Interview with Devanshi Chitlangia & Aradhita Agarwal | Chaika
I hope this can inspire you to become a successful entrepreneur too! Why is it important to hear the story of a successful entrepreneur?
Having the vision to become an entrepreneur is great. Making it happen is another story!
In that frame, I had the pleasure to interview Devanshi Chitlangia & Aradhita Agarwal, co-founders of Chaika. Chaika is an instant tea premix.
Links
Instagram: https://instagram.com/chaika.in/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chaikaofficial/
1. What gets you out of bed in the morning i.e what’s your source of motivation?
The morning cup of Chaika? Just kidding its the thought of having a brand that becomes a household name and is widely used!
2. Why should people choose your product/services?
It’s convenient, on the go chai for all those like us who don’t know how to make tea, or are too lazy to make it! It has a fun and young vibe if you want to gift it also!
3. What’s your competitive advantage and why can’t it be copied?
Quality! We are providing you instant tea that tastes like ‘Ghar Ki Chai’. Coming from families which have been in the tea business for the last 60-80 years, we have ensured that we pick the right ingredients, control our quality, maintain consistency and not compromise on the taste! Well, also our packaging definitely makes us stand out!
4. What risks are you facing?
External risks mainly the current financial crunch can impact consumption. Other risks are the competition in terms of other tea brands coming up – we can’t afford to go slow otherwise we will be left behind.
5. Have you considered any alliance/partnership?
Open to all sorts of collaborations! Any bloggers, restaurants, hotels, offices, stores – pls contact us if you’re interested!
6. What are your cash flow projections? When will you break even? How much will you need in investments?
We took 3 months to break even. We are working capital and cash flow positive currently. Though we are planning a few big developments over the next few months that will need us to pump in more investment.
7. What comes first for you money or emotions?
Professionally money, personally emotions!
8. What are your strengths and weakness?
Strengths: Both of us are hardworking and straightforward people
Weakness: We’ve been too nice to our employees – especially the interns. They took us way too casually. We wanted to inculcate a casual start-up culture in our office, but people have taken advantage of that.
9. Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of.
Getting Chaika to hotels and clubs all over Kolkata! The first club we cracked was the prestigious Royal Calcutta Golf Club, followed by Calcutta Club, Saturday Club, Calcutta Club, and several others. We also are in the tea coffee trays in the rooms of several hotels and resorts. Seeing Chaika on the shelves of several grocery stores across the city was also a very proud feeling.
10. How do you handle the pressure?
Sit down. List things. Prioritize.
You have to be methodical about things. In a start-up there is a CtoC culture – you’re the chairman, but you’re also the ‘chaprasi’. All the tasks from sales to accounting are on your head and you can’t really avoid tasks you don’t like. That’s the most difficult thing to deal with in terms of pressure, and also whats most different in working on a start-up vs working in an established company.
11. If you sold your company today, what would be the tone of the conversation? What would you want to gain? What would you want to avoid losing?
I would only sell the company partially to an investor who would bring capital, expertise as well as contacts to grow the brand. Chaika is like our baby – its very hard to think of selling a stake unless we really really need to, in order to expand.
12. What advice would you give to someone starting out?
Use mentors – it isn’t as easy as it may seem!
13. Which is your favorite flavor of Chaika?
Aradhita – Mine is definitely the Firangi Chai because I find the combination of milk tea with lemongrass very unusual! Its the perfect gift as well because its a flavor profile most people haven’t tried before.
Devanshi – I like the Dhaba Chai because it’s exactly like the homemade tea I have grown up drinking! I carry it with me whenever I am traveling.
