StartUps

Power Talk: Inspiring Women in Biz |Kasturi Banerjee

Kasturi Banerjee has risen to prominence as a result of her enthusiasm to encourage better drinking and creating the perfect blend from local soil. She is a graduate from the University of South Wales with a master’s degree in Management and Development of International Financial Systems. She was born in Calcutta but spent the majority of her life in Mumbai. She worked for 16 years in the financial services sectors of India and Singapore. Bidisha Barik discusses with Kasturi Banerjee about her passion for working in India’s Alcohol Beverage business.

Everybody has a story to tell, but when women take the lead and talk about their accomplishments and wisdom, it’s a whole other ballgame! These female-led businesses demonstrate the individuality and power that women wield in the workplace. From the Founder of The Chocolate Spoon Co. Rachel Goenka to the co-founders of the M5 entertainment talent agency, to the various women-led inventive enterprises that provide the creative space for our environment, we have extensive coverage of them all for you.

For decades, women have led the way, and every accomplishment has a tale to be inspired by. We hear from women from various walks of life on the journey they undertook while starting their own business or enterprise.

Kasturi Banerjee
42, Mumbai
Founder & Director of Stilldistilling Spirits

Power take: After travelling the world, Kasturi came up with the idea of a native, local flavour of rum created in India using Indian soil.

Kasturi’s decision to attend a bartending internship in 2019 was motivated by her curiosity, which has now led to a profession. “I’ve always wanted to work in India’s alcoholic beverage business,” she says. Her desire to learn how to experiment with cocktail ideas contributed to her current level of accomplishment. Kasturi had the unique idea of producing alcohol with a local flavour. Her desire to work in the beverage business has carried her all over the world, and has her finally focusing on the creation of premium grade rum, which has prompted her to experiment with blends and conduct research into many areas of growing trends and customer preferences.

Kasturi began her business adventure after completing many certifications and training over the course of two years and carving out a niche for herself. In 2020, she founded Stilldistilling Spirits with the goal of elevating drinking experiences. The unique venture adheres to a local, homegrown, and environmentally responsible approach, which encapsulates the created rum. Their White Rum is a combination of 2.5 years old oak barrel-aged cane-spirit, coupled with the molasses spirit, while the Gold Rum is a blend of 2.5 years old oak barrel-aged cane-spirit, combined with the molasses spirit. “The clear, vivid, medium-bodied white rum is full with tropical qualities,” Kasturi remarks, noting the importance of homegrown flavours. ‘An aged rum with a touch of dried fruits, honey, and cinnamon, enhanced with vanilla’ is the USP of the gold variety. “Our philosophy is ‘Drink Well,’” she continues.

While her time as a bartender provided her with many opportunities to experiment, it also provided her with an in-depth understanding of industry trends. As her interest in the Indian alcoholic beverage sector grew, she held tasting sessions for family and friends, which inspired her to learn more about blending.

Kasturi has earned a name for itself in the industry by expanding its market from 200 cases to four locations with over 4000 cases around the country.

Her desire to make a difference in the world has led her to work with the Morjim Sea Turtle Trust to protect Olive Ridley Turtles. She is also involved in campaigns to promote a ‘straw-less ocean,’ which aims to discourage the use of plastic straws and encourage the use of alternative sustainable materials.

Quick Take:

One piece of advice for budding women entrepreneurs?

Hard work, focus, resilience, and networking. Nothing beats this.

What is your one regret in life?

No regrets as this is the best time for craft spirits in India.

Stilldistilling Spirits’ vision in one line?

We feel that everything needs to be local, home-grown, and eco-friendly

February 21, 2022

Top 6 Startups Of 2025: The New Architects of India’s Future

From sustainable farming to EV mobility, discover six Indian startups shaping a cleaner, smarter, and more connected tomorrow. Every generation finds its dreamers, the ones who don’t just talk about change, but build it. In 2025, India’s startup scene feels less like a rush for valuation and more like a movement with a purpose. These founders aren’t chasing unicorn tags; they are chasing impact. They are solving what truly matters. This is the India that rolls up its sleeves and says ‘Let’s make it ourselves.’ Dhanush Kumar writes about the Top 6 Startups of 2025, born from soil, steel, and software, each shaping tomorrow with courage and conscience. 1.Handpickd: Fresh from Farm to Table When freshness becomes a luxury, Handpickd restores it to the everyday plate. This Bengaluru-based agritech startup has built a direct bridge between local farmers and urban consumers ensuring every tomato, mango, and millet travels fewer miles and earns farmers more smiles. Using tech-driven logistics and transparent sourcing, Handpickd doesn’t just deliver produce; it delivers trust. In an era of overprocessed everything, this is simplicity redefined clean food, honest pricing, and a system where farmers finally get their due.It’s not a brand. It’s a return to our roots literally. 2.Bambrew: Building a Plastic-free Future At a time when the planet gasps under plastic, Bambrew breathes innovation. The Bengaluru-based packaging pioneer crafts biodegradable, compostable alternatives made from bamboo, sugarcane, and cornstarch materials that love the earth back. Their vision isn’t just green, it’s bold. Bambrew’s eco-packaging now wraps products for top FMCG and e-commerce giants, proving sustainability doesn’t have to look boring or cost a fortune.This isn’t rebellion it’s reinvention. A reminder that small choices, multiplied by millions, can rewrite the story of our planet. 3.Eeki Foods: Vertical Farming for a Greener Tomorrow In the deserts of Rajasthan, where

StartUps

The Fresh Faces of India’s Clean Eating Revolution

Eat Right Clean eating is no longer a fad but a necessity in the times we live in, and several startups are making sure this is a choice that is easy to make. As people take charge of their health and well-being, eating clean is one of the most important priorities. BINDU GOPAL RAO features seven startups that are helping make this change, one plate at a time. Nutreat Hyderabad-based Nutreat was born in 2014 out of a personal need to provide clean, wholesome food for the founder’s son. Over time, this evolved into a deeper mission: to craft handmade, customised nutrition rooted in ancestral Indian food wisdom. “We handcraft each product using our signature four-step process sprouting, sun-drying, slow roasting, and stone grinding and tailor it to the individual’s age, health condition, and dietary needs. Nutreat promotes clean eating not just by avoiding processed ingredients, but by ensuring every spoonful is mindfully made and consciously consumed. In 2023, when our business was at its peak with franchise opportunities, foreign collaborations, and incubation offers we made a bold decision. We stepped back. We refused to bulk produce because it was creating false demand, pressuring both our team and consumers to buy more than they needed. That turning point reaffirmed our belief in nooverbuying and consciousconsumerism. Clean eating, we believe, must also be mindful free of waste, hype, or excess. While the wellness industry grows, we often see food wastage even in the name of healthy eating. Our model of customisation ensures that we make only what’s needed, drastically reducing waste while offering personalised nutrition,” says Jyothi Sri Pappu, Founder & CEO, Nutreat. Moving forward, their goal is to scale impact, not volume, by nurturing conscious consumers, supporting women artisans, and creating a food culture rooted in purpose. The Kenko Life

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House of Creativity: Sinha Brothers Redefine India’s Art Scene with a Legacy-Fuelled Vision

In a world where creativity often competes with commerce, LUV and KUSSH SINHA are merging both purpose and passion. Drawing from their rich cinematic heritage and a lifelong connection to the arts, the Sinha twins have launched The House of Creativity (HOC) a platform dedicated to showcasing and supporting contemporary Indian artists. Their goal is to democratize access to visual art, giving emerging talents a space to thrive while also expanding the reach of Indian artistry on a global stage. In conversation with SINDURI VUPPALA, the duo shares how their entrepreneurial journey is not just about art, but about creating a movement that celebrates originality, honours legacy, and nurtures the future of India’s creative community. 1. Can you take us back to when your relationship with visual art truly began? Luv: My relationship with visual art began at a very young age. I was deeply influenced by Hindi cinema the films my father acted in, those of Mr. Bachchan, and other legends. As I grew older, Japanese animation, video games, and comic books also left a huge impression on me. Each artist, every inker, has their own style those differences fascinated me. Film too, being a moving image, played a huge role. Pause it, and it becomes a photograph. That connection influenced me tremendously. 2. What led to the birth of the House of Creativity? Was there a defining moment or conversation? Luv: It started with conversations at home during the lockdown. I kept thinking about the number of immensely talented artists who just don’t have a platform. Art can be an exclusive world, but coming from the film industry, I felt we could help expand its reach. The idea of starting digital-first made sense due to restrictions, but our long-term vision is definitely to open physical galleries and make

StartUps

Why Piyush Goyal’s Note Strikes a Chord with Many

In a fast-paced economy where entrepreneurship is often glamorized and unicorn status is considered the ultimate goal, Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s recent cautionary note to start-ups has sparked conversation across boardrooms, social media feeds, and co-working spaces alike. At a time when headlines celebrate billion-dollar valuations and multi-million funding rounds, Goyal’s reminder to prioritize sustainability over vanity metrics comes as both a wake-up call and a much-needed dose of realism. What Did Piyush Goyal Say? While addressing a forum of young entrepreneurs and start-up founders, the Commerce and Industry Minister highlighted the growing trend of start-ups focusing more on valuation than value creation. He advised founders to stay grounded, reminding them that real impact lies in solving problems, building sustainable models, and creating employment — not just in raising capital or reaching the next funding milestone. Why It Resonates 1. The Valuation Bubble India has witnessed a boom in the start-up ecosystem over the last decade, becoming the third-largest start-up hub in the world. However, this rapid rise has also led to the emergence of overvalued unicorns, many of which struggle to generate profits or even break even. Goyal’s words hit home because several start-ups that once shone brightly have now either shut down or drastically downsized. 2. Funding Winter & Layoffs In the past year, a noticeable funding winter has taken a toll on many start-ups. With VC purse strings tightening, companies have been forced to lay off thousands of employees, scale back operations, and rethink their business models. Goyal’s comment serves as a timely reminder that blind growth can be dangerous without a stable foundation. 3. Founders Facing Burnout The hustle culture in start-up circles often glorifies 20-hour workdays and constant “grind” mentality. However, a growing number of founders are speaking out about mental health challenges, anxiety, and burnout. Goyal’s emphasis on sustainable growth also indirectly supports a healthier entrepreneurial mindset — one that doesn’t chase