From Corporate Ladder to Momo Cart: A Rs 5 Crore Success Saga
In a remarkable tale of entrepreneurial courage, Saket Saurabh, the co-founder of Momos Mafia, abandoned a high-paying corporate job to pursue his passion for food. His journey, which will soon be featured on Shark Tank India, showcases how a simple momo cart evolved into a multi-crore business empire.
Leaving a Lucrative Career Behind
Saket Saurabh was previously employed in a product manager role in Gurugram, earning an impressive annual salary of approximately Rs 52 lakh. Despite the financial security, his innate drive for innovation led him to quit this position and venture into the food industry. This bold decision marked the beginning of an extraordinary transformation from a corporate professional to a street food entrepreneur.
The Humble Beginnings with a Momo Cart
Initially, Saket started with a generic cafe in Gurugram that sold a variety of items. However, he soon pivoted to focus exclusively on momos, launching his business through mobile carts. The cart quickly gained popularity, generating daily sales between Rs 10,000 and Rs 12,000. This early success demonstrated the potential of his concept, but it also came with significant challenges.
Operating a cart-based business proved volatile, with issues such as:
- Frequent removal of carts by local authorities
- Staffing difficulties and operational hurdles
- Adverse weather conditions affecting sales
Saket realized that to scale his vision into a Rs 500 crore enterprise, he needed to transition from carts to established stores.
Scaling Up: From Carts to a Growing Chain
The strategic shift to brick-and-mortar outlets propelled Momos Mafia to new heights. Today, the business operates:
- 40 mobile carts across various locations
- 20 smaller retail outlets
- Two full-scale quick-service restaurants
This expansion has been instrumental in achieving substantial revenue growth, transforming a side hustle into a formidable food brand.
Impressive Financial Milestones
Saket Saurabh shared detailed insights into the financial trajectory of Momos Mafia. In the initial months of January, February, and March during the 2023-24 financial year, the business recorded Rs 16 lakh in revenue. The following year saw a dramatic increase to Rs 2.2 crore, and the current year is projected to close at Rs 3 crore. Cumulatively, over two and a half years, Momos Mafia has surpassed Rs 5 crore in total earnings, highlighting its rapid and sustainable growth.
This success story underscores the power of perseverance and strategic adaptation in entrepreneurship. As Saket prepares for his Shark Tank India appearance, his journey from a Rs 50 lakh job to a Rs 5 crore momo business serves as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs nationwide.
