From Code to Clay: How Shobhit Soni Turned Kulhads into a Crore-Rupee Business
From Code to Clay: How Shobhit Soni Turned Kulhads into a Crore-Rupee Business
In an age where startups often chase high-tech trends, Shobhit Soni chose a humbler, earthier path—one molded from clay. A Computer Science engineering graduate from Ajmer, Rajasthan, Shobhit built a thriving business around kulhads, the traditional Indian clay cups, creating an empire now worth crores.
His entrepreneurial spark was lit during his college days. Frequent visits to roadside tea stalls exposed him to the unhygienic reuse of glass cups—a concern that grew more urgent as news of the coronavirus began to spread. Seeking a cleaner, more sustainable alternative, he turned his attention to kulhads.
But Shobhit didn’t stop at the idea. He took the plunge into the tea business, researching premium tea brands and identifying a major gap—quality tea was often priced out of reach for the average consumer. His solution? Affordable, high-quality tea served in hygienic, eco-friendly kulhads.
In 2019, he launched Cutting Meri Wali Chai, a mobile tea shop concept run on an electric vehicle, selling kulhad tea for just ₹10. However, the fragile supply of kulhads became a major obstacle. Instead of giving up, Shobhit took control of production.
During the 2020 lockdown, while many businesses came to a halt, he set up his own kulhad manufacturing unit. It wasn’t easy—early challenges included breakages, delayed deliveries, and losses. But persistence paid off. By producing his own kulhads and later manufacturing the machines to make them, he scaled the business beyond tea.
His company, Mittisa, now supplies kulhad-making machines across India and has helped establish 40–42 kulhad units in various states, boosting rural employment and promoting eco-conscious entrepreneurship. He also works in collaboration with governments like those of Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu to support small-scale pottery businesses.
Shobhit’s journey is a blend of technical knowledge and grassroots insight. After his engineering degree in 2017, he earned an MBA in International Business from Pune and later pursued a diploma in Tea Tasting and Blending from Bangalore. These experiences helped him refine his tea offering and business strategy.
Today, Mittisa boasts an annual turnover of nearly ₹3 crore. But for Shobhit, success isn’t just about revenue. It’s about creating impact.
“I always dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur,” he says. “This journey hasn’t been easy, but I believed in my idea and never gave up.”
From roadside chai to revolutionizing how it’s served, Shobhit Soni proves that big ideas often start with a simple sip.
