Somita’s entrepreneurial journey began at the age of 43. Despite initial reservations from friends and the challenges life threw at her, Somita embarked on the path of entrepreneurship after her husband’s hotel closure during the pandemic.
“I have always had an entrepreneurial heart but never had the time to start my venture because of lack of time. When I decided to start a business, most of my friends advised me not to venture into the unknown and rather focus my time on meditation and well-being. But I realised keeping myself occupied was therapeutic”, shares Somita, mother of two boys.
Somita is not only hard-working but also never gives up on her dreams. She started her tiffin service business, “Diya’s Kitchen”, by herself. “I had plenty of time as my kids are well settled and busy with studies and careers. I could make them proud by being an entrepreneur”, says Somita with a smile.
Somita’s culinary journey began when she was in the 4th standard. She started cooking for herself and her little brother, gradually honing her skills to become an expert cook. Alongside her culinary talents, Somita excelled academically and demonstrated a flair for writing and anchoring. Life took a turn when she was married off early due to her mother’s untimely demise, and within a year, she became a mother herself.
Despite the early responsibilities, Somita was determined to be financially independent. She ventured into the corporate world, working for Reliance Money when her elder son turned five years old. Her skills in customer support and friendly demeanor earned her success, but family pressure led to an early exit after eight months. With no parental support, Somita had to compromise, but her husband remained a supportive pillar. Somita took some business lessons from her husband, who once used to run a catering business.
The suggestion to start her own tiffin service business resonated with her culinary expertise. She posted about her venture in the society WhatsApp group and received an instant response with five orders. As word spread about her delicious and affordable meals, her business flourished. She also turned to her younger son, pursuing his MBA from a reputed university, for quick business tips. She then decided to start her own tiffin service business, which later became a modest catering venture, and she began nurturing it as her new baby. “I was a little sceptical before deciding to enter the business world, but my family has been very supportive. It has been six years that I have been operating Diya’s Kitchen, and I can confidently say that I am growing each day”, shares Somita proudly. Although the journey was not smooth, Somita was adamant about making it a success.
“With the well-received venture, I plan to expand it further — from serving tiffins to starting a catering business. But I needed to rent a bigger kitchen, invest in cutlery and fancy packing material, and hire more staff. I also realised ‘capital’ was an issue”, quotes Somita.
Although she was earning a good INR 30K — 40K per month, more was needed to arrange for funds, considering the monthly expenditure in her business. Somita found it challenging to grow and expand without enough money to invest in her company. However, she didn’t let this stop her from reaching her goals.
That’s when she heard about Mahila Money, a fintech platform that offers loans specifically for women entrepreneurs. She applied for a loan of INR 50K and used the money to rent an oversized kitchen and purchase the necessary cutlery and other pieces of equipment. This allowed her to take on more orders and increase her profits. Thanks to her hard work and the loan from Mahila Money, Somita could qualify for a second loan of INR 75K. This helped her to hire additional staff and take on even more business. Her income increased by 20–25%, and she started her YouTube channel, ‘ Jhatpat Rasoi’.
“Mahila Money not only provided a loan to me but also armed me with financial learnings, business tips and tricks, which led me to launch my channel on social media. From earning just Rs. 40K, I was now earning around 80K monthly. The Mahila Money community is filled with love, support and compassion, and I feel there is a scope for every woman to rise and shine”, shares Somita.
Somita turned her passion for cooking into a successful business and improved her financial stability. “Mahila Money loan helped me to expand my business and take on more orders. I couldn’t have done it without their help,” says Somita. “I am so grateful for the opportunity Mahila Money gave me to grow my business and improve my life by #JiyoApneDumPe.
If you are a woman entrepreneur who wants to take your business to new heights and is in need of working capital and entrepreneurship resources, come speak to us on Mahila Money. For more such #JiyoApneDumPe live conversations, download the Mahila Money App on Play Store or visit us on www.mahila.money
