Anand Mahindra wants to fund this startup by a 23-year-old that makes sneakers out of plastic waste

When it comes cheering for creative talent and helping it find recognition on a global scale, no one does it better than businessman Anand Mahindra. It's no secret that the Mahindra and Mahindra boss is super active on the micro blogging site and often shares some insightful information with his over blah blah followers.

On Wednesday, Mahindra came out in support of an Indian entrepreneur whose company produces sneakers that are made of plastic bottles and trash bags. The business tycoon sought Twitter's help to connect him to the person behind this initiative and expressed interest in funding the business.

The 66-year-old also said that he was embarrassed that he didn't know about this "inspiring startup" before.


"Embarrassed I didn’t know about this inspiring startup," Mahindra said, adding that "These are the kinds of startups we need to cheer on—not just the obvious unicorns."

"I’m going to buy a pair today. (Can someone tell me the best way to get them?) And when he raises funds-count me in!" Mahindra posted on Twitter.


The company was founded by Ashay Bhave, a 23-year-old who had the idea of starting a sneaker company that recycled plastic waste when he was in business school. The aim of brand 'Thaely', literal translation to plastic bags, was to find a solution to the problem of the 100 billion plastic bags used each year that use 12 million barrels of oil and kill 100,000 marine animals annually.