Page 31 - Plastics News January 2022

FEATURE

Startup Mantra: Woman Entrepreneur Climbing The Ladder

opportunities, I noticed that CCTV
cameras are being installed everywhere,
including rural areas and from small
shops to big commercial establishments.
Since my husband was working in
an electronics-based company in
Ranjangaon MIDC, I decided to get into
electronics services as I could utilise his
domain knowledge. I searched on Google
and started calling units in Bhosari MIDC
to check if they had requirements of
CCTV installation or other services,”
said Amruta.

“My first attempt at doing business was a
mix of good and bad experiences. Some
his is a classic story which is neither to work with boys and lead an all-male trusted me for being a woman while
Tfounded by any IIT-IIM alumni group. I took this job as an opportunity
nor it is tech-based with VC backing or to learn leadership and presentation skills. others did not for the same reason. Even
angel funding. It is a story of Amruta In turn, it also helped me to be more today the mindset is not right towards
Vasant Mangale, a 32-year-old married disciplined which later proved beneficial women. Some don’t take us women
woman from Pune, who pivoted twice to me in setting up the business.” seriously. I was often asked to confirm
to create a company with turnover of Rs with ‘sir’ or ‘husband’ about the final
5 crore in just two operational years hit “Post-marriage, I came to Pune city in rates for the products being sold. With
by Covid-19 lockdowns and that too in a 2015. Till then I had never stayed in a CCTV installation services, I started my
sector like manufacturing where women- city. I told my husband that I want to entrepreneurial journey. However, soon
entrepreneurs are uncommon. Launched start working again and he too supported I realised that it’s not profitable in real
under the brand name ‘Beestofix’, me. Since I was new to the city, I decided terms. I had inventory stock of Rs 1.5
Amruta has now set her vision to turn to travel alone and get to know the lakh, including cameras, wires, DVR, hard
her company into a ‘unicorn’ and create city and simultaneously looked for job disks, etc. It was a liability and setback for
5,000 direct or indirect employment opportunities. I kept on searching for job me,” added Amruta.
opportunities. till 2016 but could not get one. I consider
myself lucky in the sense that if had got Ecommerce success
In the beginning… a job I would have never thought of Amruta started looking for options to
Amruta, a native of Indapur tehsil in becoming an entrepreneur,” Amruta said. get rid of her inventory stock. While
Pune district, completed her MSc in searching online, she came across
Organic Chemistry from Pune University Restlessness ecommerce platforms which offered a
(Savitribai Phule Pune University). Her Amruta was becoming restless at home chance of becoming online sellers. “I
father insisted that she find a job to as she knew that going ahead age would did not know that we needed only VAT
become financially independent before not be on her side if she starts late. When and company name to register on these
marriage. Accordingly, Amruta took a job Amruta expressed her wish of starting a platforms as sellers,” she says.
as quality control officer at Sonai Dairy business, her husband and father-in-law “We decided to form a company in the
located on Baramati-Indapur road. Says too supported her. “Every woman needs name of Hindavi Solution Pvt Ltd and
Amruta, “The job was a turning point 100 per cent support from her family and enrolled it on an ecommerce platform.
for me. It taught me how to handle a in-laws. This is her fundamental right,” We had to provide inventory stock and
team and face challenges upfront. Girls, asserts Amruta. estimated delivery period to start selling.
especially from rural areas, are not used “While searching for business I calculated the shipping charges, other

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