Vidya Bhushan: Revolutionizing Food Access With IOT Vending Machine
Vidya Bhushan
Co-Founder
Give a brief account of your professional journey and tell us about your academic experience at IIT Kharagpur. What did you learn from the campus beyond academics?
My academic experience at IIT Kharagpur has been a humbling one. Stepping onto the campus, I encountered numerous individuals who excelled in diverse fields, reminding me to embrace a lifelong learning mindset.
Beyond academics, my time as part of the hockey team taught me a valuable lesson. During extensive pre-match meetings, we strategized attacks and counterattacks under the leadership of our captain, Yousuf Mohammed. To our delight, many of these planned strategies actually translated into successful goals on the field. This experience instilled the importance of preparation, teamwork, and adaptability in me in the face of uncertainty.
As for my professional journey, I have held significant positions in various organizations. As the Co-founder & COO of Daalchini Technologies, we achieved remarkable growth across India. Before that, I contributed to the success of organizations like Pay
safe India, Paytm, and Reliance Jio in key product management roles.
Throughout my career, I have been recognized for my contributions and dedication and I remain committed to driving innovation and achieving excellence in all future endeavors.
Tell us about the inspiration behind establishing Daalchini and where it is positioned in the market.
Daalchini's inception is rooted in the aspiration to offer corporate professionals a distinctive and innovative solution through IoT-enabled Phygital vending machines. With a network of over 1300 smart machines spanning 43+ Indian cities, we fulfill more than 1 million monthly orders. Our vision has attracted substantial backing, securing over $5 million in funding from esteemed venture capital like Unicorn India Venture, Artha Venture Fund, and angels like Vijay Shekhar Sharma (Founder, Paytm), Rohan Sahu (GM, Paysafe India), Amit Lakhotia (Founder, Park+) and Ajay Kaul (Former CEO, Dominos India).
This resounding support bolsters our commitment to revolutionizing how corporate professionals access quick, wholesome, and home-cooked meals. We continue to expand and make a positive impact on India's food landscape, helping home chefs, franchise partners, and gig workers along the way.
As the Co-Founder and COO, what are the factors you take into account when developing effective corporate growth strategies?
As the Co-Founder and COO, my primary responsibilities revolve around developing effective corporate growth strategies. Among the various factors taken into account, two core aspects hold the utmost significance:
The first aspect is Team Empowerment. Contrary to conventional wisdom, I prioritize our team above all else, making team empowerment the centerpiece of my strategy. I firmly believe that a motivated and skilled workforce forms the bedrock of achieving organizational objectives.
The second vital consideration is a customer centric approach. Understanding our customers' pain points, preferences, and feedback is paramount, guiding us in tailoring our products and services accordingly. By going the extra mile to comprehend and cater to our customer's needs, we establish meaningful connections and foster long-term loyalty.
Throughout my career, I have been recognized for my contributions and dedication and I remain committed to driving innovation and achieving excellence in all future endeavors.
Tell us about the inspiration behind establishing Daalchini and where it is positioned in the market.
Daalchini's inception is rooted in the aspiration to offer corporate professionals a distinctive and innovative solution through IoT-enabled Phygital vending machines. With a network of over 1300 smart machines spanning 43+ Indian cities, we fulfill more than 1 million monthly orders. Our vision has attracted substantial backing, securing over $5 million in funding from esteemed venture capital like Unicorn India Venture, Artha Venture Fund, and angels like Vijay Shekhar Sharma (Founder, Paytm), Rohan Sahu (GM, Paysafe India), Amit Lakhotia (Founder, Park+) and Ajay Kaul (Former CEO, Dominos India).
This resounding support bolsters our commitment to revolutionizing how corporate professionals access quick, wholesome, and home-cooked meals. We continue to expand and make a positive impact on India's food landscape, helping home chefs, franchise partners, and gig workers along the way.
As the Co-Founder and COO, what are the factors you take into account when developing effective corporate growth strategies?
As the Co-Founder and COO, my primary responsibilities revolve around developing effective corporate growth strategies. Among the various factors taken into account, two core aspects hold the utmost significance:
The first aspect is Team Empowerment. Contrary to conventional wisdom, I prioritize our team above all else, making team empowerment the centerpiece of my strategy. I firmly believe that a motivated and skilled workforce forms the bedrock of achieving organizational objectives.
The second vital consideration is a customer centric approach. Understanding our customers' pain points, preferences, and feedback is paramount, guiding us in tailoring our products and services accordingly. By going the extra mile to comprehend and cater to our customer's needs, we establish meaningful connections and foster long-term loyalty.
Tell us about your leadership approach. What are the guidelines or methodologies you follow as a leader?
My leadership approach is grounded in transformational leadership, where the focus is on empowering individuals and fostering a collaborative and supportive environment. I strongly believe in guiding and nurturing my team members, equipping them with the necessary tools and opportunities to take initiative and contribute significantly to our organization's success.
Creating a culture of empowerment and continuous growth is essential to me, as it serves to inspire and uplift my team, enabling them to reach their full potential. Together, we work towards driving the company to greater achievements through collective efforts and a shared sense of purpose.
What is the future destination you are headed towards?
The future destination we are striving towards is an ambitious goal of installing one smart vending machine every 200 meters of habitable area across India.
Based on your experience within the industry, what would be your advice to budding industry leaders?
Drawing from my industry experience, my paramount advice to budding industry leaders would be to prioritize self-care. While it's natural for leaders to get deeply involved in their work, it's crucial to remember the importance of taking care of their physical and mental well-being. A leader who maintains a healthy and balanced lifestyle gains heightened clarity and energy, which in turn enables them to lead with greater effectiveness and resilience.
Vidya Bhushan, Co-Founder, Daalchini
Vidya Bhushan, the CoFounder, and COO of Daalchini, has expertise spanning across Telecom, Digital Payment, and Retail Tech. He has held significant roles at renowned organizations like Ericsson R&D, Reliance-Jio, Pay safe India, and Paytm. Academically, he achieved an All India Rank of 427 in IIT JEE, which led him to pursue studies at IIT Kharagpur. Subsequently, Vidya also completed a PGP/MBA from IIM Ahmedabad. He is the recipient of multiple awards and scholarships including the Young Alumni Achievers Award (YAAA) by IIT Kharagpur, the WISE Scholarship by DAAD (National Agency for Higher Education, Germany), and the NTSE Scholarship (NCERT, Govt. of India).
My leadership approach is grounded in transformational leadership, where the focus is on empowering individuals and fostering a collaborative and supportive environment. I strongly believe in guiding and nurturing my team members, equipping them with the necessary tools and opportunities to take initiative and contribute significantly to our organization's success.
Creating a culture of empowerment and continuous growth is essential to me, as it serves to inspire and uplift my team, enabling them to reach their full potential. Together, we work towards driving the company to greater achievements through collective efforts and a shared sense of purpose.
What is the future destination you are headed towards?
The future destination we are striving towards is an ambitious goal of installing one smart vending machine every 200 meters of habitable area across India.
Based on your experience within the industry, what would be your advice to budding industry leaders?
Drawing from my industry experience, my paramount advice to budding industry leaders would be to prioritize self-care. While it's natural for leaders to get deeply involved in their work, it's crucial to remember the importance of taking care of their physical and mental well-being. A leader who maintains a healthy and balanced lifestyle gains heightened clarity and energy, which in turn enables them to lead with greater effectiveness and resilience.
Vidya Bhushan, Co-Founder, Daalchini
Vidya Bhushan, the CoFounder, and COO of Daalchini, has expertise spanning across Telecom, Digital Payment, and Retail Tech. He has held significant roles at renowned organizations like Ericsson R&D, Reliance-Jio, Pay safe India, and Paytm. Academically, he achieved an All India Rank of 427 in IIT JEE, which led him to pursue studies at IIT Kharagpur. Subsequently, Vidya also completed a PGP/MBA from IIM Ahmedabad. He is the recipient of multiple awards and scholarships including the Young Alumni Achievers Award (YAAA) by IIT Kharagpur, the WISE Scholarship by DAAD (National Agency for Higher Education, Germany), and the NTSE Scholarship (NCERT, Govt. of India).