“From Idea to Business: sruti Mitra on Entrepreneurship and Innovation”
Meet Mrs. Sruti Mitra, the founder of Nhea Private Limited, has successfully turned her passion for natural remedies into a thriving business. After working as a corporate professional for five years and taking a four-year break for personal reasons, she became a professor in entrepreneurship at Symbiosis for around 10 years in Pune. She always focused on giving back to society and has a social bend of mind. She designed a course on social entrepreneurship and was taking an advisory role for various field projects.
Sruti met her co-founder, Dr. Geeta Bora, who was the founder of an NGO working on menstrual hygiene, and they worked on menstrual hygiene projects together. They came up with an idea to make a menstrual pain relief roll-on made of essential oils to provide a natural solution for menstrual pain. They decided to form a startup that would make essential oil products in the beauty and wellness sector. This is how Nhea Private Limited was born.
Nhea Private Limited faced several challenges in the beginning, including the regulatory system for the duty and cost management industry, a lack of industry knowledge, non-transparency, unethical practices in the ecosystem, and lack of funds. They also faced a strategy mismatch initially, and it took them three years to establish their brand. Finding the right people to help grow the business was also a challenge, as around 30-40% of the initially recruited employees were not the right fit. To overcome these challenges, Nhea Private Limited shifted its strategy and rebranded itself as a mass-reach brand. They focused on outsourcing different verticals, such as physical marketing agencies, social media and accounts, and relied on partnerships. They have an in-house packaging person and R&D team. She believes that age is not a barrier to entrepreneurship, and she is an inspiration to women entrepreneurs around the world.
After three years of hard work and perseverance, Nhea Private Limited began to gain customers in the market. Their menstrual pain relief roll-on, called “Nhea Pai Relief Roll-On,” became a bestseller, and their brand started to receive positive reviews and recognition. The company also expanded its product line to include other essential oil-based products, such as facial oils, hair oils, and body oils.
Sruti’s vision for Nhea Private Limited is to become a leading brand in the essential oil industry and provide high-quality, natural products that are accessible and affordable to everyone. She is committed to sustainable and ethical business practices, and the company sources its raw materials from local farmers and suppliers.
In addition to her business endeavours, Sruti is also an advocate for women’s health and empowerment. She has been invited to speak at various conferences and events to share her entrepreneurial journey and inspire other women to pursue their dreams. She is also actively involved in promoting menstrual hygiene and has collaborated with NGOs and educational institutions to raise awareness and provide access to menstrual products.
As Nhea Private Limited continues to grow and expand, Sruti remains dedicated to her mission of creating a socially responsible and environmentally sustainable business. She believes that entrepreneurship can be a powerful tool for positive change, and she hopes to inspire more women to take on leadership roles and make a difference in their communities.
Nhea Private Limited has come a long way since its inception and is now a well-established brand in the beauty and wellness sector. They have a range of essential oil products, including roll-ons, diffusers, candles, and skincare products. The brand is known for its high-quality, natural ingredients and has gained a loyal customer base.
Sruti and her team are committed to sustainability and ethical practices. They use recyclable packaging materials and are focused on reducing their carbon footprint. They also work with local communities and support fair trade practices.
In addition to running a successful business, Sruti is also actively involved in promoting entrepreneurship and empowering women. She has spoken at various events and conducted workshops on entrepreneurship and women’s leadership. She is also a mentor to young women entrepreneurs and is passionate about supporting women in their entrepreneurial journey.
Overall, Nhea Private Limited is an inspiring example of how passion, hard work, and a commitment to social and environmental causes can lead to a successful business.