Behind every successful founder is a story that rarely makes the headlines. Hers is one of grit, calculated risks, and an unwavering belief that every setback is simply another step towards something bigger.
Could you tell us a little about yourself and the journey that has shaped who you are today?
I am a small-town girl from Almora. I grew up in a traditional Bania business family with three sisters and one brother, living a very humble life. While the cultural priority in my family was always to get settled down, my sisters and I fought our own battles to work, build independent lives, and have freedom of voice.
Growing up around business gave me a deep early understanding of how enterprises flourish, which seeded my entrepreneurial thought process. Initially, the primary goal was simply to step out of Almora and figure things out. I started my professional journey in the corporate world at S&P Capital IQ, where I worked for seven years.
After getting married, my perspective on life and business shifted significantly alongside my husband, Akash. I co-founded my first venture, LetsFlaunt, while continuing my corporate job for two years to maintain financial independence and safety while testing the waters. Once it grew profitable, I transitioned full-time. Over time, through multiple iterations, R&D, and learning experiences across various sectors, Zypp Electric was born a journey that has now spanned eight incredible years.
Looking back, what inspired you to move from the corporate world into entrepreneurship, and what gave you the confidence to take that first step?
The real shift in perspective happened one day when Akash came home and shared an exercise given by his boss: to write down 100 dreams we wanted to achieve in life. We couldn’t get past 40. That moment opened our eyes to the fact that we were living inside a comfortable bubble (earning money, working jobs) without actually thinking big.
My confidence to step out came from two things
A Strong Partnership: Akash and I backed each other up completely; we served as each other’s strength.
A Pragmatic Approach: I didn’t quit my job impulsively on day one. We worked 18 to 20 hours every single day for two full years, balancing our jobs while building the business until it generated steady profits and proved it could scale.
You have built businesses in different industries. What have those experiences taught you about recognising opportunities and adapting to change?
My journey across various business models from customized merchandise with LetsFlaunt to education, fashion prototypes, and ultimately electric mobility with Zypp taught me critical lessons about ground realities versus assumptions:
Listen to the Market, Not Just Your Ego: What you believe in as a founder isn’t always the reality on the ground. You must gather real customer feedback and act on it.
Be Ready to Pivot: The biggest lesson I share is that you should never believe so deeply in your idea that you’re ready to fail rather than pivot. At Zypp, we pivoted two to three times in eight years because we prioritized listening to the market and understanding the user over rigid stubbornness.
As Co-Founder of Zypp Electric, what is the vision that continues to drive you, and what impact do you hope the company will create in the years ahead?
When we started, our vision was focused on environmental sustainability finding a way to reduce air pollution across the country.
Today, that vision has expanded into something much deeper: massive social impact. We are directly impacting the lives of over 4,000,000 (4 lakh+) people by helping put food and bread on their tables.
Hearing the personal stories of our delivery riders gives me goosebumps, it is the knowledge of creating meaningful livelihoods and financial empowerment that keeps me driven and awake at night.
Building and growing a business comes with many challenges. Can you share a moment that tested your resilience and what you learned from it?
Twice in our journey, during the early phases of our venture, we ran out of funds and stood right on the verge of shutting down.
Those moments tested us to the core. Akash and I had to tighten everything aggressively manage our expenses, cash flows, customer relationships, and investor conversations while supporting each other mentally through the crisis. What I learned is that real resilience is about staying at it, keeping your composure under extreme financial pressure, and figuring out every possible way to survive and manage through the drought.
Your role covers many different areas of the business. How do you stay focused, make decisions, and keep everything moving in the right direction?
Honestly, there is no magic formula or guaranteed “right direction”. No founder knows everything, and no founder is always right. We have made countless mistakes over the last 8 to 9 years, and we still do.
The only real difference between a founder and anyone else is the refusal to give up. My framework for decision-making and execution is:
Test Small Before Replicating: When you want to experiment or implement a change, roll it out in a small sector first.
Learn and Master the Unit Economics: Fail fast on a micro scale, understand the underlying mathematics and unit economics, and only when it works do you gradually replicate it everywhere. Never go “all-in” blindly.
The electric mobility sector is evolving quickly. What changes or trends excite you the most, and where do you see the biggest opportunities for the future?
Several major structural shifts make EV the undeniable future:
Battery Swapping & Delivery Economics: We initially started with fixed-battery scooters thinking lower CapEx was the key. But we realized gig workers prioritize convenience. Battery swapping lets a rider gain 60–80 km in 5 seconds, enabling 3 to 5 extra daily deliveries and significantly higher earnings.
Shift from Ownership to Rental/Leasing: Gig workers prefer renting over owning. It removes the stress of EMIs, vehicle maintenance, and fuel costs, while offering the flexibility to return the vehicle whenever needed.
Policy Tailwinds: EV isn’t just a choice; it’s an imperative for our environment and future generations. Mandates like Delhi’s policy restricting new registration of petrol two-wheelers by April 2028 speak volumes about where the market is going.
As a woman leading in a fast-growing technology and mobility business, what changes would you still like to see to create more opportunities for women in the industry?
In our industry, women are largely confined to corporate roles like Tech, HR, Finance, Legal, and Data. Operations and fleet management remain heavily male-dominated.
I want to see more women actively taking up ground-level roles, such as delivery partners. It offers immense flexibility in working hours, financial independence, and decision-making freedom.
At Zypp, we currently support around 500 female riders by providing them with tailored scooter support, 24/7 helpline surveillance, and coordinating with e-commerce partners for safe, suitable shifts. I want to build an ecosystem where more women feel safe and empowered to take up these opportunities.
You also wear many hats outside work. How do you balance being an entrepreneur, investor, speaker, fitness enthusiast, and mother while making time for yourself?
I can summarize it in one word: Outsource.
No one is a superwoman, and no one can do it all alone. You shouldn’t judge yourself or feel guilty for asking for help. Instead of just being a hard worker, be a smart worker. I build reliable support systems and delegate to capable managers across different areas both professionally and personally so my daily routine stays balanced.
What has been the biggest personal lesson your career has taught you about yourself?
Have a voice, be confident, and ask for what you deserve.
Early on, I learned not to let anyone shut me down. Back your thoughts with strong, data-led logic. Too often, women hesitate to speak up, demand respect, or ask for help whether it’s asking a spouse for support at home, asking a boss for better compensation, or demanding a seat at the table with colleagues. Learning to speak up boldly and confidently has been my biggest personal evolution.
What advice would you give to women who have a business idea but are waiting for the right moment to begin their entrepreneurial journey?
There is no perfect or “right” moment it simply doesn’t exist. If you wait until everything is seamless, you will never start. Build a basic structure, test your idea alongside what you are currently doing if necessary, and take that step forward instead of waiting for ideal conditions.
Finally, what is one message or life lesson you hope readers take away from your story?
Success isn’t about privileged beginnings or knowing all the answers from day one; it comes down to grit, stubbornness, and refusing to give up. If you stay disciplined, work hard, listen to your users, and hold onto your conviction, you can build a life and a business that creates lasting impact.
