D-Hustlers : Entrepreneurial Stories of Desi Immigrants

In this episode of the D-Hustlers podcast, Jai Desai converses with Garima, an educator, who assists immigrant children in adapting to the U.S. education system.

Difference in learning style between India and US.

Journey of an Immigrant Entrepreneur: Svasti Rao - The Kurta Lady

In this engaging conversation, host Jai Desai explores the entrepreneurial journey of Svasti Rao, also known as 'The Kurta Lady.' After immigrating from India to the United States, Svasti navigated visa restrictions and various employment challenges which took a mental toll on her but she eventually fought back and started her passion-driven traditional Indian clothing business. The evolution of her business started as a side hustle, turning into a successful venture which she expertly balanced with her personal life and motherhood. Svasti worked 3 jobs at one point before going all in on her venture. Svasti shares her experiences on market comprehension, customer needs, fabric preference, and the capital and investment needed to start her business. Her venture attracts women in their late thirties to early sixties with an appreciation for Indian culture. Svasti reflects on moments of self-doubt and the fulfillment that has come from witnessing her business's growth, underlining the importance of market research in running a successful business.

I post interesting clips from my recent and upcoming episodes on instagram and youtube

Insta: @⁠dhustlerspod⁠

⁠Youtube⁠

I'm always looking for feedback on how to improve my show, what else would you like to see and even looking for new guests who are in diverse professions and Hustling to create their own path to success. Connect with me on [email protected] or via my instagram account shared above

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction and Early Beginnings

01:00 The Journey to Becoming an Immigrant Entrepreneur

01:32 The Struggles and Triumphs of Moving to a New Country

04:08 The Transition from Journalism to Teaching

04:08 The Challenges of Being an Immigrant and Starting a New Life

04:10 The Birth of the Kurta Lady Business

09:36 The Growth and Expansion of the Business

13:09 Starting a Business Amidst a Pandemic

13:09 The Journey of Registering a Business and Securing a Patent

13:36 Balancing a Full-Time Job and a Side Hustle

13:41 The Turning Point: Choosing Health and Passion Over a Stable Job

15:33 The Decision to Quit a Job and Bet on a Business

17:33 Growing a Business Through Social Media

17:41 The Challenges and Triumphs of Content Creation

18:49 The Power of Authenticity in Building a Brand

20:22 The Journey of Building a Business from Scratch

37:05 The Importance of Customer Interaction in Business

38:54 Understanding the Clientele and Business Distribution

38:54 The Role of Social Media in Business Growth

39:46 Challenges and Strategies in Shipping and Pricing

41:39 The Importance of Website Optimization and Digital Marketing

44:54 Exploring Other Business Opportunities and Partnerships

45:15 Influence of Bollywood on Business

46:27 Understanding Customer Preferences and Insights

46:28 Dealing with Doubts and Challenges in Business

51:15 The Role of Research and Understanding the Market in Business Success

53:50 Reflections on the Business Journey and Future Goals

In this episode of ‘D-Hustlers Podcast’, host Jai Desai has an in-depth conversation with Sonia, the owner of Bibi's Tiffin, an authentic Indian restaurant located in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania.

Sonia talks about starting her journey with a meal service, eventually transitioning into a successful restaurant business. She provides insights into various aspects of running a restaurant, including starting costs, investments, labor costs, marketing, menu planning, health codes, pricing, dealing with customers, and more. She also discusses the challenges of the food industry, including operating during the times of COVID-19, the need for consistency, quality check, customer satisfaction, and dealing with negative reviews. Sonia highlights her future aspirations, including plans of scaling up her business, aiming to make Indian cuisine as popular in America as the likes of Chinese and pizzas.

I post interesting clips from my recent and upcoming episodes on instagram and youtube

Insta: @dhustlerspod

Youtube

I'm always looking for feedback on how to improve my show, what else would you like to see and even looking for new guests who are in diverse professions and Hustling to create their own path to success. Connect with me on [email protected] or via my instagram account shared above

From Immigrant to Influencer: The Health & Fitness Journey of Minakshi

This video dives into the life of Minakshi, an immigrant and successful entrepreneur. After moving from India to Denver, Colorado, Minakshi reinvented her career three times before turning her passion for health into a successful venture, making a huge impact especially on South Asian women's lives. A former journalist and animator and now a fitness coach, she shares her unique perspectives on the benefits of fitness for women, with special emphasis on strength training for women's hormonal and bone health. Her insights span topics from running half marathons to dealing with nutrition during PMS. Also, viewers get a glimpse into her personal life including her family, love for travel, and passion for script writing. She discusses her entrepreneurial ups and downs, how bollywood influences culture, the importance of authenticity, and her future goals to evolve her business.

Connect with Minakshi on https://www.instagram.com/fitmomminzi/

or https://regularfit.me/

Welcome of D-Hustlers, where I talk to ordinary people with extraordinary lives and explore their journey.

Welcome of D-Hustlers where I talk to ordinary people with extraordinary lives and explore their journey.

https://aurabyrutu.com/

Today's guest is someone I've known since childhood, but only really got to know in the last five years after moving to the US myself. Rutu, originally from Ahmedabad, India, is a talented fashion designer currently building her brand, Aurabyrutu, out of Santa Clara, California. She moved to the US in 2015 to pursue her master's degree. Tune in and enjoy the conversation as we explore her journey

Welcome of D-Hustlers where I talk to ordinary people with extraordinary lives and explore their journey.

My first guest is a talented Zumba instructor, a successful event planner celebrated for her beautiful events, and the mother of an energetic 4-year-old boy. I've had the opportunity to know Ankita for the past five years. She stands out for her honesty, her stunning events, and her energetic approach to both work and life. Ankita moved to the US in 2017, hailing from Jodhpur, Rajasthan. To see more of her work, check out her website at sagaeventplanner.com. Hope you enjoy the conversation.

https://sagaeventplanner.com/