World Entrepreneur’s Day: Entrepreneurs who took the risk of starting their own businesses and inspired others

World Entrepreneurs’ Day also marks the day when we celebrate founders, managers, producers, designers, industrialists, innovators, administrators and all those who work behind the scenes to not only run but grow a successful business. On this occasion, we celebrate all those who are running successful businesses, and cheers to all those who work behind the scenes to make every business successful.

Apna Green Products

Hyderabad-based Apna Green Products’ entrepreneurial journey began when its Founder & CEO Aruna Dara got a business idea to use banana fiber for creating sanitary napkins, while supporting her friend on a research paper.

After gaining an understanding of how plastic sanitary napkins were impacting women’s health, the founders of the firm developed a prototype to create an economical and biodegradable sanitary napkin, using latest technologies. The production cost of a single sanitary napkin was just INR 7-8.

As her business grew, the Founder & CEO of Apna Green Products understood that banana trunks were a solid waste and by using the banana fiber, she was supporting farmers in solid waste management. She also provided them with a second income opportunity by showcasing the fiber extraction process.

Vrushti Creations

Realizing early on that the Mumbai market was saturated with imported designer clothing, Mumbai-based Hemlata Ashish Ghadiali created a brand that could stand out on its own.

Vrushti creations went the ethnic route, and chose Khadi as its product of choice, culminating with the launch of a brand called ‘Shatakshee’ in 2017.

The brand aims to redefine Khadi and today manufactures an extensive range of apparel in Khadi fabric, including kurtis, suits, and shirts. The USP of the brand is the organic nature of its products, as well as unique designs.

Hemlata explains, “We use lab-tested pure organic cotton & handspun fabric, and machine and hand embroidery are done on the fabric to bring variety. We also participate in Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) exhibitions to showcase and create awareness of our designs, which help us reach more customers.”

Future Farmers LLP

The founder of agri-venture Future Farmers LLP, Ankit Sharma had three clear business objectives to set his brand of jaggery apart: make the process of making jaggery hygienic; ensure that jaggery retains its nutritional value; and ensure that his product resonates with the modern audience.

With the help of mechanized production, including automation and processing, he ensured that his brand of Jaggery ‘Gladden’ is never touched by human hands. This is quite an accomplishment when we consider that jaggery plant workers have remained loyal to time tested techniques across generations. But Ankit helped his staff unlearn them and adopt hygiene basics like masks, gloves, and hair caps to not only preserve Gladden’s purity, but also their own health as jaggery is rendered by boiling sugarcane juice to a scorching 120 C.

Future LLP’s sustainable product portfolio was quickly diversified to manufacture not only jaggery and jaggery products, but also crockery, paper plates, manure, and more from sugarcane roughage. In parallel, the enterprise has entered the service sector, and is setting up new farms, developing food farms, working in soil nourishment, and helping farmers with documentation work.

Describing his unique enterprise, Ankit says, “First I am a farmer, second, a manufacturer, and third, a brand owner.”

Chandan Textiles – Inkeddin

It took Vrinda Khurana only three years to spin coffee mugs, t-shirts, and hoodies into a million-rupee business.

The mugs are Inkeddin’s star performers, and it is no surprise – she has designed some truly eye-catching options, including magic mugs, Spotify mugs, and YouTube mugs. Vrinda is particularly proud of the Spotify mugs and she was the first one to introduce those. There is a barcode on every mug and once you scan it from your mobile phone, a song will start playing. 7

She joined her family business and later started her own brand of customized printed mugs under the brand name InkkedIn, and it took her only three years to turn it into a million-rupee business. A few years ago, she had created a gift for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his mother and sent it to him on Mother’s Day. He sent her a letter in return which she mentions is her biggest achievement and the inspiration behind starting her brand.

Design is something she has been passionate about even before getting into business.