“The thing women have yet to learn is nobody gives you power. You just take it.” ~ Roseanne Bar

The life of a woman begins to change the day she stops seeking validation from others and understands that she’s her own boss. This realization takes time and introspection. But once she is sure about herself, nothing can stop her from chasing her dreams. The world, in awe of her powers, then calls her “empowered “. But you know what? A woman can be said to be truly empowered when she takes on the responsibility of empowering other women too. And that’s what the mother-daughter duo of Pragya Agarwal & Adhvika Agarwal aim to accomplish with the launch of their startup ORCO (ORganic COndiments) in 2019. The brand is for women & by women, manufacturing healthy, clean and natural products for the taste palette of health-conscious individuals.

It’s the intent that counts

Like all other unforgettable journeys, this one began with a noble intention. Co-founder Pragya Agarwal’s maid, Parvati was an unfortunate victim of domestic abuse. She wanted to break free from that abusive marriage but didn’t have the means or skills to do so. It was then that Pragya decided to step in and help her maid. She put Parvati’s impeccable household work and spice-grounding skill to good use. Soon, she inspired other local women to join. Thus, Pragya created an opportunity to provide pure, fresh hand-ground spices made out of hand mill to the entire community by setting up a small plant in the house.

Her daughter, 25-years-old Adhvika,  came back to India after completing her post graduation in Entrepreneurship from CASS BUSINESS SCHOOL, LONDON. She was inspired by her mother’s honest attempt at changing the fate of helpless women who now loved the idea of being in an environment that felt safe, homely and paid them well. Adhvika explains “My mother and I are both health-conscious, appreciate and love clean food, and encourage healthy eating. This was our chance to provide others with chemical free spices which were handmade with love.” Thus, the exciting journey began by listing their brand ORCO (ORganic COndimnets) and then selling its products to local retail stores.

ORCO :  Making a difference in the most remarkable ways

What makes ORCO unique is its emphasis on using a hand mill to ground spices along with procuring the best certified organic spices from all across India. The products are handmade, 100% Certified Organic, hand-ground hand-cleaned and hand-pounded. Manufacturing spices on hand mills allow spices to breathe and retain all their nutrients and aroma in it, making them fuller, fresher and pure.

They are sold through a few organic and modern trade channels in Delhi NCR and also through Amazon, Flipkart and its own website (www.orco.in). ORCO spices are exported abroad. This has helped the brand to build a strong reputation and presence in foreign countries.

A future with endless possibilities

From 10k customers in the first year to 40k customers the following year, the growth has been on the upswing. The momentum still continues to persist and the brand is confident about its success in the coming years.  More importantly, it is confident of empowering more than 1 Lakh woman with its product range.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/organiccondiments
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/organiccondiments
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/orcoindia

The Woman’s Company

The Woman’s Company is a green company that sells biodegradable Women’s Intimate Hygiene Products as they deeply care for the environment. They are by women and for women and they understand the needs of a woman as nobody else can! Indian entrepreneurs

TWC started operations on the 8th March – International Women’s Day with an objective to offer biodegradable, sustainable and environmental friendly products to women for a better living via sanitary napkins, menstrual cups, tampons, razors and stand and pee urination devices.

This new venture is all about gifting women an intimate platform to call their own; to make them a little more comfortable, secure, healthy and loved, so they can go out and face their fears and live their dreams.

Anika Parashar, Founder & CEO of The Woman’s Company has grown up across four continents and has worked in building women’s health and women’s brands in India for the last two decades.It is her passion to create and provide meaningful solutions for women’s overall health and wellness.

The Woman’s Company is her latest venture which was inspired by her daughter Inayat – she believes greatly in the strength and resilience of women – she’s a single mother, lost her parents very young and yet she believes she has a lot to give back.

Website: https://linktr.ee/TheWomansCompany
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thewomanscompany?utm_medium=copy_link

reCharkha (Indian entrepreneurs)

reCharkha EcoSocial is an endeavor born out of an urge to change the face of our priceless natural surroundings, society, culture and heritage for the better. 

reCharkha EcoSocial is a Social Enterprise, founded on the belief that, development can only be sustainable if it is bottom-up! This means, sustainable development is possible only when it begins at the grassroots and involves an empathetic understanding of the other biotic and abiotic communities.

Their three core areas of work that are geared to achieve this very model are conserving our environment and heritage, enabling rural livelihoods and creating conscious consumers.

Their present focus is resolving the issue of Waste Management, especially that of the non-biodegradable and difficult-to-recycle Waste Plastic. In addition, their initiative employs Tribal Women and Youth, to enable craft-based livelihood opportunities for them. 

Their initiative of UPCYCLING waste plastic into beautiful handcrafted fabric, uses the Indian traditional CHARKHA and HANDLOOM, thus keeping the process entirely manual. The fabric is used to make consumer products such as handbags, fashion accessories, office utilities and home decor products.

Their Vision and Mission has been to believe in a broad and long term vision of rising towards EcoSocial development  and their more immediate mission is UPCYCLING waste to conserve the environment, enable rural livelihoods and create aware citizens of this planet!

Instagram: https://instagram.com/recharkha_ecosocial?utm_medium=copy_link

Bamboo India (Indian entrepreneurs)

Bamboo India mission is a Pune, India based first generation startup by Yogesh Shinde founded on 15th Aug 2016. Primary aim of Bamboo India is to change the bamboo perception from The Poor Man’s Timber to Wise Man’s Timber by providing plastic products replacement using innovative Bamboo Products like Bamboo Toothbrush, Bamboo Earbuds, corporate Gift articles & many more.

United Nation appreciated Bamboo India’s work and invited New Delhi to Participate in Start-up Innovation Exhibition on World Environment Day -2018. Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi ji appreciated their contribution. They have also been invited to the SAARC conference to showcase Bamboo Sector Success Story. In the last 4 years, they have saved 13.5 lac kg of plastic by replacing it with Bamboo Products. In last 4 years, Bamboo Toothbrushes production of 1000 pieces per week has now reached to 50,000 Bamboo Toothbrushes per Day!

Exporting to 18 countries worldwide, including 2400 pin code in India, their customers are well-known brands like OralB, United Nation, National Geographic, Taj Hotels and many more. They signed manufacturing contract with the world’s biggest oral care brand to make Bamboo Toothbrush in India and bring change.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/bambooindia?utm_medium=copy_link

NETE.IN (Indian entrepreneurs)

Nete.in (pronounced as netty) is a curated online store supporting slow made and sustainable clothing and accessories. Nete.in puts together an esoteric collection of clothing and accessories lateral and unique; one that will be a mix for an upbeat and obscure side of an individual. The brands innate sense of style features a playful juxtaposition between classics, urban street style and easy silhouettes.

In addition to the above, Nete.in heavily supports Slow Made, Fair Trade, Organic Clothing, Conscious Consumption, Handmade, Sustainable Fashion, Up-cycling and Recycling. They have been working toward making their packaging strictly sustainable, finding and have found ways to counter their carbon footprint, the execution of these initiatives have unfortunately been delayed however they are set to be deployed this year. 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/netedotin?utm_medium=copy_link

IKKIVI – Bringing Contemporary Indian Ethical Fashion Under One Roof

IKKIVI is a multi-brand curated platform that sells one-of-a-kind ethical fashion from Indian designers. Offering a marketplace for mindful consumption, they source and promote independent Indian designers who empower the artisan, revive culture, stay rooted in timeless design, and hold a heart for nature and for the environment. 

Founding IKKIVI five years ago, Nivi Murthy says that “it is imperative, now more than ever, for us to re-design the fashion system, produce with care, and slow down the process of consumption”. 

The women-led and run business has been working with designers and brands who are making beautiful products and trying to create minimal negative effects on the environment and its people by innovating different techniques and resources. Their brand ‘Doodlage’ wields scrap waste and recycled materials, ‘SUI’ uses organic fabrics made from hemp, and ‘Mishe’ (amongst others) employs orange peel fabric to create novel designs – all of which have taken them a step further in understanding sustainable production and studying their influences on the natural world. 

Through IKKIVI, shares Nivi, “we wish to support and guide people to truly understand the urgency of making sustainable living a mass choice, and to show the value, beauty and impact we can have by making the choice to buy something that is made thoughtfully.” 

IKKIVI’s pioneering initiative in the Indian luxury fashion market has been praised unanimously in the media, and has been featured in issues of Vogue, The Hindu, Homegrown, Conscious Chatter, Lissome, Hue by the Fashion Institute of Technology, Melanin & Sustainable Style etc. 

You can join the IKKIVI journey on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube.

Website: https://linkin.bio/ikkivi
Instagram: https://instagram.com/ikkivi?utm_medium=copy_link

SAATHI (Indian entrepreneurs)

Saathi is a worldwide UN recognized sustainable manufacturing company in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Their journey started back in 2015 when Tarun Bothra & Kristin Kagetsu, decided to give direction to their passion to provide sustainable solutions for feminine hygiene to women in India. In 2015, they came up with their first sanitary napkins which are 100% biodegradable & compostable unlike any conventional sanitary pads. These pads are made of banana & bamboo fibres with other plant based materials which are 100% natural, chemical free & eco-friendly.

They have a multi-layered impact throughout their supply chain: banana farmers receive additional income, consumers are able to use all natural product which doesn’t cause irritation or rashes, & finally they have product that are compostable & therefore doesn’t have any negative impact on the environment either through plastic waste or CO2 emissions which traditional pads have. Saathi’s biodegradable sanitary napkins get decomposed within 6 months whereas conventional sanitary pads take 500-800 years. 

Their Robinhood business model allows them to sell pads at a premium in urban & use these profits to sell at cost in rural. With their program #ONEMILLIONPADS they partner with NGOs to distribute pads among underprivileged rural women. Their products are available on various e-commerce & retail stores.

Website: https://saathipads.com/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/saathipads?utm_medium=copy_link
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaathiPads/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/saathipads
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/saathipads

To read more Startup Stories on The Business Press, visit – https://www.thebusinesspress.in/category/startup-stories/

A home is a personal space where everyone wants to add their own special touch, to make it look more beautiful. To do this there are multiple home décor options available. Today, the online marketplace has made buying home décor quicker and easier. What is most important however, in the online market model, is the “SOURCE” that one chooses.

Here is where a brand like CRAFTTER makes a difference. Says Sachin Sohaniya founder CRAFTTER “Our benchmark is to provide our customers with an ONLINE shopping experience that is almost as good as a physical store experience, minus the hassles of searching for a shop or hunting for parking space. We offer well designed products that add a different vibe to spaces.”

CRAFTTER – Experience home décor in a whole new dimension

Craftter as a business, operates entirely as an online buying platform. It has two distinct home décor shopping portals – www.craftter.com catering to an Indian audience and another portal www.decorlives.com which caters exclusively to the American market.

Apart from selling from its own website, Craftter is also listed as an authorised vendor on Amazon, Pepperfry and Urban Ladder. This extensive presence and reach has meant, that the beauty of its products have been discovered by more than 30000+ customers till today!

CRAFTTER has thoughtfully curated its entire product portfolio with items that are compact in shape and distinctive in design. Each piece on its own is capable of enhancing the ambiance of a space and making it look cool and classy.

Just hang a beautiful clock from CRAFTTER on the wall and time will look beautiful. Just put down a rug in your room and everyone will be floored. Put up an art piece and see everyone go wow! Switch on the lamp and feel the space glow with joy. That is how evocative things from CRAFTTER can be.

So if you want to jazz up the walls of your home or even add that wow factor to your gifting simply click and connect with CRAFTTER!

All the products are sourced from a pool of talented artisans and crafted to very high quality standards in terms of material, aesthetics as well as durability.  Customers can scroll through the portals and discover truly distinctive, handcrafted home décor items, spanning 7 categories and 20+ sub categories.

The CRAFTTER portfolio today is an interesting palette of highly artistic and diverse mix of home décor pieces finished in matt, copper and gold on wood or metal. The range consists of-

• WALL CLOCKS
• WALL ART
• WALL MIRRORS
• WALL LAMPS
• FLOOR LAMPS
• TABLE LAMPS
• HANGING LAMPS
• RUGS

With a sourcing team that works with over 150 vendors to source the best products at the most affordable price, plus its very own logistics and customer support team, CRAFTTER is truly a unique home décor space. 

Website – https://craftter.com/
Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/craftterindia/
Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/craftterindia

To read more Startup Stories on The Business Press, visit – https://www.thebusinesspress.in/category/startup-stories/

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make.” ~ Jane Goodall

As humans, we are used to making the special days of our loved ones even more cherishable. Gifting has been a way to make people close to us feel more valued and even to start new stronger relationships. However, gifting has a great negative impact on the overall health of the planet. Non-sustainable gifts eventually end up in landfills, polluting the ocean, and hamper the ecosystem’s overall well-being. To cater to this pertinent problem, Smita Bhatter laid the foundation of her sustainable, eco-friendly gifting solutions brand, BySmita in 2018.

The Eureka Moment

Smita was in the business of gifting for quite some time when she realised how she can make it more sustainable and eco-friendly while playing with her young son. To provide a happy and healthy environment to her son, she had started growing her own veggies — an activity that her son too took the liking to. That’s when she got the idea to introduce “Grow It Yourself Kits” for one of her client’s birthday returns. The concept was loved by everyone and it developed into a full-fledged business for her.

“This concept further branched into stationery products that are upcycled and eventually grows into plants. This concept is an extension of my passion to give back to the earth,” she shares.

The Unique Gift To Nature

All of BySmita’s products are planned and executed in such a way that they eventually grow into plants. The biodegradable gifting options, therefore, contribute to the overall well-being of the earth. All the seeds used in the process are non-GMO and even the packaging is curated in a way to generate minimal to no waste.

The brand also supports underprivileged women and tries to provide regular work to them. Smita notes, “Through our work, we have tried to revive a lot of local craft as well. The products are well priced and easy to ship. Each product is educative and a lot of thinking goes into designing these products.”

Growing Steadily

BySmita is currently writing a unique story that has all the power to transform how businesses are seen for their impact on the environment. Having already served 5000+ clients, the brand is now looking for more tie-ups with big corporate houses and hotel chains, motivating more and more people to choose an eco-friendly lifestyle. For Smita, her business is not just about numbers, but an opportunity to do something good for the society, giving back to the earth, and creating a sustainable future for all. 

To know more, visit-
Website – www.bysmita.in
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/bysmita/

To read more Startup Stories on The Business Press, visit – https://www.thebusinesspress.in/category/startup-stories/

“Every single one of us deserves access to quality, affordable health care.” ~ Sara Gideon

Providing quality healthcare at affordable rates for the past 35 years, Brawn Laboratories Ltd is creating immense value for its stakeholders by providing world-class products & services through regulatory compliance & operational excellence. With a robust presence in over 60 countries, the brand manufactures a wide variety of pharmaceuticals, across the spectrum, to include Antibiotics – Antibacterial, Cardiovascular, Antidiabetics, Gastrointestinal, Cough & Cold, Anxiolytics & Antidepressants, Analgesics – Anti Tubercular, Anti-Inflammatories, Antivirals, Antifungals, Anthelmintics, Antiprotozoals, Antimalarials, Corticosteroids, Antihistamines, Nutritional supplements and others.

Taking The Pain Away

ACH…OO, established in 2019, is a relatively younger registered brand from Brawn Laboratories Ltd. It is a completely herbal pain reliever range efficient in providing relief in multiple problems like Nasal Congestion & Headache, Chest Congestion, Body Ache, Joint Pain & Muscle Aches, etc.

As per the group’s founder Brij Raj Gupta, what differentiates Brawn laboratories from the rest is that it has preserved the same things differently.  “Product development to meet highest regulatory standards has been a key focus at Brawn labs to attain W.H.O cGMP and ISO 9001-2008 certification.  Brawn laboratories products are unique; not only unique they are ingenious as well. With 100% natural active ingredients in their products, they give the best results without having any side effects,” he highlights.

Persistent Innovations

A firm believer in the concept of “economical medicines & persistence”, Brij Raj Gupta laid the foundation of Brawn Laboratories Ltd. to bring about a change in Indian pharmaceutical market and to contribute towards all round prosperity of the nation. Therefore, the company, since its inception is providing the medical fraternity with new formulations for faster, economical and unique treatment for ailing patients. 

ACH…OO is a unique range of products, developed with the same thought and motivation that lets nature nurture. The scientific innovations paired with the power of nature makes it a standout brand from the crowd.

In the future, the brand wants to see itself as the best global health care company, amongst the top 25 and is toiling hard to achieve that. They consider their clients as a part of their family and it is ensured that stringent quality control measures are always in place to serve them the best. Business to B.R. Gupta has always been sacred and operated with highest ethical standards, professionalism and respect directed to have more than 350+ products, also enabled to newly launched herbal division that serves the best Ayurveda products with the quality mark of Brawn.

To know more, visit – https://www.achoo.in
https://www.brawnlabs.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrawnLaboratoriesLimited/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brawn_laboratories_limited/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brawn-laboratories-ltd/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrawnLabsLtd

To read more Startup Stories on The Business Press, visit – https://www.thebusinesspress.in/category/startup-stories/

Cannabis and its healing benefits have been at the center of a long-standing debate. Over the past few years however, these discussions have entered the mainstream of traditional medicine, modern medicine and alternative medicine healing. Informed research plus a host of successful case studies have translated into a growing acceptance of the healing powers of the leaves, of this almost mystical plant.

Examined in the Indian context, the medical use of cannabis has been propagated in the
Indian Ayurveda and Atharvaveda system. However, there is still a prevailing taboo associated with cannabis use. At the same time, there is an evolved audience that has been keenly following the evolution of medical cannabis in India. The indications are positive and so are the opportunities.

Making the most of these emerging opportunities is SANAN RELIEF – a company at the forefront of cannabis induced medication, in this challenging and highly regulated medical business vertical.

Emerging from the shadows and Transitioning to the mainstream – The healing power of cannabis comes of age

Sanan Relief is an enterprise, created under the umbrella brand of Hemp Herbals Pvt. Ltd., – a venture incorporated in November 2019 by Mr. Gaurav Mehta and Mr. Gaveesh Jain. Gaurav Mehta an MBA in Foreign Trade, is a 3^rd generation medical cannabis manufacturer with over a decade of operational experience of managing 3 factories dedicated to medical cannabis.  His prime motivation being – to bring the potent medical efficacy of Cannabis Sativa within the reach of people who need it the most.

Gaveesh Jain an MBA from James Cook University, Singapore has had successful multi-sector stints. His motivation to enter the medicine business was his mother’s illness. His extensive research further led him to discover learnings about the healing and restorative powers of medical cannabis. Their coming together created Hemp Herbals.

Strengths that create solutions through effective formulations

The strength of Hemp Herbals is derived from the strong fundamentals of its parent company Mehta Ayurvedic Sansthan (MAS). With operational facilities set up in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, MAS is a company well entrenched for more than 3 decades in the business of manufacture and distribution of Ayurvedic preparations.

This relationship gave Hemp Herbals and in turn SANAN RELIEF, the advantages of having access to time-tested processes and resources. More significantly, it opened up access to a valuable knowledge base of a network of Ayurvedic doctors and practitioners, leading to a better understanding of Medical Cannabis. The combined result being the creation of formulations like Churan, Pills, Patches, and Oils that can treat a variety physiological and mental ailments.

The ambitious mission – Transform perception – Offer legal and effective medication.

SANAN RELIEF sources Cannabis Sativa leaves directly from the Government of India. It meets every legal parameter and follows strict manufacturing protocols to formulate its range of cannabis induced medications in India. With more than 5000 orders in FY 20-21 and having experienced grown 5 times in 2020 SANAN RELIEF aims to be one of the top cannabis medicine, direct to consumer brand startups in the world.

To know more, visit-
www.sananrelief.com
www.sananrelief.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sanan-Relief-106513904412048
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sananrelief/?hl=en

To read more Startup Stories on The Business Press, visit – https://www.thebusinesspress.in/category/startup-stories/

Casa is the Spanish word for Home. Yes, HOME, that one single word that has so many emotions attached to it.  It is that precious space where every individual wants to create something special in every sense. The whole feel or shall we say the whole vibe of one’s home, is perhaps the most important element for every individual. It deserves nothing but the very best. This is exactly what Casa Decor set out to represent – a one point stop for homes to source the very best of wood and hardware products.

When homes need beautiful decor, the one source is Casa Decor

The year was 1975 when Casa Decor began as a modest family run venture offering wood and hardware products. Choosing to locate its business in the hustle and bustle of General Bazaar in Secunderabad, it catered to clientele on a scale that was a bit limited in size and scope.

However, rising from its humble roots, the enterprise flourished and has today carved out a unique niche for itself.

Casa Decor is a family run business that has been entrusted from Mr Laxmi Narsimlu to his sons Mr Srinath & Amarnath. The pioneering legacy of what is now a fast evolving and challenging business, is being carried forward by the younger generation, Mr Varshith & Vineeth who have been entrusted with larger roles in shaping the way forward for their company.

Today the two brothers, Mr Varshith Veesamsetty and Mr Vineeth Veesamsetty are at the helm of affairs at Casa Decor and they have bought an exciting and refreshing global perspective to the entire business structure, as well as invested in enhancing the product portfolio of the business.

What has remained the same however, is that Casa Decor still upholds the traditional values of great customer service and an inclination for nurturing long term relationships.

Growth happens with planning and success happens by inspiring

Today, the forward vision of the Veesamsetty brothers has ensured that Casa Decor evolved to keep pace with the sensibilities and tastes of the modern customer and also the trends and practices prevalent amongst key professionals in the interior design business.

With a broader customer base to serve, Casa Decor has invested in creating a swanky new showroom in Hyderabad. Located in the posh Banjara Hills expanse, this signature showroom is perhaps one of the most premium conceptual studio in Telangana. Clients can walk in and explore a mind boggling inventory of products like – Laminates, Veneers, Modular kitchens, Modular wardrobes, Architectural hardware fittings, Designer door handles, Digital and Biometric Locks. All made possible with the harmonious relationship that Casa Decor has built up with leading brands from the global market over the years.

Today Casa Decor serves Architects, Interior Designers, Builders, Contractors, Villa Owners, Gated communities and other living and commercial space designers as its clients. It is now gearing up to collaborate on a larger scale with leading designers across the country to create defining spaces for people to live.

To know more, visit-

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casadecorhyderabad/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/varshith.veesamsetty/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vineeth_veesamsetty/

To read more Startup Stories on The Business Press, visit – https://www.thebusinesspress.in/category/startup-stories/