When Delhi's Nitin Saluja Left His Corporate Job To Start This Thriving Tea Startup

In the dynamic landscape of business leadership, many individuals are carving their path to success with determination and entrepreneurial spirit. Nitin Saluja, the co-founder of Chaayos, stands as a burning example of this journey, transforming a simple idea into a flourishing tea-based venture with a net worth of Rs 2051 crores.

Born and raised in Delhi, Nitin pursued Mechanical Engineering at IIT Bombay and later worked as a Management Consultant at Opera Solutions in the USA for over five years. Despite a successful corporate career, Nitin harboured the dream of becoming an entrepreneur. His passion for tea and prior experience as a co-founder of Think Labs, a robotics-based education company, fueled his desire to start something unique.

Facing initial resistance from his father, Nitin, along with college classmate Raghav Verma, took the plunge into entrepreneurship. In November 2012, they opened the first Chaayos cafe in Gurugram. What started as a humble venture has now grown into a colossal success with 200 cafes under its banner.

The vision behind Chaayos was to provide a haven for chai lovers, allowing them to experiment with flavours and customise their teas in over 12,000 diverse ways. Embracing the tagline ‘Experiments with Tea,’ Chaayos redefined the traditional chai experience. Nitin’s mission was to blend history with innovation, a goal that has resonated well with patrons, making almost all their flavours a hit.

Despite initial hurdles, including a saturated market and operational challenges, Nitin’s perseverance and hard work propelled Chaayos to not only survive but also excel in the competitive market. The menu, curated by Nitin and Raghav, goes beyond tea, incorporating innovative food offerings like thepla tacos and palak patta crispies.

Nitin Saluja’s journey from a corporate role to the helm of Chaayos reflects the success that can be achieved through passion, innovation, and a commitment to providing a unique customer experience. With a thriving net worth and a growing number of cafes, Chaayos continues to be a shining example of entrepreneurial success in the business landscape.