From UPSC aspirations to building one of India’s fastest-growing tea chains, the young entrepreneur’s business journey highlights the power of a simple business idea backed by consistent execution.
AnubhavDubey’s career path was far from the traditional ones. Like many others, he initially aspired to crack the UPSC exam and pursue a career in public service. However, after unsuccessful attempts, he chose to explore entrepreneurship instead. Along with his childhood friend AnandNayak, Dubey identified an opportunity in a product that millions consume every day: tea.
The duo in 2016 launched the first Chai Sutta Bar outlet in Indore with an investment of around ₹3 lakh. Their idea was straightforward: to serve quality tea in traditional clay cups, or kulhads, while creating a modern café-like experience that could appeal to young consumers.
A simple business idea turned into a national franchise brand.
Rather than reinventing tea, Chai Sutta Bar focused on branding and customer experience. The company introduced multiple tea flavours, affordable pricing and a consistent store format that could be replicated across cities. The use of eco-friendly kulhads also became a defining feature of the brand, helping it stand out in a competitive food and beverage market.
Instead of relying on external funding, the founders expanded through a franchise-led model. This approach enabled the company to enter new markets quickly while maintaining a relatively asset-light business structure. Over the years, Chai Sutta Bar has grown from a single outlet into a network of more than 550 stores across more than 320 cities in India, with an international presence in countries such as the UAE and Oman.
Entrepreneurship lessons from AnubhavDubey.
Dubey’s journey showcases that successful businesses don’t always begin with groundbreaking technology or significant capital. Instead, identifying an everyday consumer habit and delivering a consistent experience can create long-term growth opportunities.
Industry observers often cite Chai Sutta Bar as an example of how franchising can accelerate expansion while keeping operational costs manageable. At the same time, maintaining product quality, operational consistency and customer satisfaction remains critical as businesses scale across multiple locations.
Today, Chai Sutta Bar is among India’s most recognised organised tea café chains, illustrating how a local startup can evolve into a nationwide business through strategic execution and brand building. AnubhavDubey’s entrepreneurial journey also reflects a broader trend in India’s startup ecosystem, where founders are creating scalable businesses around familiar products by combining traditional offerings with modern retail formats.
