For Indian consumers, popcorn is a simple, easily available snack costing as little as Rs. 20. Streetside vendors sell small packs of buttery popcorn, while grocery stores stock up instant and microwave-friendly versions with typical Indianized flavors. For many years, the Indian market was not accustomed to the concept of gourmet popcorn. This was until 2013, when two childhood friends, Chirag Gupta and Ankur Gupta, decided to transform a humble snack into a gourmet popcorn brand – 4700BC.

Starting from a single kiosk in Delhi to its presence in over 9 countries through an omnichannel presence, the brand has grabbed the opportunity in this space. A recently published report revealed that the popcorn market is anticipated to grow by more than 11 percent CAGR in the next 5 years in Asia.

Many people dream about living in the lap of nature and eating fresh produce off the farm, as opposed to fast-paced urban lives. While this seems alluring to many, only few take the plunge. Prashant Parameswaran, the MD, and CEO of ‘Soulfull’ is one among those.

Having witnessed the involvement of his forefathers in the Green Revolution, agriculture was always a subject of interest and importance to Prashant. After working on data integration systems for top retail chains in the US, he decided to quit his job to pursue his passion – adding value in the scene of Indian agriculture.

In recent years, the growing affluent and socially conscious members of our society have initiated a shift towards sustainable living. The environmental impact of human consumption habits is becoming clear to all and some people are making a change at an individual level. Various surveys suggest that almost 40% of the population is suggesting that they intend to embrace more sustainable behavior. Among the top measures people are taking actively include reducing household energy consumption, buying locally produced goods, and adopting recycling and composting. The surge in commitment to sustainability has encouraged brands to stand up for causes and do their bit for the consumers, community, and the environment.

In fact, the new-age consumers: GenZ and millennials, prefer to engage with brands that invest in building a community and deeply care about health and environment. And as the habit of conscious consumption increases, there are brands on the other side, willing to support this trend as well.

Other than being a tea-loving country, India is also one of the largest producers of regal quality tea after China. Assam, the North-eastern state of India and the biggest tea-growing region, can be credited for driving India to attain the world’s top-most position for decades together. In fact, the market size of tea amounts to about USD 15,988 mn as of 2022.

Several local and international brands made their way into this highly competitive and conventional industry, without much success.

Vahdam Teas, a brainchild of Bala Sarda, is one that made a mark.

The 29-year-old fourth-generation entrepreneur and tea pioneer is the first to establish the country’s largest digitally-native, global wellness brand by making the finest teas and superfoods available to consumers in over 104 countries.

Albeit slowly, the education sector is making headway with the advent of technology. From distance learning to online classes and guides, India’s EdTech industry has a variety of offerings for one and all. The long-established roadblocks in the education sector are fading away – thanks to the easy access to information and knowledge brought about by the internet along with EdTech programs and applications! Interestingly, the EdTech industry is at a point of inflection, with venture capitalists pouring funds and brands thriving remarkably well. Among others, Extramarks has demonstrated exemplary growth.