Brothers turn 100sq ft. into $10M with chai #startup #business #chai #entrepreneur

28 Jan 2024 · 1 min

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The video segment profiles brothers Ani and Ayan, first‑generation immigrant founders of Kolkata Chai Co., who have built a chai empire projected to generate $10 million in revenue. Starting from a modest 100 sq ft space, they now operate multiple brick‑and‑mortar locations in New York City and run a fast‑growing e‑commerce business. Their authentic Indian chai has attracted a passionate community and high‑profile fans such as Chris Rock, Keanu Reeves, and Hasan Minhaj. The narrative highlights their immigrant background, Ayan’s spontaneous one‑month trip to India that revealed a cultural representation gap in the U.S., and the scrappy, non‑linear path they navigated to scale the brand.

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These brothers built a chai empire that is on pace to do $10 million in revenue. Kolkata Chai Co. is bringing authentic chai tea to the States through multiple New York City brick-and-mortar locations, as well as a booming e-commerce business. They have a rabid community that fiends over their food and includes A-list celebrities like Chris Rock, Keanu Reeves, and Hasan Minhaj. But nothing about their journey has been linear or easy. The sons of immigrants, Ani and Ayan saw the realities of starting from scratch in a new country.
First-generation immigrants. You know, our parents came here. It's a very rocky, uncertain path.
The scrappy and spontaneous story behind Konka de Chaiko all starts with Ayan's spontaneous 1-month trip to India. And upon his return, he realized his culture and cuisine were not properly represented in the United States.