At a time when America saw chai as a sugary latte, Ani and Ayan Sanyal decided to change the story. Sujatha Padmanabhan speaks with the founders of Kolkata Chai Co. about how they built a million-dollar business rooted in culture, not trends.
In this episode of Diaspora Dialogues, we go behind the scenes of the Hasan Minhaj partnership and the long road of entrepreneurship - from selling at NYC farmers' markets to surviving COVID shutdowns.
We discuss:
- Growing up as 1st Gen Indian Americans in the 90s.
- The nostalgia of Kolkata summers and "Adda" culture.
- The pressure of running a startup with family.
- Why authenticity is the ultimate business advantage.
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - The Hook: Hasan Minhaj & Kolkata Chai
4:10 - Growing up in 90s America & Kolkata Summers
8:25 - The ‘Chai = Connection’ Moment
10:24 - Starting at a NYC Farmer's Market
14:01 - Selling Chai in a Coffee Country
22:12 - Convincing Parents for a Chai Startup
26:10 - On Being Brothers and Business Partners
32:04 - Surviving COVID Two Months After Opening
36:55 - The Hasan Minhaj Partnership Story
42:41 - What’s Next for Kolkata Chai Co.
45:44 - Making a Perfect Cup of Chai
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