Founder - #HeartyMart | Featured in CNBCTV18 #YoungTurks 2013 | Speaker IIMA #TRBS 2019 | Venture Creator | Investor
Graduated with BSc in physics from St. Xaviers College, Ahmedabad. I started my sales career with Dalmia Resorts International, a tough time-sharing job and first brush with direct sales. This exposure gave me a tremendous insight in the travel and tourism market and I landed up with a job in Orbit travels in early 1995.
I eventually realized the importance of a professional degree and went on to pursue MBA in the year 1996.
Qualification: MBA (Marketing) with distinctions from IMS, DAVV, Indore
Career Graph: Prior to MBA I had worked with Dalmia Resorts and Orbit Travels as Regional Sales Executive for couple of years.
Post MBA I have more than 8 years experience in Media Marketing and Advertising. I have worked with respected media houses like Dainik Bhaskar, Indian Express and The Times of India.
In advertising I worked with Grey Worldwide (which is 100% subsidiary of Grey Global group with Head office of Indian operations in Mumbai) in Ahmedabad for almost 5 years. I joined Grey in the year 2000 as Account Executive and left Grey in the year 2006 as Account Group Head. During my tenure in Grey I handled brands like Cera Sanitaryware, Digjam Suiting, Bell Ceramics and also handled government events and exhibitions.
I looked after the new business pitch in the agency and co-ordinated with creative & account planning departments during the pitch.
Specialties: Advertising & Communications Consultancy, Retail Entreprenuer
In this series of videos/reels, I’ve discussed these topics in detail, including retail consumer insights, essential dos and don’ts in the food and grocery sector, and the emerging trends and role of technology in making food and grocery retail more effective.
In my business, there isn’t any co-founder, but Alji Bhai can be considered as one, for he was instrumental in convincing the initial partners of our Juhapura store. It was because of him that we were able to create our first store. From the store infrastructure creation to its launch, he played an active part, as I was still working with an advertising agency and couldn’t devote much time initially.
Alji Bhai had always been an entrepreneur, starting from a diamond cleaning outfit to running a hotel in Ahmedabad. His business insights and acumen during the initial stages of my entrepreneurial journey were a great help.
I knew Alji Bhai since my early teens and often visited his hotel in Paldi, which was in my neighborhood. We developed a bond and mutual respect, and that is how we came together.
Today, though he is no longer with us, we remember him for his unmatched contribution to my venture. His legacy lives on in the success of Hearty Mart, and his memory continues to inspire us everyday.
eChai Ventures partners with select brands as their growth partner, helping them expand market reach, drive revenue growth, amplify brand visibility, and strengthen hiring efforts.
