This Raksha Bandhan, we turn the spotlight on businesses led by Indian brother-sister entrepreneurial duos
Honouring sibling goals for the upcoming Raksha Bandhan, we throw light on sibling dynamics among the heads of some of India's leading entrepreneurial partnerships. Photo Courtesy: iStock
If you've ever had a sibling, you know quite well the opposing blend of love and hate that exists between them. Siblings are among the few individuals who can both support and challenge you in equal measure. As we mature, we develop the skills to share, care, and become more of a companion to our siblings.
Even as we forge our individual paths, remnants of the traits and habits we learned from one another linger. These shared experiences often evoke nostalgic reflections on the journeys we undertook side by side. Yet, there are moments when we take these collective memories and traits, fuse them into something extraordinary, and together, conquer all that we set out to.
Honouring sibling goals for the upcoming Raksha Bandhan, we throw light on sibling dynamics among the heads of some of India's leading entrepreneurial partnerships.
Almas Nanda and Amin Virji: The inspiring journey of inc.5 footwear
Remember Marilyn Monroe's iconic words, 'Give a girl the right shoes, and she will conquer the world.' The perfect pair of shoes, particularly heels, can empower a woman with confidence. However, striking the balance between style and comfort often feels like an uphill battle.
Almas Nanda encountered this dilemma and was determined to achieve a harmonious blend of abundant style and unparalleled comfort. Back in 1998, at the age of 24, she embarked on the journey of establishing Inc.5 – a brand committed to delivering chic footwear without sacrificing comfort.
In 1954, their grandfather introduced 'Regal Shoes,' a business managed within the family. Although it focused on producing standard and formal footwear, the scope was restricted. However, in 1998, the sibling duo envisioned the potential within an unexplored footwear market - one that amalgamated stylish designs with exceptional comfort. And so, Inc.5 came into existence.
Her brother Amin Virji, the Managing Director of Inc.5, sheds light on their humble beginnings with a single store at Heera Panna Shopping Center in Mumbai, which eventually expanded to encompass 54 exclusive stores across India. He turned a conceptual footwear store into a prominent domestic leader within the footwear sector. The family attributes the current triumph to the dedicated efforts and collaborative spirit of both family members and staff.
Mehma and Meherwan Bawa: Crafting traditional meats with artisan passion
Founders of Artisan Meats, Mehma and Meherwan Bawa, have redefined meat processing by embracing traditional methods void of mechanisation, fillers, binders, or additives. Their expertise lies in pork, and their collaboration with farmhands ensures top-tier quality. Their mission is to debunk misconceptions about Indian pork, reassuring consumers of its safety and deliciousness.
Meherwan, the chef-partner, and Mehma, the operations partner, live by the creed 'Eat Clean Meat and don't offer what we wouldn't devour ourselves.' Artisan Meats sprouted from a genuine affection for well-cured and processed meats, preserving a cherished culinary heritage.
In their initial days, factory-produced meats brimming with additives and soya dominated the market. Over the last four years, they've managed to transform people's perceptions about the merits of this healthier alternative," the duo shares. How does this partnership thrive? What challenges arise when working with a sibling?
Their success lies in non-interference coupled with complete transparency. This approach maintains a seamless workflow while respecting each other’s individual spheres of influence. They have unwavering faith in theirskills and their alignment towards shared objectives. However, working in the same house has its pitfalls, as work sometimes seeps into personal time.
The partnership the duo shares flourishes because they are an inseparable team. Their skill sets diverge yet beautifully complement each other. While Mehma is a novice in the kitchen, Meherwan isn't the most adept with numbers. In case of disagreements, their bond as best friends swiftly resolves them. The distinction between work and home life is blurry. Even during social outings, work creeps into their conversations, a balance the duo is yet to achieve.
Neha and Meet Kanodia – Founders behind the pure-play relationship app
Amidst the array of dating platforms such as Tinder, Bumble, and Happn, as well as well-known matrimonial services like Shaadi.com, JeevanSaathi, and BharatMatrimony, stands GoGaga—a unique friends-of-friends dating app.
Launched in 2018 in Bengaluru, by Neha Kanodia, aged 36, and Meet Kanodia, aged 31, the network-oriented app mimics real-life interactions by replacing the usual intermediary with a reliable mutual friend. This friend not only facilitates introductions but also endorses the connection. Consider how people forge new friendships in person, often through friends and house gatherings.
Conceived with the intention to bridge the gap within the Indian market, catering to young singles in search of meaningful relationships, GoGaga was envisioned by the Kanodia sibling duo. Neha, a seasoned techie boasting 14 years of experience as a tech lead at global giants like Oracle, Goldman Sachs, and Software AG, is the platform's technical bedrock.
Meanwhile, Meet, an Electrical Engineer from IIT Delhi, with a six-year background in investment banking in London, spearheads the business facet of the service. Together, this dynamic duo employs innovation to assist a generation, much like themselves, that has encountered challenges in the realm of finding their potential partners.
Presently, the GoGaga team comprises six dedicated members (including the founding duo), and the app boasts a user base exceeding 40,000 individuals. Impressively, more than 30 percent of these users have been introduced through the powerful influence of word-of-mouth recommendations.
Karishma & Krish Kewalramani: championing inclusivity with FAE's beauty revolution
FAE, short for Free and Equal, envisions and produces beauty products that cater to everyone. Their guiding principles revolve around diversity and inclusivity, which significantly influence all pivotal decisions within the company. At FAE, they uphold the notion that beauty is a sentiment, not a rigid formula. Their devoted team tirelessly strives to construct an inclusive community where individuals of all shapes, sizes, colors, orientations, and more feel genuinely heard and catered to, consistently.
Currently, they offer a limited collection of matte lipsticks that harmoniously blend with users' unique skin tones, guaranteeing that each person finds a shade that complements them perfectly. What accounts for the effectiveness of this sibling partnership – It thrives due to the harmonious interplay of complementary skill sets.
One of them brings creativity to the forefront, while the other excels in handling numerical aspects. One is inclined towards following established protocols, whereas the other consistently seeks inventive solutions to navigate challenges. Trust and optimism guide one, while the other adopts a pragmatic and strong negotiation stance. These diverse skill sets synergise seamlessly. The primary challenge of collaborating with a sibling is the struggle to establish boundaries. Work and personal life intermingle easily, sometimes infringing on each other's private spheres.
Rohan and Prakshi Sharma: From siblings to innovators
In 1995, Rakesh Sharma and his wife Sunita embarked on the journey of establishing RK Jewellers in Delhi, aiming to provide customers with the finest gold and diamond jewellery designs available in the market. With an initial investment of Rs 3.55 crore, they dedicated extensive hours to nurture the business into a flourishing venture.
A turning point arrived in 2011 when the second generation, represented by their children Rohan and Prakshi, assumed responsibility and aspired to build upon their parents' accomplishments. Their vision was to elevate RK Jewellers into a distinguished brand renowned for its artistic design collections, resonating with a global audience beyond the borders of India.
Aged 33, Rohan is a Gemological Institute of America (GIA) graduate from New York, while Prakshi, 30, boasts accolades as an award-winning designer from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York. Together, they assume pivotal roles in shaping the intricate designs showcased by RK Jewellers.
While the brand's repertoire caters to women across various age groups, specialising in diamond and polki jewellery, the dynamic sibling partnership ventured into a new direction in 2014. This marked the launch of an additional label, Prakshi Fine Jewellery, meticulously curated by the duo. Aimed at the millennial demographic, this sub-brand offers an array of diamond and gemstone jewellery, tailored to resonate with the sensibilities of the younger generation.
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