Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Pranav Mehta, Founder and Director of Caffena Coffee, located in New Delhi, Delhi, India.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Caffena Coffee is all about giving people the coffee which is rightfully theirs. Coffee that has been ethically sourced and sustainably packed is then delivered directly to the customer's doorstep. We believe in bringing the best of both worlds with offerings ranging from Specialty grade single-origin 100% Indian Arabica coffee beans to our convenient Dip-N-Sip coffee bags. And to further our quest for the best coffee, we are also coming up with our range of Premium Freeze-dried Instant coffee.
We also take pride in our sustainability initiatives, like being the first D2C brand in India to offer free carbon-negative shipping on all our products. We are big on sustainability and want to offer a guilt-free coffee-drinking experience to our customers with our 100% plastic-free packaging.
Recently, we have started our in-house project by the name of Caffuel, where we are working out ways to reuse the used coffee grounds (UCG) to create products that can be used to generate energy, thus pushing the boundaries of the circular economy even further.
We cater to the B2B and B2C segments of the market with customers from all walks of life and from various parts of India, and currently, we are looking for partners who can help us in taking our products to the global audience.
Tell us about yourself
I started this business when I was 18 years old with about 180 Sterling pounds with a conviction that I wanted to create a difference. The vision was to create an extension of my personality to my values and beliefs. Since I was a kid, I have always had this vision of myself being at the top of the game and having the resources to make a positive impact in the lives of the less fortunate. I wake up with the same thought every day that if we don't do this, there'd be nothing left to save.
There has to be someone who wants to bring about a positive impact on the ecosystem, so why not be that person?
Trust me when I say that there will be days when you will hate it but remember that those days will teach you the most about why it matters the most and why you should do your level best not to back down. Life's too short for mediocre stuff!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
There are many, and frankly, when you've come this far, you tend to remember less and less of the accomplishments and more of the failures because that's where true learning always comes from. But if I had to choose one, then I would say that it was the day when a parent came up to me and said, "I want my son to be like you when he grows up." That, for me one of the most significant accomplishments of my life as an individual.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
There are many complex things that you have to deal with daily, but the hardest ones are that you can never slack or lag. And because of this, you have to compromise on your time, your mental peace, and your physical health, and the most prominent hit is taken by your relationships with your loved ones. It is a very lonely road, and for the most part, you're the only one who can pick yourself up and start walking again.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Focus on playing long-term games with long-term people. It helps a lot in building a great team from the start.
- Never stop learning or reinventing yourself. The day you think you know it all is the day you start to fail.
- Have patience and never compare your journey with anyone else's. We all are running different races but on the same track. However, the bottom line is that our start and finish lines are not similar at all.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://caffenacoffee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caffenacoffee/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caffenacoffee/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pranav-mehta-5b54851a/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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