A lot goes into making any business a successful one. A product that targets any pain area of the customer, a sound strategy to market the same, a sizeable audience, systematic processes and a lot more.

But, the first and foremost requirement in running a business is the determination and the desire on part of the entrepreneur to succeed. India, being the land of opportunities, has many a successful businessmen and women who in spite of coming from relatively smaller cities, created massive opportunities and businesses.

Here’s listing a few such examples of success stories.

1. Hemant Jalan

Hemant Jalan started Indigo paints with almost no capital investment. This chemical engineer turned entrepreneur, with an initial investment of INR 1 lakh in 2000, started making lower-end cement paints and then gradually diversified into making primers, distempers and emulsions. What started in a small chemical unit in Patna, Indigo Paints now has manufacturing facilities in three states and is worth INR 600 crore in revenue.

With a focus on innovation and seeing the customer as the king, Indigo is now one of the largest paint brands in the country and is listed on the NSE and BSE.

2. Manoj Gyanchandani

Manoj started Red chief, when he found that the Indian shoe market wasn’t really organized. So, instead of exporting his products, he started exhibiting them at multi-brand outlets in Kanpur. His first Red Chief outlet was established in 2011, after which there was no turning back. Today, the brand has over 175 stores across 16 states in the country.

3. MP Ahammed

Back in the 1970s and 80s, jewellery was a highly unorganized sector. It was this realization that propelled MP Ahammed to explore and set up a jewellery business. But finance proved a problem. However, with help from family and relatives, he managed to arrange INR 50 lakhs from seven members and set up a small shop in Calicut in 1993. The company now has 4,600 investors and 250 showrooms across 10 countries.

4. Anuj Mundra

20 years back, when Anuj was working at a saree shop, little did he realize, he would own one of the most popular apparel brands of today- Jaipur Kurti. After re-selling kurtis and suits, he started a block printing and screen-printing units in Jaipur, after which in 2012, he launched Nandani Creations Pvt ltd, famous by the name Jaipurkurti.com online. The company now exports its offerings to Malaysia, Australia, UK and USA too.

5. Dr Ajay Murdia

Talking about male infertility, was a topic best not discussed, especially in 1980s. However, Dr Ajay Murdia with an investment of INR 5000, started a clinic in Udaipur, that helped males receive infertility treatments as well. He also started the first sperm bank in the country. From just two clinics in 2015 to 93 clinics in 2020, Indira IVF is the country’s leading IVF chains, that uses advanced technologies to cater to its patients.