always been the cornerstone of success of their brand, Vera Bradley. The label, Vera Bradley is known for colourful prints and high quilted cotton bags today. Amongst the various other American brands, this brand has become one of the favourites.

From just handbags, the brand has now expanded their product offerings to clothing, jewellery, eyewear, fragrance as well. Barbara’s and Patricia’s journey are truly inspirational which started with a workspace of a ping-pong table and a wonderful idea in 1982.

Patricia Narayan: A success story of a woman who earned 50 paise a day

Patricia Narayan the woman who earned 50 paise a day now is a woman who has inspired many to never give up

Patricia Thomas married Narayan at the mere age of 17. More so, she was ousted from her family home as her parents were against this inter-religion marriage. To top it all, the love of her life who she left everything for, turned into a drug addict soon and she was left with no money and four hungry mouths to feed. However, she wasn’t the one to give up and she decided to start over. Thus, she set up a mobile cart on Marina beach and with help from two specially-abled people, she started selling snacks, coffee, tea and juice. She claims that Marina was her business school as it taught her everything there was to learn about running a business.

Over the next years, she started running canteens for offices in Chennai and soon in 1998, became the director of Nelson Manckam road restaurant. However, it wasn’t the end of grief for Patricia. In the year 2002, Narayan, passed away and after some days, her daughter and son-in-law lost their lives in a car accident too. These events seemed to have devastated Patricia but she decided to hold on to her determined spirit and move on.

Patricia and her son soon set up their first restaurant called “Sandeepha” which was named after her late daughter. Since then, she has gone on to devote all her time to building and nurturing her restaurant and making it bigger and more popular than ever.

Her struggles to make odds meet were difficult but the courage and determination she showed was definitely extraordinary. In 2010, her struggles and business sense was appreciated and she won the ‘FICCI Woman Entrepreneur of the Year’ and soon became an inspiration to all women across the country.

“I started my business with just two people. Now, there are 200 people working for me in my restaurants. My lifestyle has changed too. From travelling in a cycle rickshaw, I moved to auto rickshaws and now I have my own car. From a mere 50 paise a day, my revenue has gone up to Rs 2 lakh a day.” -Patricia Narayan

WEFT helping women set up and scale their businesses

Woman Entrepreneurs for Transformation (WEFT) created by Iti Rawat is a NGO to provide support and a networking platform for women entrepreneurs. With WEFT, Iti is able to aid women to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.

Woman Entrepreneurs for Transformation (WEFT) created by Iti Rawat is a not-for-profit organisation to provide support and a networking platform for women entrepreneurs.

With WEFT, Iti is able to aid women to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.

“There are not enough incubators dedicated to women. Venture capitalists and investors see them from gender-biased lenses; they are not given equal opportunities. They are also expected to take care of the household and look after their children while running their startups, whereas their male counterparts are expected to only take care of their business,” she explains.

Started in August 2018, WEFT has over 1,000 women entrepreneurs in its network.

WEFT organises events such as open mics, speak-up events, marketing events, and pitching competitions to help entrepreneurs get funding and network with investors and like-minded people for growth opportunities. It also helps them build a network of clients, referrals, and vendors, and share their ideas and resources.

Apart from events, WEFT highlights and recognises women entrepreneurs through video blogs and series, and awards and recognition.

Women entrepreneurs can become a member of the network by paying an annual membership of Rs 5,000, and access to all the resources, events and opportunities provided by WEFT.

“We are working towards a sustainable development goal of 50:50 gender equality in startups. This will take all-round development, starting from awareness building to recognition and rewards,” Iti says.

Iti was awarded the ‘Social Leader of the Year’ award by the Indian Business Women group in 2019.

Social entrepreneur Ruchi Jain delivers farmers’ produce to places like Taj Palace Hotel

Social entrepreneur Ruchi Jain’s fifth venture named “Taru Natural” sells 5- gram jaggery sachets to India’s leading hotel and cafe chains.

Social entrepreneur Ruchi Jain’s fifth venture named “Taru Natural” sells 5- gram jaggery sachets to India’s leading hotel and cafe chains that includes Taj Palace Hotel, Blue Tokai, Suzette Creperie, Smokehouse deli and many more.

She has completed her Master’s degree in Environment Change and Management from the Oxford University.

The idea of selling jaggery 5-gram sachets came into her mind when she got in touch with farmers who were not able to sell their farm products including jaggery.

She used to go on field visits to different villages in India as a government official under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. She was working on rural electrification project funded by the World Bank between 2012 and 2014.

“That trip was a big game changer and I realised it’s more important to work on integrated development of farmers who are the backbone of the country”. She left her job in 2014 and decided to work full time serving the rural market and helping them organise their supply chain for reaching the right customers.

She founded organic farming startup Taru Naturals in 2016, taru meaning ‘tree in Sanskrit’. With this farmer-focused startup, Ruchi hopes to safeguard the interest and livelihood of farmers operating on fragmented land by helping structure what she saw as a ‘highly disorganised sector of organic farming’ with an erratic supply chain.

Her mother Poonam Jain, who is a co-founder of Taru Naturals is responsible for research and development department. She is a naturopathy expert and has always been experimental while practising organic farming in their backyard.

Ruchi says a great deal of research and development work went in developing their 5-gramme jaggery powder sachets.

They are now looking to enter the B2C market, some of its bestselling products include turmeric latte, khapli wheat flour, sourdoug and so on.

Tips for women entrepreneurs to manage the business and study smart

Most women entrepreneurs grapple in the dark and don’t know what to do to become successful.

The numbers of women entrepreneurs have steadily escalated in the recent past. Although men have for long ruled most businesses, nowadays, there’s a shift in the trend, and more women are involved in big corporations. However, most women grapple in the dark and don’t know what to do to become successful.

Below are tips on how to succeed as a woman entrepreneur:

1. Enroll for business courses

There are many cases of women entrepreneurs who mishandle their business partnerships, lose money, end up with a destroyed image, and in debts. Luckily, there are many courses you can take to equip you with the necessary skills on how to succeed as a woman entrepreneur.

Although managing a company may take much of your time, this should not hinder you from gaining skills on how to empower yourself as a woman. You should know how to study smart and if you lack time to attend your classes, online class help is the way to go. They have a team of professionals who assists students struggling to balance classwork and busy schedules and can help with your classes, assignments, and even exams.

2. Have a business coach

Business coaches can help you address your internal struggles before you set out to build your brand. But why? Starting a business as a woman can be challenging, you can do marketing, and that’s good, but a relationship with yourself is also essential for your success.

Conclusion

There are different ways on how to succeed as a woman entrepreneur. To avoid struggling, like many other women entrepreneurs, you need to enroll for various courses, create adequate for studying, listen more, and pay attention to the course materials. This way, you’ll acquire critical business ideas on how to flourish.

Dhivya Suryadevara: First female CFO of General Motors

General Motors, a renowned carmaker company has appointed 39-year-old Dhivya Suryadevara as its first female chief financial officer (CFO).

Education

She studied in St John’s Senior Secondary School in Mandaveli,Chennai. She later earned a degree from the Ethiraj College for Women in commerce and went on to pursue Chartered Accountancy at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

Suryadevara did her MBA from Harvard University and went on to get her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in commerce at the University of Madras.

Early Life

Following her father’s death when Suryadevara was young, she and her two sisters were raised by a single mother.

“My mom had to raise three children on her own, which is difficult to do anywhere, let alone in India. She wanted to make sure there were no corners cut when it came to our education and to prove that we could have the same resources as a two-parent household. Her high expectations made us want to do better, and we learned that nothing comes easy. You have to really work hard to get what you want.” said Suryadevara.

Career Beginning

She began her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers before moving to investment banking at UBS. At 25, she joined GM as a senior financial analyst at the treasurer’s office, and she’s been with the company ever since, eventually becoming one of the youngest chief investment officers of GM Asset Management.

Kylie Jenner: Youngest self-made billionaire, Forbes magazine

She reached the milestone earlier than Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg

Kylie Jenner has been named the youngest-ever, self-billionaire by Forbes magazine. She reached the milestone earlier than Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg who became a billionaire aged 23.

Forbes estimated that Jenner’s Kylie Cosmetics is worth at least $900 million, and she owns it all.

However, that description rankled some critics who questioned whether Ms Jenner, whose family has appeared on reality television for years, could truly be described as “self-made”.

Forbes says as long as she didn’t inherit a business or money, she’s labelled self-made.

She also makes money from endorsements and appearances on cable TV’s Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and was ranked at number 2,057 on the Forbes 2019 list.

Kylie Cosmetics last year signed a deal with Ulta Beauty to put her products in all of the retailer’s 1,163 US stores.

The list shows Amazon’s founder, Jeff Bezos, remains the world’s richest man. The 21-year-old founded and owns Kylie Cosmetics, the three-year-old beauty business that generated an estimated $360m in sales last year.

“I didn’t expect anything. I did not foresee the future. But (the recognition) feels really good. That’s a nice pat on the back,” Kylie told Forbes.

Of all the billionaires on the list only 252 are women, and the richest self-made woman is real estate mogul Wu Yajun of China, worth an estimated $9.4 billion.

The number of self-made women reached 72 for the first time, up from 56 a year ago.

Ankiti Bose 1st Indian women CEO of $1 billion startup made into entrepreneur’s 35U35 list

Ankiti Bose is a 27 years old Mumbai native, who co-founded Zilingo with Druv Kapoor (both IIT Guwahati alumnus).

Entrepreneur’s 35 under 35 list is presented by Blenders Pride Reserve collection. This list includes some unconventional names from the field of entrepreneurship. Ankiti Bose is a 27 years old Mumbai native, who co-founded Zilingo with Druv Kapoor (both IIT Guwahati alumnus). She has graduated from St. Xavier’s college Mumbai with economics and math’s degree in 2012. ‘Zilingo’ is a southeast Asia focused fashion e-commerce platform.

It has grown over 11 times in revenue over last 12 months, which has helped it reaching unicorn status. Bose realized that there was a bigger opportunity in helping small merchants scale up & compete with big brands like Zana & Uniqlo through a B2B platform. Some of Bose’s early inspiration came from a visit to Bankok’s popular chatuchak market, which features more than 15,000 booths selling goods from across Thailand.

She realized the sellers didn’t have sufficient opportunities to expand. Bose is now part of a group of founders in Southeast Asia who are capitalizing on the region’s rapid adoption of smartphones and rising incomes. Online shopping in the region reached $23 billion in 2018, according to a report by Google and Temasek. It is expected to exceed $100 billion by 2025.

Meet these 13 women entrepreneurs ruling start-up trend in India

Today women are bubbling up in the start-up fever running across the country and are proving themselves better than men in every way.

Hunting that is, one wild beast. One goal, one aim, just one thing to concentrate on. Today women are bubbling up in the start-up fever running across the country and are proving themselves better than men in every way.

Meet such 13 start-up queens of India which are making an impression in the country with their brand and category running successful more than any other working start-ups.

1. Falguni Nayar

Nykaa

An investment banker once decided to switch up and became an entrepreneur, setting up this beauty and makeup portal with very easy online access to makeup products. You can find and buy your beauty products without any hustle.

Also read: 5 challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in India

2. Richa Kar

Zivame

Buying lingerie has often been a subject to secrecy. Zivame comes with a multi-brand lingerie portal where you can choose directly from a lot of options available without going through any public experience.

Also read: Richa Kar founder Zivame: Making her way to glory and success

3. Shubhra Chadda

Chumbak

Chumbak was started in March 2010, by Vivek Prabhakar and Shubhra Chadda (husband and wife). They both started with an idea to create fun and bright Indian souvenirs. Something funky, trendy and colorful to gift? Who would not like that?

4. Suchita Salwan

Little Black Book

Little Black Book (LBB) was started in 2012 by her when she found herself in Delhi looking for things to do, especially on the weekends. Over here you could find good places to eat and enjoy in Delhi.

Also read: 9 women entrepreneurs who continue to inspire us

5. Sairee Chahal

Sheroes

Sheroes is a community of women. It’s a safe space for conversations where you can ask anything ranging from your health to career. Its community is over a million-member strong. SHEROES is the largest women’s community online. Apply to jobs, connect, engage and grow.

6. Richa Singh

YourDOST

YourDOST, provide an online counseling and emotional support platform designed to foster mental wellness. It anonymously connects you with the right expert consisting of psychologists, psychotherapists, counselors, life coaches, career guides and people with rich and deep life experience, who understand you and guide you through completely confidential individual sessions.

Also read: Why India needs more women entrepreneurs

7. Vineeta Singh

Fab Bag

Remember a 23-year-old IIM pass out, featured on the cover of the week for rejecting a job offer of 1 crore? Well, that makes sense now.

At FAB BAG, they have beauty experts and addicts driven by our passion for high-quality beauty products and delightful service.

8. Kanika Tekriwal

JetSetGo

A rising cancer survivor fought all the odds and never gave up on her dream of flying high. After too much trouble, hard work and effort she finally made it go through blues and ‘Jet Set Go’ becoming the largest fleet in the country.

Also read: Must have skills for budding entrepreneurs and start-up founders

9. Supriya Paul

JoshTalks

After getting disappointed by tried and failed several CA efforts, the decided to something for the students like her, confused and stuck in the race. After meeting her co-founder Shobit Bangaat sharing the same motive. Josh Talks was on its mission to unlock human potential. Josh Talks is a conference to discuss remarkable stories and ideas from India.

10. Tanvi Malik and Shivani Poddar

Faballey

Working with their jobs they realized the problems faced by young women in buying proper clothing and accessories with a limited budget. FabAlley is a bold, inclusive and fashion-forward brand aimed at arming women with fashion that is an extension of themselves.

11. Pranshu Bhandari

Hello English

Hello English is an English language-learning application, which allows users to learn the English language through interactive modules. As of January 2017, the application has over 15 million downloads. It functions on a freemium pricing model.

Also read: The one principle every entrepreneur needs to follow to succeed

12. Priyanka Agarwal and Anshulika Dubey

Wishberry

Wishberry is a rewards-based crowdfunding platform that enables users to raise funds for their creative and innovative ideas. Wishberry Online Services Pvt. Ltd. ( Wishberry) is a Kickstarter-inspired crowdfunding platform based in India. It launched in 2012. It has already helped fund in 3 award-winning films.

13. Neetu Bhatia

KyaZoonga

Being a national level cricket player, she introduced India’s first entertainment and sports ticketing company, having their own IP and ticketing technology platform that enables them to scale up domestically.

These women entrepreneurs have proved themselves in the hard case scenario of stat uptrend which is proven to be male dominant already.

Meet American lady Brook Eddy, built a million-dollar empire by selling ‘chai’

She went back to the USA and started Bhakti Chai which has now become a global brand.

Everybody in India loves chai; our mornings start with it, and we’re all chai addicts. If you make a list of things that unite this nation into one, we’re pretty sure that chai will appear on that list too. It’s so deeply integrated into our lifestyle that it has become a daily need. From rich to poor, everyone enjoys tea in India.

Interestingly, everyone has their own unique way of enjoying tea. Some drink it with cookies, some with Parle-G biscuit, whereas there are some who’d not drink it without toast.

In India, you’d find a standalone tea stall at every corner of a city, but now it seems that the competition has moved to the USA as well.

An American lady, Brook Eddy got this idea when she came to visit India in 2002. She went back to the USA and started Bhakti Chai which has now become a global brand. It took her 14 years to become what she is today.

Take a look!

Brook Eddy still recalls her 2002 visit to India that changed her life.

Brook’s journey of selling chai from the trunk of her car in Colorado (US) to creating the Bhakti Chai empire is refreshing, and something that every chai lover should know.

It was a ‘purely desi chai’ that inspired her.

We all get inspiration from somewhere in our lives for Brook it came when she took the sip of a desi chai during her 2002 India visit.

After going back to the US, Brook searched almost all the Colorado cafes that could offer her the same taste, but it was her bad luck, and she couldn’t find one.

She didn’t give up, and decided if she cannot find it, she’s going to create it on her own.

In 2006, Brook decided to make a concoction and named it Bhakti Chai (Fondness for Tea). She then stuffed gallons of chai (tea) in the back of her car and started selling it to people.

In 2007, Bhakti Chai got its official website that helped her to reach more consumers.

Eddy left her full-time job and turned entrepreneur. The website proudly claims, “Bhakti Chai’s fresh ginger and spicy masala flavour has gained a cult following.”

Soon the product that started from a car trunk found its place on the cafe shelves in unique mason jars.

In an interview, Brook Eddy shared, “I’m a white girl born of hippie parents in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and then raised in Michigan, right? I shouldn’t have this pulse for India, but I do. I love the chaos and vibrancy. Every time I come, I’m introduced to something new. It’s real.”

On her website, Brook mentions that…

…the company got its first significant boost when she found her first investor. It helped Brook Eddy buy a ginger press, hire two full-time brewers, and begin to focus on sales and business infrastructure.

What’s astonishing is the fact that she was taking care of her two children side by side.

Brook is a single mother of two children. In 2014, she was among the top five finalists in Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” award.

As Bhakti Chai’s sales rose, Brook also started to donate. Brook has made donations to organisations that are working for global causes.

7 Indian women entrepreneurs who have carved a niche for themselves

Indian women have broken age old stereotypes and are rocking the entrepreneurial scene.

Indian women have broken age-old stereotypes and are rocking the entrepreneurial scene. With a home, children and a million responsibilities to fulfil, they’ve still managed to emerge as superstars and do very well for themselves. Their relentless zeal, quench for success and hard work is what sets them apart in the male-dominated business industry.

Here’s a list of 7 women who have done extraordinarily well for themselves:

1. Indra Nooyi

Indra Nooyi is the CFO and chairperson of Pepsico which is the second largest food and beverage chain in India. She is a powerhouse and used her entrepreneurial skills extraordinarily well to help the company reach great heights. She was also awarded the prestigious Padma Bhushan award for her achievements, contributions and for being an inspiration in the corporate world.

2. Vandana Luthra

We are all aware of the brand VLCC which has spread its wings to 11 different countries across Asia, Africa and GCC. VLCC was started by Vandana Luthra who hails from Kolkata and is a beauty expert but got herself well versed with nutrition, beauty and fitness before starting her own venture. She received the Padma Shri in 2013 for her contributions to the field of beauty. In 2015, she featured as the 33rd most powerful woman in business in India by Fortune India.

3. Puja Bansal

Puja Bansal is a certified diamond grader and launched herself under Khandelwal Jewellers Ltd which is a popular jewellery brand. For her own online venture namely myheera.com, Puja has constantly been innovating new designs. She also specialises in manufacturing, retailing and designing. She believes that competition is required to excel and aspires to make her online portal the best in the world in the b2b gems segment.

4. Nina Lekhi

Nina Lekhi is another powerful woman who started her venture, Baggit, with some minimal investment from her mother. Today, her brand has over 44 stores across the nation and she along with her team launches an array of new designs each month for people who are fashion conscious. In 2015, Nina received the Women Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2015 by Rajiv Pratap Rudy and also featured in the Fortune India’s Most Powerful Women list.

5. Arpita Ganesh

Often referred to as “the Indian bra lady” of the country, Ganesh was the first woman to start a high-end lingerie brand with a variety of styles and fits called Buttercups. Started in 2008, her venture provided fitting sessions to over 3000 women all over the country. In 2016, the brand received massive funding from Kanwaljit Singh. The success of Buttercups was possible only because of this woman’s passion and hard work.

6. Richa Singh

Richa Singh co-founded YourDOST along with two other people, Puneet Manuja and Prakhar Verma. YourDOST aspires to provide mental well-being to people who are going through any kind of mental or emotional stress and respects their anonymity. They aspire to help people discuss and share issues and counsel the issues. With over 60k users, the website has 70 specialists. Recently, YourDOST raised around $400K in an angel round of funding from angel investors.

7. Shradha Sharma

Shradha Sharma has an impressive CV but she is best known for her entrepreneurial venture Youstory.com. This website is popular with everyone who is well-versed with or wants to enter the start-up ecosystem of the country. She has also launched sister platforms such as HerStory, SocialStory, YS TV, YS Research and YS Pages and caters to over 50 million readers.