Startup

Milind Shah from Kolkata founded ‘Gauraa’ to address the problem of massive wastage in the FMCG sector by selling dented, near-expiry and slightly damaged products at discounted prices.

Delhi-based entrepreneur Saina Sahni founded Zirow, a zero-waste event management startup that replaces plastic-heavy decor and disposables with petals, leaves, and reusable materials. Her sustainable approach to celebrations recently earned her the ET Young Changemaker ‘Women in Sustainability’ award at the ET Women Conclave 2026.

Niharika Elety's Bengaluru-based Tega Collective is an ode to native fabrics and dyes that are woven into beautiful designs by members of the South Indian Adivasi communities in Bellary, Karnataka.

Here are the fascinating origin stories of 9 must try artisanal tea brands that not only champion the diversity and nuances of tea from across India, but also show us how magic brews in the most unlikely circumstances.

Growing up in a small town in Jharkhand, Aditi Gupta navigated periods with little information and plenty of rules. Years later, she co-founded Menstrupedia, a comic-led platform that has reached lakhs.

Portl is an AI ‘mirror’ that gives the user tailor-made fitness lessons while keeping each person’s health and lifestyle in mind. For the device, the team bagged crores on Shark Tank.

After quitting high-paying biotech jobs and even selling their home, Nidhi and Shikhar Singh turned India’s favourite snack into a booming multi-city brand called Samosa Singh.

Guwahati-born Varsha Bajaj launched Canboo Crafts, a sustainable venture that turns bamboo into intricate, handmade furniture.

On a trek to Uttarakhand, Goral Rajesh searched for a snack without refined sugar or maida and came back empty-handed. Two years later, her Bengaluru home kitchen is loved by 300 families who order through WhatsApp.

After working for five years as software engineers in the US, Sandeep Jogiparti and Kavitha Gopu quit their jobs to launch LadduBox, which offers healthier alternatives to traditional ladoos.