Engineer Entrepreneurs and Organic Honey

Dear Reader,

I have seen that childhood shapes who we become, as we learn by observing the world around us and absorbing its lessons. I know of an entrepreneur who makes low-cost rainwater harvesting devices because he grew up in the water-scarce region of Kalol in Gujarat, helping his mother fill buckets from a public tap after hours in a queue.

Similarly, friends Akshay Kawale and Akshay Wairale grew up in Maharashtra’s drought-prone Akola, observing their agrarian family members struggling with outdated farming equipment and labour shortage. They completed their engineering and now manufacture low-cost and gender-friendly farm tools and equipment for small farmers, they told my colleague Aruna.

Launched in 2022, their startup AgrowSure Products and Innovations helps farmers increase yields and incomes by up to 30 percent through mechanisation. With over 20,000 users in six states, they will double annual revenues to Rs 1.5 crore this fiscal. 

My colleague Chandhini wrote about a teacher-turned-farmer, who saw a huge gap between the demand and supply of traditional handmade arrowroot powder. Sibi K John initially made the nutritious arrowroot powder from tubers growing in his backyard for household use. A rising demand from neighbours turned it into a business.

He now intercrops arrowroot with banana on an acre in Idukki, Kerala and clocks a turnover of Rs8 lakh from 500 kg of organic powder. It’s a steadily growing farm business, proving that processing crops is a sure-shot way to success.

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My colleague Anu spoke to Rohini Patil from Satara in Maharashtra last week. Rohini began beekeeping in 2017 to augment her family's income. Unlike other beekeepers, she puts the bee boxes in forests with medicinal plants to produce organic honey and sells it directly from her home under the ‘Forest Honey’ brand.

She also sells bee boxes to farmers for pollination. Her story is not just about a woman entrepreneur’s success. It is also a stark reminder of environmental destruction. As a result, farmers today have to buy bee boxes for pollination, which was earlier part of the natural cycle and rhythm. Rohini sells bee boxes at Rs 7500 a piece, clocking an annual income of Rs 25 lakh.

Our Sunday story is interesting and offbeat. My colleague Rama spoke with Nandan Renukkappa, who rolled out his ‘Untamed Streetwear’ brand in 2022. The 23-year-old earns Rs40 lakh annually selling chic sneakers, hoodies, tees and more, proving that big fashion ideas can run on four wheels.

His products are priced between Rs 900 and Rs 3500. In his own words: "Our main customers are Gen Z and millennials - people who want more than just a shirt; they want a vibe.”

This ability to understand ‘what people (customers) want’ is necessary to build a successful business. Nandan seems to have got it at a young age.

As India gears up for Diwali, Team 30Stades will take a short break to pause from routine, immerse in light, and let brightness fill our lives. So you won't get our newsletter next week.

Team 30Stades wishes you and your loved ones a bright and sparkling Diwali! May the radiant lights illuminate every life!

Happy Reading!

Warmly,

Rashmi

Engineer duo builds low-cost farm machines; startup revenue to double to Rs1.5 crore this fiscal

Kerala teacher takes up arrowroot farming; earns Rs8 lakh from an acre

Maharashtra woman builds organic honey business; earns Rs25 lakh annually

How this Bengaluru youth’s startup makes Rs40 lakh selling streetwear from a cart