Odisha, a state known for its unique culture and geographical attributes, is quickly becoming a center of entrepreneurship in India. The state has witnessed numerous success stories of individuals who have not only contributed to the economy of the state, but who in their works exhibit the spirit of innovation, hard work and tenacity. These individuals are creating new businesses, changing the lives of the people for the better, and putting the state onto a winnable ladder. The present article brings forth some of the most successful entrepreneurs of Odisha and their incredible own stories – their battles and victories.
Ritesh Agarwal: The Visionary Behind OYO Rooms
Bissam Cuttack in Odisha is a place of origin for the Ritesh Agarwal Aqaa many of you reading this will probably relate his over-the-top innovative approach to running the hospitality business. As the founder and CEO of OYO Rooms, he is credited with having transformed the budget hotel industry in India. His journey as an entrepreneur started at the age of 21 when he saw a problem, specifically that of affordable standard hotels for the traveling public.
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OYO Rooms’ business model entails that the company provides budget rooms at certain quality levels to the owners of the properties. This way, it improves customers’ access to affordable stays in India and even other countries. Under the management of Ritesh, OYO Rooms has not only expanded its business in India, but has also developed into a worldwide hospitality brand, attracting huge capital from industry leaders such as Lightspeed and Sequoia.
The story of Ritesh brings hope to several entrepreneurs who are coming up because every such journey such as Ritesh’s is motivating.
Srikumar Misra: Redefining Dairy with Milk Mantra
Milk Mantra is the company she founded in 2009 after relinquishing a successful corporate job to Srikumar Misra of Odisha. Envisioning a dairy sector where people get fresh milk products without any compromises on ethics or quality, he began setting up Milk Mantra. Milk Mantra today is already catering to milk needs of over 20000 farmers in five hundred villages in the state of Odisha and takes care that these farmers are paid and that the milk is without any additions when it reaches the customers.
What makes Milk Mantra different from others is their concern for the consumers as well as the farmers. The company has created such an innovative product, that it has successfully raised a significant amount of venture capital and gone out of Odisha to set up shops in places like Kolkata and Jharkhand. Srikumar Misra’s ethical sourcing and sustainable business model has been the reason why Milk Mantra is now a household name in the eastern part of the country.
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Basanti Rana: Empowering Women Through Entrepreneurship
Basanti Rana is a brilliant portrait of determination as well as self-empowerment. In spite of facing societal stereotypes for her disability, Basanti set up a tailoring centre in the Jajpur district of Odisha. What was a small project to begin with, has now trained more than 1200 women in garment making and 200 of them have become successful business women.
Her initiatives which are concentrated towards women upliftment in rural regions has beyond changing lives garnered her national attention. Basanti Rana’s tale is evidence that efforts and functioning at the right time pays off in winning any battle.
Nazia Ali: Crafting Success with Lovely Obsessionz
Meet Nazia Ali, an entrepreneur from Bhubaneswar who took her passion for art and founded a gifting solutions company, Lovely Obsessionz. Since the start in 2015, the company has expanded extensively and have displayed their lines in both national and international exhibitions.
Given her strong business acumen along with the artistic abilities, Nazia has helped in the growth of Lovely Obsessionz. She is also a member of such entrepreneurial groups and works in association with the World Trade Centre in order to expand her brand. Her experience highlights the creative aspects of innovation in the business world.
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Rasmita Choudhury: Leading Digital Transformation with DSCR Techno Solutions
In the domain of digital development, Rasmita Choudhury is in the vanguard. In 2017 she created DSCR Techno Solutions Private Limited founded in Khorda, Odisha. The firm presents various digital marketing services including SEO, SMO, SEM, and designing websites. Her company has been at the forefront in providing technology to businesses in Odisha and other states.
In the meantime, DSCR Techno Solutions has considered its small IT based firm today imbibed in its aspiration to become the best digital marketing company in the state in job creation for most and the economy for the rest. Rasmita’s achievement describes the challenges and opportunities that one may face and exploit in the digital economy and how it can be sustainable in this day and age.
Santosh Panda: Innovating Event Management with Explara
Another entrepreneur from Odisha Santosh Panda is the co-founder of Explara, a revolutionary platform that streamlines ticketing and event management operations. He had experience with many startups which made Santosh realize that there was a need for a single platform that could do all the essential event management activities. As a result, Explara has revolutionized the event management sector by offering a full suite of services to event management practitioners.
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The platform’s objectives are successful and capital is raised, and it expands by adding services such as the ability to sell tickets online, advertising an event, and evaluation of results after the event is over. This narration on Santosh’s entrepreneurial journey reinforces the fact that every entrepreneur must seek the gaps in the market and come up with mechanisms to fill that gap.
Shyama Jha: Promoting Health with Millet Magic Foundation
With a focus on health and sustainability, Shyama Jha founded the Millet Magic Foundation. She envisions millets, the superfood and healthy grain, becoming an everyday staple food and healthy consumption culture being imbibed by every individual. Millet Magic Foundation intends to build such a model through its brand Wow Momo Foods that retrieves millet from local farmers in order to create a sustainable model.
Shyama’s initiative is not only helping promote healthier food options but is also helping the local farming community which makes her one of the most thriving entrepreneurs of Odisha balancing public health and economic growth.
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Anupama Padhi: Championing Organic Living with Dhaani-Foods
In a bid to offer organic and naturally grown food products, Anupama Padhi, a firm believer of organic living, established Dhaani-Foods. The mission of her company is to deliver food grown on farms directly to consumers, eliminating the unhealthy food options available to people. Under the backdrop of offering fresh and healthy food, sustainable agriculture practices and organic food products have helped Anupama to establish a brand that compliments the health-focused consumers of today.
Her contribution reached a wider audience from where she has received several awards for entrepreneurship. Dhaani-Foods is on an expansion mode with more and more organic products being made available across Odisha and outside the state as well.
Startup Ecosystem in Odisha
The emergence of these successful entrepreneurs and especially those of Odisha is based on the dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem found in the state. Programs like Startup Odisha are of utmost importance in providing the building blocks such as partnerships, investments, and policy-making strategies to encourage innovative activities in Agritech, IT, Healthcare, Fintech sectors among others. This ecosystem is playing a crucial part in helping develop the startups and assisting them to grow and expand within the country as well as outside.
The policies and initiatives of the state government have been beneficial to the new enterprises, which explains why there are many successful businesses today. The local startup ecosystem of Odisha is emerging nationally and the rate of growth of economic transactions is remarkable.
Youtube Video: Top 77 Business Plans for Startup | Odisha | Orissa. Business Ideas for Starting Your Own Business.
Conclusion
These examples of entrepreneurs from Odisha also depict a shift in the map of Indian entrepreneurship where the state is emerging as an Innovation hub. Their stories, filled with hope, resourcefulness and social service, will not fail to spur new entrepreneurial ambitions in the years to come. With the rearing and up-scaling of so many thriving entrepreneurs of Odisha, this state is soon going to be an entrepreneur’s mecca in India.
