My Idea

Updated : Jul 30, 2009

Pot pourri

The one-time bank manager, Kuldeep Kalsi, 55, dug into his passion for plants to set up Yuccabe Planters, which produces outsized pots.

Updated : Jul 16, 2009

The money trail

Manu Mehta and Akshay Chhugani have created a new travel niche with their exclusive services for Indian and foreign backpackers.

Updated : Jul 5, 2009

Figuring it out

Pradeep Kumar, 41, quit his job with Maruti to pursue vedic maths. His efforts have added up to the 80-centre behemoth, Magical Methods.

Updated : Jun 18, 2009

Polished profits

The desire to be an entrepreneur prompted Raghav Gupta, 23, to start Mr. Car Bath, a cleaning service for vehicles in Mumbai.

Updated : May 30, 2009

Hope on wheels

The need for timely medical help led five friends to set up Dial 1298 for Ambulance, an emergency service.

Updated : May 18, 2009

Winning service

The desire to nurture sporting talent led Joseph Ollapally, 29, Hakimuddin S. Habibullah, 30, and Nandan Kamath, 32, to start GoSports, a Bengaluru-based firm that manages and grooms athletes.

Updated : May 1, 2009

Power of paws

Set up by Rohini Fernandes, 27, and Radhika Nair, 26, the Animal Angels Foundation deploys the therapeutic ability of animals to help cure people.

Updated : Apr 4, 2009

On a sound track

Passion for music and the need to find an outlet for their creativity led five youngsters to set up TempoStand, an online forum that promotes and showcases Indian music talent.

Updated : Mar 18, 2009

Hide and chic

After sifting through a range of professions, 49-year-old Atul Aggarwal decided to dabble in leather.

Updated : Mar 10, 2009

Art of short selling

Buying an art souvenir for their infant nephew inspired Delhi-based sisters Samira Khandelwal, 29, and Anshu Morarka, 31, to set up Kroma, an art gallery just for kids.

Updated : Feb 20, 2009

Handy craft

Bengaluru-based Rafiullah Baig, 35, aids corporate recruitment and helps detect crimes by analysing handwriting.

Updated : Feb 6, 2009

Abhishek R. Goyal, 29, has found a lucrative vent for his creativity in wood. His Mumbai-based outfit, Panchatatva, uses natural products to offer customised gift options for corporates and individuals.

Updated : Jan 22, 2009

Write business

For Chennai-based Anushka Ravishankar, 48, freelance editing proved the proverbial stepping stone for her first love - writing. Now, the one-time software professional pens fantasies for kids.

Updated : Jan 10, 2009

Detecting profits

The passion to succeed in a male-dominated profession led Taralika Lahiri, 48, to become a sleuth. The school teacher from Allahabad now runs the National Detectives and Corporate Consultants in Delhi.

Updated : Dec 26, 2008

Making a fortune

The search for a reliable astrologer led Hemang Arun Pandeet, 32, to start GaneshaSpeaks, an astro consulting Website. Forecasting fortunes has proved fortuitous for the Ahmedabad-based engineer.

Updated : Dec 12, 2008

Fishing for profits

Eight friends from diverse professions join hands to launch Monster Fishing, a company that offers a unique fishing holiday on the picturesque Andaman Islands.

Updated : Nov 30, 2008

Wheels of fortune

Mumbai-based Akshai Varde’s passion for bikes made him quit his job as a flight attendant. But the 28-year-old is flying high with Vardenchi, the Rs 2-crore bike customising company.

Updated : Nov 14, 2008

Pots of money

At Colour Factory, you can paint pottery, even make it, and take it home at nominal rates. Gurgaon-based Vikas Verma, 45, helps people lend colour to their creativity through the five outlets spread across the country.

Updated : Oct 31, 2008

Hands-on approach

Making a success of a unique concept came easy to this Mumbai-based marketing consultant. Bhavna Jasra, 36, helps people freeze their memories by framing sculpted hands and feet.

Updated : Oct 3, 2008

Sold on robots

Machines proved more than a childhood fancy for Pulkit Gaur, 27, who quit his job and borrowed money from parents to set up Gridbots.

Updated : Sep 19, 2008

Dogged effort

When Mumbai-based Wasiff Khan decided to experiment with a daily tiffin service for dogs, he didn’t expect that the Homecare Dog Food would grow into a Rs 75 lakh packaged meal business.