8 outlets across Hyderabad in 8 years after quitting her IBM job: Techie turns her love for desserts into a thriving business

Sahitya Raj, an electronic engineer, who once worked as a SAP BI consultant at IMB, quit her job to follow her calling. She spent her evenings baking brownies, cookies and cupcakes in her kitchen. It started off as an outlet to share her love for desserts with her friends and colleagues quickly turned into a flourishing business which now has 8 stores in Hyderabad.

Repeat orders and demand from cafes and cinema chains, now keeps Sahitya Raj busy, instead of leading a routine corporate job. In December 2017, she finally took the leap and quit her job. Eight years later, her boutique bakehouse brand is expanding in Hyderabad with in-house production and skilled team of chefs.

How travelling abroad sparked her love for desserts

According to YourStory, Sahithya's job at IBM gave her the opportunity to travel to different countries. During these trips, she sampled desserts from various places and developed a keen interest in baking. She began experimenting with brownies, cupcakes, cookies and muffins in her apartment kitchen. Operating under the name The Sweetooth, she initially sold her baked treats to colleagues. The response encouraged her to take more orders.


Diwali proved to be an turning point of her life. Sahithya started making gift baskets, which became popular and brought in repeat customers. As orders continued to increase, her home kitchen struggled to keep up. In December 2017, she decided to leave her job at IBM and pursue baking full-time. She also interned at a reputed four-star hotel in Hyderabad for practical experience and to strengthen her skills.

From a home kitchen to a production unit

Building a business came with its share of challenges. In an interview with Big TV Originals, Sahithya explained that her family had no direct background in the food business. Her father is a chartered accountant, while most of her family members, including her husband, work in the software industry.

She initially used her savings to fund the venture. As the business grew, she began exploring ways to raise money for expansion. She prepared a project report outlining the company's performance and future plans before approaching a financial institution.

The response came within three to four days. After presenting her proposal, she secured funding of around Rs 1.3 crore. The business started with a small factory but has since expanded its production capabilities to include commercial bread-making units.

Why she keeps production in-house

Sahithya believes having control over production is important for building a strong brand. Speaking to Big TV Originals, she said that her team of chefs handles much of the work. Some have experience at five-star hotels, while a couple have also worked internationally. She regularly discusses flavours and product ideas with her chefs, developing new offerings together.

Recognition for her entrepreneurial journey

The boutique bakehouse brand now operates across eight locations in Hyderabad. It recently celebrated another milestone when its co-founder received recognition at the Times Power Women 2026, Telangana Edition.

Announcing the achievement on LinkedIn, the brand said Sahithya Raj had been recognised as a Woman Entrepreneur in Food and Hospitality.