Entrepreneur Stories
From 80 Rs To 6.5 Billion, Know The Success Story Of Lijjat Papad
Many of us enjoy rags to riches stories and we would all like to know how these people made their journey possible. The story of Lijjat Papad is one such story which is sure to leave you inspired throughout your life.
Today, Lijjat is more than a just a ‘papad’ (crispy bread) in Indian homes. It all started by getting a modest loan of just Rs.80 and now the company is tasting the stupendous success of more than Rs. 301 crores.
Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat was started in 1959 and at that time their only motto was empowering women by providing employment opportunities. This organization manufactures various products like Papad, Appalam, Gehu Atta, Masalas, Detergent powders, liquid detergents as well as detergent cakes.
The central office is located at Mumbai with 81 branches and 27 divisions spread across different states all over India. The main reason for its popularity is that the makers from past 40 years have been sticking to their core values.
The makers of Lijjat ensure that every process runs smoothly, every single person earns a comfortable profit, agents get their share and ultimately the consumers get quality products at an affordable rate.
This is how the team of Lijjat make it possible:
Every morning a group of women reach their workplace and knead dough which is then collected by another group of women to roll into papads. These women while coming to collect the dough also give the previous day’s production which is sent to quality testing. Another team packs the papads after the rolling is done.
Lijjat papad was all started when 7 women had an idea to start their own franchise by using their cooking skills and to make a living. These 7 women took a modest loan of Rs.80 from Chhaganlal Karamsi Parekh. They made the papads at their own building and started made it into a group venture with the help of their neighbors. Eventually, Lijjat became a household name known for quality papads.
With Chaganbapa’s advice, the women transformed this small venture into a cooperative and started recruiting women. During the first years, they had to stop the production of papads for almost 4 months due to rains. Later, they resolved this issue by buying a cot and a stove.
Lijjat papad later extended their productions to masala, khakhra, wheat atta as well as bakery items. To boost its sales, they started selling their items at trade fairs and exhibitions and also made advertisements to air on televisions. Eventually, they started attracting global interest which included the former Vice President of Uganda Dr. Speciosa Wandira-Kazibwe.
The makers of Lijjat papad follow the Sarvodaya philosophy. All the members are the owners of the company, which means profit or loss is equally shared among all the members. Every member has the power and authority to make their own decisions on their own initiative.
Today, Lijjat Papad is one of the most successful businesses that is owned by women for the empowerment of women. It helps women not willing to work outside their homes and contribute to their family incomes.
A decade ago, the success of a startup was measured largely by its ability to raise capital. Today, a different metric is gaining importance: the ability to generate meaningful exits for investors. Large stake sales by early backers are becoming increasingly common, not because growth opportunities have disappeared, but because India’s startup ecosystem is entering a more mature phase where capital is expected to complete its full cycle from investment to returns.
This evolution is particularly significant for consumer brands that have successfully blended technology, retail, and strong brand-building. Companies that were once viewed as high-risk startup bets are now attracting institutional investors capable of absorbing large transactions. Such developments indicate that these businesses are no longer being valued solely on future potential; they are increasingly being assessed on operational performance, market leadership, and long-term profitability. In many ways, investor exits are becoming a validation of a company’s ability to create lasting enterprise value.
The broader implication extends beyond a single company or investor. Successful exits encourage more global capital to enter India’s startup ecosystem because they demonstrate that liquidity opportunities exist at scale. As more venture-backed companies approach public listings, secondary transactions, or strategic investments, the focus of founders and investors alike may shift from chasing headline valuations to building durable businesses. The next chapter of India’s startup journey will likely be defined not just by the creation of unicorns, but by the creation of companies capable of delivering sustained returns to all stakeholders.
Apple has unveiled the new MacBook Air with M5 chip, starting at $999 for 13-inch and $1,299 for 15-inch models. The MacBook Air M5 boasts a 2nm M5 chip with 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU, and 50 TOPS Neural Engine for seamless AI tasks like real-time translation and 8K editing. Up to 22 hours of battery life, Thunderbolt 5, and Wi-Fi 7 make it the ultimate ultraportable, now 10% thinner at 0.44 inches with fanless cooling.
Key MacBook Air M5 features include Liquid Retina XDR display (500 nits, nano-texture option), 12MP Center Stage camera, and six-speaker Spatial Audio. Colors like new Sky Blue join Midnight and Starlight. Pre-orders are live today, with macOS Sequoia 15.4 enhancing Apple Intelligence and iPhone Continuity for students, pros, and remote workers.
Why buy MacBook Air M5 now? It outpaces Snapdragon X Elite rivals with ecosystem magic and future-proof performance, eyeing top 2026 laptop sales. CEO Tim Cook calls it “more capable than ever.” Visit apple.com for M5 MacBook deals and specs.
Delhi NCR-based gaming startup Zupee has acquired Mumbai-based microdrama platform Vertical TV in a deal valued under INR 40 Cr. This move strengthens Zupee Studio, its short-video arm launched in September 2025, by integrating Vertical TV’s expertise in bite-sized dramas like romance and thrillers.
Facing challenges from India’s 2025 real-money gaming ban, Zupee valued at $1 Bn after raising $120 Mn has pivoted to non-gaming content, including recent layoffs of 40% of its workforce. The acquisition builds on its November 2025 purchase of Australian AI firm Nucanon for interactive storytelling, targeting its 200 Mn+ users with engaging, mobile-first formats.
This deal underscores the rising microdrama trend in India, helping Zupee diversify amid regulatory pressures and compete in the short-video space dominated by quick, shareable content for on-the-go audiences.
