Next-generation entrepreneurs break off from family tree to grow green shoots

PUNE: Born into business families, they have grown up listening to parents talk shop at home. But though they had entrepreneurship in their blood, these NextGen entrepreneurs didn't want to do the family business.

Instead, they wanted to use lessons they learnt from conversations at family dinners and visits to their parents' firm to innovate and branch out on their own.

“My family comes from the packaging business and is into paper and plastics packaging. I have always done my own thing, and when I was in the UK, I found myself fascinated with ecommerce. Being a foodie I went into the food line,“ said 29-year-old Darshan Dhruv, who started FarsanKart in 2012.

FarsanKart sells farsan, or snacks and savouries, online. Dhruv, who started the venture with his personal money, said his learnings from his family business was a great help.

“I understood money and costing. And for the farsan business, packaging is vital, and I had inside knowledge of that too. Being from a business family also opened doors with vendors,“ said Dhruv who sources branded snacks from vendors and sells them globally to 22 countries today.

FarsanKart, which is looking to raise Rs 30 lakh by next year, is targeting revenue of Rs 5 crore by 2016.

Similarly, Nithiij Arenja, founder and MD of Qi Spine Clinic, a division of Qi Lifecare entered into the healthcare segment by launching Qi Lifecare along with his brother Anuj Arenja, 35, in 2012. “My family runs multiple businesses in jewellery, travel and property. I was attracted to the healthcare sector through my personal experience.“

Nithiij Arenja was obese at 148 kg till 2011.

“My obesity gave me a bad back, disherniation, hypertension and sugar. I lost 68 kg in one year through a combination of diet and exercise, with a lot of guidance from doctors. This experience led me start Qi Lifecare, to help reverse lifestyle disease through the right means,“ said the 37-year-old.

The company is growing at 200% year-on-year.