INCUMATING BUSINESS IDEAS OF YOUTH FOR ENTREPRENEURAL INITIATIVES

26/02/25

Success Stories

31

“Our journey began with a simple idea and a workshop that taught us to put people first,” said Puja Kumari.

Amidst the busy city of Patna, four enterprising young individuals embarked on an exciting venture: a food cart business. This innovative project was born out of their participation in a Human-Centric Development Workshop under Yuva Sashakti Project of Bal Raksha Bharat. During this workshop, they learned to design and develop solutions that truly cater to people’s needs and preferences and to make possible a dream come true to kick-start their own business. Rishu Kumar, Raachi Kumari, Puja Kumari and Subham Kumar from the Patna city with their indomitable spirit and vision to start their food business, designed their own project and embarked on a journey of self-reliance.

Inspired by the workshop’s techniques, the four friends meticulously planned their food cart, ensuring every detail was tailored to provide an exceptional customer experience. Starting from the name… ‘Pikachu Spicy Café’ branding and developing the logo the youth took special care and meticulous attention to every detailing. They focused on creating a menu that offered delicious, high-quality food while also being mindful of the local tastes and preferences. The design of the cart itself was thoughtfully crafted, incorporating feedback and ideas from potential customers to make it both functional and attractive.

With support from Bal Raksha Bharat, the business could be kicked off following legal compliances and after availing necessary license to run the business. It is commendable that the business is being equally owned by a young woman, along with young men. Challenging patriarchy, young women like Puja and Rachi shouldering equal responsibility to run the business in one of the busy thoroughfares of the city. “This business has enabled us to support our family and now our family also feel proud about us”, entails and excited Raachi.

In April 2023, their efforts paid off. The food cart was officially inaugurated by Smt. Reshmi Chandravanshi, Deputy Mayor of Patna Municipal Corporation. The food cart quickly gained popularity, becoming a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike. The team members, take equal responsibility in planning the menu, cleaning and delivering to the customers till late in the evening with a smiling face. “We designed our food cart with the community in mind, and their response has been overwhelming. The income from this business has enabled me to continue in my studies, I could join a library now, required to support my studies” …mentioned Rishu Kumar with excitement

The team’s commitment to quality and customer satisfaction set them apart from the competition, and word of their delicious offerings spread rapidly. Running a successful food business in Patna, the four youths demonstrated how a human-centric approach could lead to impressive results. Their story serves as an inspiring example of how thoughtful planning, attention to detail and a genuine focus on the needs of customers can transform a simple idea into a thriving enterprise.

Youth Innovation and Action Lab (YIAL), a catalyst to create LOCAL-entrepreneurs. YIAL is a unique incubation and accelerator programme that brings together a cohort of youth and adolescents to identify problems faced by them, and their communities to develop and pilot ingenious solutions.

This transformative initiative aims to empower marginalised youth in India, to become catalysts for change in their communities through entrepreneurship and innovation. Through this youth collectives in seven Gram Panchayats (83 villages) in Gaya District, four Gram Panchayats (13 villages) in Sitamarhi District, and two Wards (6 slums) in Patna-Urban are actively engaged. In Bihar this initiative is now enabling over 200+ youth to develop nine entrepreneurial propositions covering sectors like Food Cart, Farming, Goat Rearing, Mushroom Cultivation, Stitching Centre, Broom making etc.

Gaurav Sharma

Content Reviewer

“I am an editor and technical specialist at Bal Raksha Bharat, responsible for publishing articles and posts. My role involves evaluating content for consistency, and ensuring a positive user experience across the website."