“I was just 8 or 9 when I realized I wanted to play for India. Cricket wasn’t merely a hobby; it was an obsession. I quickly rose through the ranks, representing Andhra in the Under-14, Under-16, and eventually the Under-19 teams. By the time I played for India U-19 and South Zone, I was sharing dressing rooms with future legends like Ravi Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina, and Dinesh Karthik. Dinesh and I were even roommates during our months at the NCA camps.

I vividly remember a match against Saurashtra where I smashed Jadeja over mid-on and mid-off in a heated chase. Cricket consumed me. I barely attended school or college, always on the move for matches. Though I secured admission to top engineering colleges, I chose KL University in Vijayawada to stay close to the game.

Then came the injury—a thumb fracture during a local college match. With a crucial U-19 selection game approaching, I begged the doctor to remove the cast and played through the pain. A big mistake. The injury worsened, and my thumb never fully healed. I couldn’t grip the bat properly, and power-hitting became a struggle.

Back then, cricket wasn’t the lucrative career it is today. No IPL, no endorsements—just raw passion. Realizing I wouldn’t play for India broke me. But I’ve always owned my choices. If I was going to fail, I’d do it on my terms. So, I pivoted. If I couldn’t represent India with a bat, perhaps I could serve the nation in another way—as an IAS officer.

I moved to Hyderabad, the hub for Civil Services preparation, and gave it my all. I cracked the exam twice, landing in the top 1000 both times, but not high enough for IAS. And I had a rule: IAS or nothing. So, I walked away.

In 2013, I stepped away from civil services preparation with no job and no backup plan, just a strong instinct to build. That decision led to my first company: Appoids Tech Solutions. We were just three of us, working out of a small room in Hyderabad, developing ERP systems for the government. My background in public policy from my civil prep days gave me a front-row view of the system’s inefficiencies.

That insight shaped our first product—an education ERP that tracked teacher attendance, mid-day meals, and school infrastructure. It clicked. In our very first year, we crossed ₹6 crores in revenue. By 2019, Appoids Tech was pulling in ₹40–50 crores annually. But then COVID hit. Government budgets froze, projects stalled, and uncertainty loomed. I had a team to support—so I pivoted again. Because building, adapting, and pushing forward is the only way I know.

Fitness had always been second nature to me, thanks to my cricketing background. That passion led to the launch of Transform Fitness, a tech platform designed to bring celebrity-level training and nutrition to everyday people. It struck a chord. In 2021, Upasana Kamineni of the Apollo Group acquired the venture.

What came next was one of the toughest calls of my life: walking away from a ₹2-crore salary. It wasn’t an easy leap, but my family stood by me—just like they always have. I stayed on for a year before fully exiting in 2022. And I’ve never been a stranger to starting over.

Years ago, a client poached my entire team and refused to pay us. I lost everything I had built. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned—it’s that I may fall, but I never stay down. I rebuild. Every single time.

Here’s the sweet twist. I’ve always loved cooking, especially desserts. But after my daughter was born, I wanted healthier alternatives—no sugar, no maida, no guilt. So, I started experimenting. That’s how Yummy Bee was born—a brand offering 100% gluten-free, sugar-free, preservative-free desserts.

We began as a tiny cloud kitchen in Kukatpally. No marketing, just word-of-mouth. Soon, people were lining up, demanding a proper café. Our Jubilee Hills store exploded in popularity. It soon became a favourite hot spot for celebrities in Hyderabad.

Today, Yummy Bee has 10 stores in Hyderabad, ₹17 crores in funding, and ambitious plans to expand to Bangalore, Mumbai, and beyond. Yummy Bee isn’t just a brand; it’s a movement. When people think guilt-free, I want them to think of us first. We’re scaling fast, but the core remains unchanged: health without compromise.

As for cricket? I haven’t held a bat in years. But the discipline it taught me, and the quiet strength of my father’s support through every transition, remain my foundation. Because in the end, it’s not about the dream you lose—it’s about having the courage to build new ones and the people who believe in you through every inning of life.”

• Sandeep Jangala, Entrepreneur