Failed UPSC dream to Rs 130 crore success: How Bengaluru man turned Rs 1 crore investment into a healthy food business

Often in life, when we are faced with a setback, we tend to get dejected and lose motivation. But sometimes, these unexpected roadblocks can open new doors we never imagined, leading us to success. Such is the story of Bengaluru man Sandeep Jangala, whose failed UPSC dream paved the way for a thriving entrepreneurial journey. Today, he is the proud owner of a food start-up, Yummy Bee, that specialises in making healthy foods for children. Today, the company has grown into a Rs 130 crore success story.

From failed UPSC dream to entrepreneurship

Sandeep moved to Hyderabad in hopes of cracking the UPSC and becoming an IAS officer, as per a report by StartupPedia. But things didn’t go as planned, as he failed to secure the rank he required. Sandeep didn’t give up and, in 2013, launched a tech startup, attracting an acquisition. He quit the company in 2022.

The idea of Yummy Bee emerged from Sandeep’s home. He and his wife, Sonia Lamba, were quite conscious about what type of foods they were feeding their children. And eventually, this careful approach to nutrition evolved into a business idea. Sandeep and his wife invested Rs 1 crore, setting up kitchen infrastructure and gradually opening a cloud kitchen.

From cloud kitchen to a Rs 23 crore business

Sandeep and Sonia finally started Yummy Bee in 2022-23 with its first store in Hyderabad, before expanding the business to Bengaluru. They also scaled the cloud kitchen. The food company specialises in sugar-free and gluten-free desserts, meals and beverages. Their food also has zero maida and preservatives.

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Some of the popular items from the menu include healthy burgers, pizzas, salads, sandwiches, desserts and beverages. The humble cloud kitchen has grown into a booming business with over 300 employees. Sandeep told StartupPedia that Yummy Bee recorded an annual revenue of Rs 23 crore in FY2025-26.