What would you do if your dream business completely fell apart? Would you call it quits or start over?   

Meet Viraj Bahl, our guest for today’s episode of Happy Hour with FinCocktail Season 4 joined by our founder Sayali Rai as he talks about how he faced failure head-on and turned it into an opportunity to build something even bigger!  

He talks about his journey from starting with a chain of restaurants to building a 1000 crore company. Inspired by his hardworking parents, he chased his dream of starting his own business.  Earlier he ventured into the restaurant world, hoping to make it big with his own chain, but things didn’t go as planned. Instead of giving up, he embraced failure, calling himself a “failed restauranteur.”  

That failure became the foundation for his next big idea: Veeba, a company that’s now redefining food and condiments in India. 

Along the way, he learned the value of resilience, the importance of having the right people in your corner, and why you need to think beyond India’s top 10 cities to truly make an impact!

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, someone who’s faced setbacks, or just love a good comeback story, our new episode is here to cater to all your needs!

Watch to learn how this "failed restauranteur" turned failure into his greatest opportunity.

Chapters:

00:00- Sneak Peak! 

1:25- Intro 

2:10- Was entrepreneurship always the plan?

4:10- Restaurant flop: What went wrong despite a great product?

6:00- Should you think twice about the restaurant business?

7:15- Takeaways from his dad’s business 

10:47- Betting it all: Selling his house to chase a dream.

12:18- Please don’t sell your house!

14:55- Finding his groove in the sauce world—how it all clicked

18:10- Strengths of his organisation

18:56- Founders’ blind spot: Expanding beyond top cities

20:40- The industry he'd choose in today’s startup world 

22:08- experience of being a newly minted shark 

23:11- What he values most in founders as an investor 

24:28- Where India’s new-age founders are emerging from

25:58- Practical advice for young entrepreneurs finding their way.

28:02- Outro 

Find FinCocktail and Viraj Bahl on other social media:

Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/fincocktail/  

https://www.instagram.com/viraj.bahl?igsh=ZmcwZWdsc2xsaXdo 

YouTube:  

https://www.youtube.com/@FinCocktail 

LinkedIn: 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/fincocktail/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sayalirai/  

https://www.linkedin.com/in/viraj-bahl/ 

X: 

https://twitter.com/FinCocktail 

https://x.com/VirajBahl 

Credits:

Shoot: 

CinFin Media

Edit: 

Anurag Kawatra 

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Disclaimer

Financial products and instruments are subject to market risks and yields may fluctuate depending on various factors affecting the markets. There is no assurance or guarantee that the objectives of a portfolio will be achieved. Please refer to the relevant Disclosure Document and Client Agreement pertaining to a Portfolio scheme for portfolio specific risk factors. The Portfolio Manager and its affiliates, and any of its officers directors, personnel and employees, shall not liable for any loss, damage of any nature, including but not limited to direct, indirect, punitive, exemplary, consequential, as also any loss of profit in any way arising from the use of this material in any manner.

Eyewear isn’t just about vision—it’s a statement of identity and style. Bringing luxury eyewear to India meant redefining how people perceive quality and fashion in a fast-paced world. From global icons like Gucci and Cartier to homegrown innovation, it’s a journey of challenges, resilience, and creativity.

Ronak Sheth, founder of Eternity Lifestyles, revolutionized India’s eyewear industry by introducing iconic brands like Oakley, Montblanc, Chanel, Cartier, and more. His passion also gave birth to OPIUM Eyewear, India’s most exciting homegrown brand blending global aesthetics with Indian sensibilities.

In today’s episode of Happy Hour with FinCocktail, our Co-Managing Partner Niyati Thaker chats with Ronak about his journey in the eyewear space, from introducing iconic luxury brands to crafting a homegrown favorite, they dive into his journey of navigating challenges, adapting to ever-changing fashion trends, and turning setbacks into stepping stones. 

00:00- Sneak Peek 

1:15- Intro 

2:03- how did he start the business and get into it, like a background/legacy 

6:15- shift from finance to the eyewear industry 

7:30- Key lessons while starting out in the industry 

11:08- how did you differentiate yourself from other players 

14:35- manufacturing and production 

15:33 How do you make your brand stand out with branding and marketing

20:38- talked about how did he get his brand to where it is today, like big name strong offline presence 

22:05- celebrity endorsements 

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Find FinCocktail and Ronak Sheth on other social media:

Instagram: 

 / fincocktail  

https://www.instagram.com/ronak_sheth?igsh=MTdsMmhkMTVhbjh2aQ== 

https://www.instagram.com/opiumeyewear?igsh=NHd2OGY5Z3pyMDds 

YouTube:  

  / @fincocktail  

LinkedIn: 

 / fincocktail  

 / sayalirai  

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronakshethindia/ 

X: 

 / fincocktail  

Website:-

https://www.opiumeyewear.com/ 

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Credits: (change the edit credits)

Shoot: 

CinFin Media

Edit: 

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Disclaimer

Financial products and instruments are subject to market risks and yields may fluctuate depending on various factors affecting the markets. There is no assurance or guarantee that the objectives of a portfolio will be achieved. Please refer to the relevant Disclosure Document and Client Agreement pertaining to a Portfolio scheme for portfolio specific risk factors. The Portfolio Manager and its affiliates, and any of its officers directors, personnel and employees, shall not liable for any loss, damage of any nature, including but not limited to direct, indirect, punitive, exemplary, consequential, as also any loss of profit in any way arising from the use of this material in any manner.

About FinCocktail:

FinCocktail by Sayali Rai & Niyati Thaker is a one-stop shop for all your questions about personal finance. It was created to help young Indians understand and embrace their personal finances. It aims to become a source of inspiration to all who want to take charge of their financial futures.

This season on the Happy Hour with FinCocktail Sayali & Niyati are on a mission to find out more about the journey of money. See how money flows through the system and in and out of our lives! Handling money is not easy, but it can be made simple if you get to know your money and its workings. 

Building wealth is something everyone should be capable of. It's more of an art than a science and a skill that everyone can master. 

Let them bring you real stories from real people who have been managing their own money for a while, so you can see how different avenues exist to generate wealth and reach your dream goals! So listen on and let's build some wealth together.

---------------------------------------------------------------00:00- Sneak Peek!

1:04- Intro

1:44- Finding Her Footing in Footwear

3:19- Scaling New Heights: Growth and Challenges6:16- Impact of Social Media on her Brand

10:20- Marketing Strategies and how to stand out

12:41- The Art Behind the Sole: Intricacies of Craftsmanship

15:58- Lessons from the Runway

17:12- Can you do it all? The beauty of division

21:39- Staying Relevant in a Fast-Paced Market

24:58- Women in Craftsmanship

27:44- Managing Product and Inventory

29:26- How do you Manage your Money 32:59- Generational Wisdom in Finances

35:27- Women are inherently good with money38:45- Outro

Find FinCocktail and Aprajita Toor on other social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fincocktail/https://www.instagram.com/aprajitatoorofficial/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/aprajitatoor/?hl=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FinCocktail

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fincocktail/

X: https://twitter.com/FinCocktail

Website:-https://aprajitatoor.com/

Credits: Shoot: CinFin Media

Edit: https://www.instagram.com/intriguingfilms/

Disclaimer

Financial products and instruments are subject to market risks and yields may fluctuate depending on various factors affecting the markets. There is no assurance or guarantee that the objectives of a portfolio will be achieved. Please refer to the relevant Disclosure Document and Client Agreement pertaining to a Portfolio scheme for portfolio specific risk factors. The Portfolio Manager and its affiliates, and any of its officers directors, personnel and employees, shall not liable for any loss, damage of any nature, including but not limited to direct, indirect, punitive, exemplary, consequential, as also any loss of profit in any way arising from the use of this material in any manner.

Photography has emerged as a creative career that can be fulfilling and financially rewarding if pursued carefully. Event Photography has a different dimension and requires creativity, technical expertise and people management skills.

Anand Rathi, the Founder and CEO of Reels and Frames and Algomage has over 10 years of experience in photography, engineering and finance and is on the list of the Top 100 Photographers in the World. Reels and Frames is a premium wedding photography and cinematography company. They have captured over 350 events across five continents, creating unforgettable memories for many. His unique blend of passion and expertise helps create innovative solutions for digital photography. Algomage uses image automation through cutting-edge machine vision and deep learning.

On this episode of Happy Hour with FinCocktail, our Founder Sayali Rai has a candid chat with the guest about his career journey, photography experience, brand scaling, creative and technical balance, event photography and management and some pieces of advice for budding photographers looking to make their name.

Tune in to this engaging session to understand the entrepreneurial aspect of photography, the impact of AI, and managing photography in events and business and personal finance. Share this with your friends and do leave us a comment with your thoughts!

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0:00 - Sneak Peek!

1:13 - Intro

2:25 - Beginning of Career Journey

6:03 - Starting Photography

10:40 - Switch from Corporate to Full Time Photography

14:15 - Advice for People Fearing Failure

17:20 - About Reels and Frames

20:50 - Advice on Business Scaling and Expansion

25:50 - About Algomage

29:35 - Value of Formal Education

30:45 - How Algomage Works and AI's Impact

33:40 - Balancing Creativity and Technicality

36:42 - Managing Celebrity Weddings

40:09 - Staff Management

41:35 - Misconceptions and Realities of Celebrity Weddings

44:44 - Romanticism of Weddings

46:25 - Corporate Shoots

47:50 - Managing Business and Personal Finance

49:42 - 3 Points of Advice for Young Photographers

51:13 - Outro

------------------------------------------------

Disclaimer

Financial products and instruments are subject to market risks and yields may fluctuate depending on various factors affecting the markets. There is no assurance or guarantee that the objectives of a portfolio will be achieved. Please refer to the relevant Disclosure Document and Client Agreement pertaining to a Portfolio scheme for portfolio specific risk factors. The Portfolio Manager and its affiliates, and any of its officers directors, personnel and employees, shall not liable for any loss, damage of any nature, including but not limited to direct, indirect, punitive, exemplary, consequential, as also any loss of profit in any way arising from the use of this material in any manner

About FinCocktail:

FinCocktail by Sayali Rai & Niyati Thaker is a one-stop shop for all your questions about personal finance. It was created to help young Indians understand and embrace their personal finances. It aims to become a source of inspiration to all who want to take charge of their financial futures.

This season on the Happy Hour with FinCocktail Sayali & Niyati are on a mission to find out more about the journey of money. See how money flows through the system and in and out of our lives! Handling money is not easy, but it can be made simple if you get to know your money and its workings.

Building wealth is something everyone should be capable of. It's more of an art than a science and a skill that everyone can master.

Let them bring you real stories from real people who have been managing their own money for a while, so you can see how different avenues exist to generate wealth and reach your dream goals! So listen on and let's build some wealth together!

The importance of Real Estate is often understated in terms of economic, social and individual contexts. Real estate is a critical driver of wealth creation, employment, development and sustainability.

Dhaval Ajmera, the Director of Ajmera Realty & Infra India Ltd., is a second-generation entrepreneur who joined the Ajmera Group in 2003 and has over 20 years of experience in spearheading Real Estate Business and innovation across the globe. Under his leadership, Ajmera Realty has delivered over 45,000 apartments and plays a significant role in affordable housing and urban development.

On this episode of Happy Hour with FinCocktail, our Co-Managing Partner Niyati Thaker engages in a candid conversation with the guest about the Real Estate Business and Family Legacy, its importance in the current market, sustainability and contribution to the economy along with financial implications.

Join us in this engaging session to understand the Real Estate Market, Buying New Homes, Personal Finance, value of passion and some valuable advice for people wanting to invest in Real Estate. Share this with your friends and do leave us a comment with your thoughts!

#realestate #realestateinvesting #realestatetips #realestateinvestment

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0:00 - Sneak Peek!

1:11 - Intro

1:54 - Story of his Business Growth

4:10 - Pros and Cons of Generational Family Business

7:15 - Scale of Real Estate Business

11:05 - Movement of Real Estate Market

12:54 - Importance of Real Estate in Today's Generation

15:55 - Advice for People in 30s Wanting to Buy First Home

17:47 - Buying vs Renting

20:35 - Other Businesses

24:13 - Sustainability Factor in Business

26:51 - Benefits of Real Estate Regulations

30:00 - Managing Mindsets Across 3 Generations of Business

33:50 - Thoughts on MBA and Formal Education

38:11 - Role as Honorary Secretary of CREDAI-MCHI

41:46 - Personal Finance and Portfolio

44:28 - Personal Life, Health and Passion

51:40 - Outro

______________________________________

Disclaimer

Financial products and instruments are subject to market risks and yields may fluctuate depending on various factors affecting the markets. There is no assurance or guarantee that the objectives of a portfolio will be achieved. Please refer to the relevant Disclosure Document and Client Agreement pertaining to a Portfolio scheme for portfolio specific risk factors. The Portfolio Manager and its affiliates, and any of its officers directors, personnel and employees, shall not liable for any loss, damage of any nature, including but not limited to direct, indirect, punitive, exemplary, consequential, as also any loss of profit in any way arising from the use of this material in any manner.

About FinCocktail:

FinCocktail by Sayali Rai & Niyati Thaker is a one-stop shop for all your questions about personal finance. It was created to help young Indians understand and embrace their personal finances. It aims to become a source of inspiration to all who want to take charge of their financial futures.

This season on the Happy Hour with FinCocktail Sayali & Niyati are on a mission to find out more about the journey of money. See how money flows through the system and in and out of our lives! Handling money is not easy, but it can be made simple if you get to know your money and its workings.

Building wealth is something everyone should be capable of. It's more of an art than a science and a skill that everyone can master.

Let them bring you real stories from real people who have been managing their own money for a while, so you can see how different avenues exist to generate wealth and reach your dream goals! So listen on and let's build some wealth together!

Asset management is the process of managing investments on behalf of individuals, companies, or institutions.

Currently, Asset Management has assumed an important role in helping individuals, companies, and institutions maximize the value of their assets while minimizing risks.

Siddharth Vora, the Fund Manager and Head of Investment at PL Investment Pvt Ltd is a CFA and CA who has extensive experience in managing high-stake funds. The fund he manages is worth more than ₹500 Crores. Siddharth’s designation is this - Head - Quantitative Investment Strategies & Fund Manager, PL Asset Management and Executive Director, PL Capital - Prabhudas Lilladher Group.

On this episode of Happy Hour with FinCocktail, our Founder, Sayali Rai, engages in an open chat with the guest about asset management, investments, client focus and personal finance. The conversation throws light on portfolio distribution, external factors affecting investments and how to become successful in Asset Management.

Join us in this engaging session to gain practical insights from the guest's work, understand how to become successful as an Asset Management company and some valuable advice for buddying asset management enthusiasts. Share this with your friends and do leave us a comment with your thoughts!

#financepodcast #finance #investing

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0:00 - Sneak Peek!

1:14 - Intro

1:42 - Background and Career Switch

3:16 - Asset Management and its Simple Understanding

11:50 - Company Products and Target Clientele

15:40 - Adapting to Clientele Needs

16:05 - Removing Emotion from Investment

19:38 - Current Market Situation

22:20 - IPOs and the China Situation

26:10 - Passive Investment vs Quant

29:50 - Diversification of Portfolio

33:14 - Alternative Investment Ideas

37:00 - Effects of Inflation

39:10 - Managing Personal Finance

43:32 - Building Trust as an AMC

48:34 - 3 Tips for Young People

51:53 - Outro

______________________________________

Disclaimer

Financial products and instruments are subject to market risks and yields may fluctuate depending on various factors affecting the markets. There is no assurance or guarantee that the objectives of a portfolio will be achieved. Please refer to the relevant Disclosure Document and Client Agreement pertaining to a Portfolio scheme for portfolio specific risk factors. The Portfolio Manager and its affiliates, and any of its officers directors, personnel and employees, shall not liable for any loss, damage of any nature, including but not limited to direct, indirect, punitive, exemplary, consequential, as also any loss of profit in any way arising from the use of this material in any manner.

About FinCocktail:

FinCocktail by Sayali Rai & Niyati Thaker is a one-stop shop for all your questions about personal finance. It was created to help young Indians understand and embrace their personal finances. It aims to become a source of inspiration to all who want to take charge of their financial futures.

This season on the Happy Hour with FinCocktail Sayali & Niyati are on a mission to find out more about the journey of money. See how money flows through the system and in and out of our lives! Handling money is not easy, but it can be made simple if you get to know your money and its workings.

Building wealth is something everyone should be capable of. It's more of an art than a science and a skill that everyone can master.

Let them bring you real stories from real people who have been managing their own money for a while, so you can see how different avenues exist to generate wealth and reach your dream goals! So listen on and let's build some wealth together!

Networking has become a norm more than a necessity in the modern age, and it has evolved in an ever inclusive manner breaking physical and digital barriers.

In order to be a successful entrepreneur, networking should be at the forefront of one's business strategies, thereby making the fundamental accessibility of the product or service more feasible.

Shaan Khanna, Founder of Networking Now India, is a Networking Strategist and marketing enthusiast who has experience of promoting multiple brands and expanding the scope of entrepreneurial access. She is also the Co-Founder of SoundRise, which is a community platform for engaging musicians and music lovers.

On this episode of the Happy Hour with FinCocktail, our Co-Managing Partner Niyati Thaker, dives deep into the essential topics of networking, entrepreneurship, collaboration, and money management. Besides, the conversation focuses on practical insights to grow your network, enhance your collaborative skills and how networking can be a powerful tool for business.

Tune in for an engaging session where we delve into the discussion of entrepreneurial challenges, networking impact and its benefits, business talks and personal and professional finance. Share this with your friends and do leave us a comment with your thoughts!

#financepodcast #finance #Networking #Entrepreneurship #startup

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

0:00 - Sneak Peek!

1:12 - Intro

1:50 - Beginning of Entrepreneurial Journey

3:30 - Benefits of Early Experience in Entrepreneurship

6:45 - Evolution of Networking

10:58 - Impact of Networking on Freelancers and Small Business Owners

13:05 - Evolution of Networking

16:09 - Collaboration over Competition

21:25 - Importance of Early Networking

24:05 - Challenges faced by Entrepreneurs

28:45 - Business Conversations

30:15 - Importance of Money Management

35:30 - Her Personal Finance

41:16 - About SoundRise

43:15 - FinCocktail's Journey of Educating People

44:47 - Networking in FinCocktail

46:22 - Outro

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🎧 Listen To #HappyHourWithFinCocktail On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3RgIddL...

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Find FinCocktail and Shaan on other social media:

Instagram:

/ fincocktail

YouTube:

/ @fincocktail

LinkedIn:

/ fincocktail

/ sayalirai

X:

/ fincocktail

Website:-

House of Quadri: https://houseofquadri.com/?srsltid=Af...

----------------------------------------------

Credits:

Shoot:

CinFin Media

Edit:

/ intriguingfilms

/ anuragkawatra

----------------------------------------------

About FinCocktail:

FinCocktail by Sayali Rai & Niyati Thaker is a one-stop shop for all your questions about personal finance. It was created to help young Indians understand and embrace their personal finances. It aims to become a source of inspiration to all who want to take charge of their financial futures.

This season on the Happy Hour with FinCocktail Sayali & Niyati are on a mission to find out more about the journey of money. See how money flows through the system and in and out of our lives! Handling money is not easy, but it can be made simple if you get to know your money and its workings.

Building wealth is something everyone should be capable of. It's more of an art than a science and a skill that everyone can master.

Let them bring you real stories from real people who have been managing their own money for a while, so you can see how different avenues exist to generate wealth and reach your dream goals! So listen on and let's build some wealth together!

Diamonds are considered the pinnacle of Indian Jewellery Tradition and are often associated with affluence and heritage.

Building a Business with Lab-Grown Diamonds can be ambitious as well as challenging, especially in the modern era where the new generation is looking forward to adding Diamonds to their jewellery collections.

Vaibhav Karnavat, the Founder of House of Quadri, is a 3rd Gen Chartered Accountant who has culminated ground-level diamond business with E-Commerce D2C. He has over 8 years of experience in manufacturing high-quality diamonds and is an active investor in multiple E-Commerce startups.

On this episode of Happy Hour with FinCocktail, our Co-Managing Partner, Niyati Thaker, dives deep into the fascinating world of lab-grown diamonds with the guest who is revolutionizing the gemstone industry in India. Besides exploring cutting-edge tech and the evolution of lab-grown diamonds, the guest highlights the key differences between natural and man-made diamonds, brand vision and prospects of the market and finance.

Join us in this insightful chat session as we expand the discussion into customer experience, the Indian perception of buying diamonds, some valuable advice for buddying merchants in this industry and the scope of professional and personal finance. Share this with your friends and do leave us a comment with your thoughts!

--------------------------------------------

0:00 - Sneak Peek!

1:22 - Intro

1:44 - About the Guest

2:39 - Backstory of Diamond Business

3:58 - Switching Careers

4:48 - Personal Experience

5:47 - Lab-Grown Diamonds and their Evolution in the Market

15:00 - Using Technology to Enhance Diamond Tradition

21:40 - Difference between Natural and Lab-Grown Diamonds

25:30 - Resale Market and the Indian Jewellery Mindset

29:30 - Brand Vision and Customer Experience

35:50 - Profitability and Capital Expenditure

40:35 - Investment Experience

44:40 - Managing Personal and Business Finance

47:40 - Advice for New People Entering the Industry

51:38 - Secret of FinCocktail

54:56 - Outro

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Find FinCocktail and Vaibhav on other social media:

Instagram:

/ fincocktail

YouTube:

/ @fincocktail

LinkedIn:

/ fincocktail

/ sayalirai

https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaibhav-k...

X:

/ fincocktail

Website:-

House of Quadri: https://houseofquadri.com/?srsltid=Af...

----------------------------------------------

Credits:

Shoot:

CinFin Media

Edit:

/ intriguingfilms

/ anuragkawatra

----------------------------------------------

About FinCocktail:

FinCocktail by Sayali Rai & Niyati Thaker is a one-stop shop for all your questions about personal finance. It was created to help young Indians understand and embrace their personal finances. It aims to become a source of inspiration to all who want to take charge of their financial futures.

This season on the Happy Hour with FinCocktail Sayali & Niyati are on a mission to find out more about the journey of money. See how money flows through the system and in and out of our lives! Handling money is not easy, but it can be made simple if you get to know your money and its workings.

Building wealth is something everyone should be capable of. It's more of an art than a science and a skill that everyone can master.

Let them bring you real stories from real people who have been managing their own money for a while, so you can see how different avenues exist to generate wealth and reach your dream goals! So listen on and let's build some wealth together!