Chapter 01 · 7th class
Mom’s Tupperware, on Amazon
Things at home weren’t good back then. Money was tight, and my mom was selling Tupperware from home to help run the house.
One day I saw a TV ad — a big Bollywood star telling people they could sell on Amazon. So I registered on Seller Central. I was in 7th class.
I listed every Tupperware product my mom had. And it worked: that year, the business did around ₹22 Cr in turnover on Amazon.
We ran it for about a year and a half. Then competitors started “mapping” our listings — jumping onto them and undercutting our price. The margins disappeared, and we shut it down.
Chapter 02 · 9th–10th class
Yash Mart: 2,000 orders a day
Around 9th–10th, I started Yash Mart, a phone-case brand on Amazon. At our peak, we were shipping 2,000 orders a day — profitably. I was still in school.
It ran well for about a year and a half. Then I made a classic mistake. I didn’t know phone cases are fast fashion — designs go dead in weeks. I filled up on stock anyway.
Sales slowly dropped, returns slowly went up, and that stock never moved. I was a kid trying to figure out how business works, and every fix I tried just added to the losses.
Chapter 03 · 12th class
Shaapa, and the overnight shutdown
In 12th class I discovered Shopify and D2C ecommerce in India, right as it was taking off. I built a website, and then a new brand: Shaapa.
Shaapa sold phone covers too, and we took it to around ₹4 Cr in turnover — profitably.
In phone cases, the whole game is design: which designs you launch, and how fast. A competitor — today one of the biggest names in this category — attacked our store with fake orders and fake engagement. We had to shut the store overnight. It stayed down for nearly two months.
While we were offline, they sold through the same trending designs we had brought in. By the time we came back, those designs were dead — and so was our stock.
Chapter 04 · Bankruptcy #1
Rock bottom
Around ₹90 lakh of stock went dead. There were salaries to pay. I applied for loans, but nobody would lend — the business was too young. Everything got complicated, fast.
I went bankrupt.
I sold my mom’s gold. Then I took a gold loan. Credit card dues piled up, and we were negotiating settlements. Somewhere in the middle of all this, I started losing my hair.
Some mornings I’d wake up and the bank’s people would already be standing outside our house, waiting for the EMI.
I was at my worst. That time made me humble — for good.
Chapter 05 · Family
Mom & Papa
Through all of it, my family never stopped believing in me. My mom supported me in every way she could. And my papa — he’s on another level. When I had nothing to show for myself, he still backed me.
That’s when I understood something I’ll carry forever: what your parents can do for you, nobody else can. They’ll stand with you even when you’re wrong.
People come and go. Mom and Dad are the constants.
They gave me another chance.
Chapter 06 · Feb–Aug 2025
Shaapa, again
In February 2025 I started over, this time in a partnership, and we began with Shaapa. Between February and August 2025, Shaapa did around ₹3.85 Cr in sales — profitably.
Same category. Very different founder.
Chapter 07 · Aug–Dec 2025
Womilys: ₹5.5 Cr in 4 months — and still no profit
In August 2025 we launched Womilys, a jewellery brand. This one was close to my heart — I’ve always been passionate about jewellery. We started with very little capital and a small team, and things moved fast: from September to December, Womilys did ₹5.5 Cr in turnover.
But we were at break-even at best, probably below it. Our profit math was wrong. GST on jewellery sales is 3%, but our biggest expense — Facebook ads — carries 18% GST. We got that calculation wrong, and the gap ate our margin.
At the same time, my partner and I were in disputes. The synergy wasn’t there, and I realised it too late. We had to shut Womilys down.
By the end of 2025, with heavy debts, I was bankrupt for the second time.
Chapter 08 · Early 2026
The lost six months
The first six months of 2026 were some of the worst of my life. I had nothing to build and no idea what was next. I started drinking and smoking, and picked up habits I’m not proud of. I couldn’t help myself.
I’m writing this part too, because it happened. And if you’re in that place right now, it doesn’t have to be the end of your story.
Chapter 09 · Today
Still building
Today I’m working on three brands: two that I own, and one where I’m the digital growth partner, running their entire ecommerce side.
I’m still paying off debts. I’m still sorting out my life. But honestly, I’m enjoying it more than ever.
I’ve become very straightforward. I don’t overthink. Time is what I value most now. My circle is small — no noise, no unnecessary people. I’m happy with my life partner and my family. Life is happening.
Off the clock
Cars, gadgets and shayari
I never really went to college. The day I passed 12th, I went all in on business. No wandering around, no big friend circles — that was never me.
What I do love: gadgets, phones and accessories (no surprise there). I write shayari, and the deep stuff on my mind I don’t say out loud. And driving is my therapy. I love cars.
What it taught me
Seven lessons I paid for
- 01If anyone can sell on your listing, you don’t really own the business.
- 02In fast fashion, stock is a liability. Buy small, sell through, repeat.
- 03Turnover is vanity. Know your real margin — GST included — before you scale.
- 04Choose partners for alignment, not just skills. Misalignment costs more than money.
- 05Most people respect money more than the person. Watch who stays when it’s gone.
- 06Mom and Dad are the constants.
- 07Time is the one thing you can’t earn back.