ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
TGS LIFE JULY 4, 2015 PUNE
FEATURES
TGS LIFE
With set-ups popping up practically every day, it can be easy to miss those that are truly innovative. Here are some start-ups worth your while
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NEW START-UPS on the block
By Zainab Kantawala
@kantawalazainab It might be near-impossible for a crochet artist to reach the zenith of success that Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg has, but she does deserve applause for her brave career
Book a monthly dose of surprises The in-house team of stylists at Sugarbox works hard to provide handpicked goodies based on the subscription you choose. The goodies and hampers are delivered to your doorstep at the end of every month. Sugarbox founder, Niharika Jhunjhwala, says, “I firmly believe that we don’t need an occasion to give ourselves something special, nor should time be a reason to keep us away from pampering ourselves. Through this concept, we bring you a box-full of surprises and all you have to do is subscribe to be showered with monthly gifts.” Sugarbox has a specific theme each month, which is disclosed at the beginning of the month and the contents are revealed when the box is delivered. Each box has an array of products to offer, mainly in the category of fashion, beauty, lifestyle and gourmet foods. Within four categories, a subscriber receives different products each time. In addition to gifting yourself, the box can be purchased as a gift for your loved ones too. Get in touch: http://www.sugarbox.in
JULY 4, 2015 PUNE
FEATURES
Get your bespoke wedding card here Unnati Sanghavi Shah, 27, started the graphic and lifestyle design studio Untitled Graphics. She designs bespoke wedding cards and invitations, luxury stationery and personalised gifts. The intricacy and depth of design with the balance of colour and a minimalistic look is something Unnati loves most. “Throughout my time in school and college, I was fond of stationery items and would love owning all kinds of quirky products. This is what prompted me to start Untitled Graphics. I try to come up with fresh set of ideas in the form of design,” says Unnati. Every product reflects the client’s personal taste and style. Unnati designs and customises everything from calendars, notebooks, wedding cards, theme party products and personalised stationery. Get in touch: untitled.graphics@gmail.com
path. Some of these newly-minted entrepreneurs aren’t even out of college, yet their ideas are shaping up into amazing products and these entrepreneurs are working hard to fi nd business prospects in the most unlikely of places.
Giving vibrant life to waste Hridaa Handicrafts’ elegant files, folders and diaries make wonderful gift items. 20-year-olds Nishigandha Khaladkar, an economic student, and Shruti Dategaonkar, a law student, came up with the idea for the start-up, which is on a mission to promote sustainability. Hridaa Handicrafts aims to create awareness about eco-friendly products. “My mother is a fashion designer. I have seen a lot of cloth material going to waste every day so I came up with the idea of covering my notebook with leftover
Share a ride, save the world Lakshna Jha, started sRide, a carpooling app, to improve basic mobility for all as well as make a positive impact on ecological, social and economic welfare. She says, “sRide is the Facebook equivalent of transportation. By using technology to make carpooling easier, sRide is creating a new transportation option, which saves people money, reduces the number of cars on the road and cuts down pollution drastically. sRide helps users carpool instantly and network on-the-go with verified professionals.” The mobile app provides a network of ridesharing opportunities to accommodate daily commutes, individual or one-time trips, and special events. Lakshna adds, “We enhance people’s desire to choose ‘asset-light’ forms of living that utilise fewer resources and lower their ecological footprint. By pairing individuals looking for rides with drivers offering empty seats you increase the efficiency of the transportation system with minimal investment.” The service aims at providing an easy way to find safe and friendly riding partners and share rides. Most importantly, sRide brings about a lifestyle change, moving away from self-owned automobile dependency to shared services and active transportation. The highlight of this service is that it offers multiple ride options after automatically matching rides posted by users, based on a smart algorithm. Get in touch: http://sride.co/
fragments of cloth, which was a big hit with my classmates. I discussed the idea with Shruti, who is also into crafts, and took it forward from there,” says Nishigandha as she explains the beginnings of their venture. They collect the discarded and leftover waste from various production units and scrap vendors and up-cycle them to more sustainable products. Apart from stationery, Hridaa Handicrafts also makes jewellery and lamps. Get in touch: hridaa.handicrafts@gmail.com
Perfectly knotted up Arwa Haji can crochet almost anything, from keychains, pouches and frames, to flowers and soft toys. The 23-year-old customises real life and cartoon characters in beautiful colours. “I taught myself how to crochet a year ago. I never really used books but Youtube tutorials were of great help. My mother introduced me to crochet. I was very enthusiastic about it since the day I learned it,” she says. What sets Arwa Knots apart is the attention to details and the personal touch that Arwa adds. “I started it as a hobby. My first piece of crochet was a short skirt for my niece, which I also designed. After that, I started getting orders for my work. Every piece is made with total love and dedication, she adds. Arwa’s creations are priced depending on various features like technique, size and detailing. “I believe each product has a story to tell. None of the pieces I create can be replicated, that is the beauty of handmade things,” says Arwa. Get in touch: arwahaji91@gmail. com
Rent a flashy ride
Ducati Monster 795, Harley Davidson Iron 883, Harley Davidson Street 750, Kawasaki Ninja 300 - if those names gave you an adrenaline rush, then the idea of riding them might just be the trill to make your day, month, or, well, life. SPS Bikers gives you a chance to rent these dream machines for an entire day. You can
either book a ride online or over a phone call. “I’ve always been fascinated by power bikes so I started looking for places in Pune that give these high end bikes on rent but I couldn’t find any. That’s when I decided to start a venture where others get to live their dream, even if it is just for a day,” says Shirish Hagawane, the owner.
Through SPS Bikers, Shirish hopes to create a remarkable biking experience. The rent for a day ranges between Rs 3,500 to Rs 6,500 depending on the bike you choose. They also rent premium accessories to those heading for a long road trip. Get in touch: www.spsbikers.com