“I grew up in Karimnagar, though my roots trace back to a small village, Vedira. My father was in politics and civil contracting, and today my mother chairs the Women’s Commission. Most of my extended family worked in agriculture or small businesses. I was always curious about what I could achieve. I grew up asking, “Why shouldn’t I try this?” I loved karate, reading, and stories of young achievers. At 18, I started my first venture, Kanuka Gifts, selling handmade items with friends via Instagram. By 2019, it had grown into a small ecosystem with exhibitions and workshops. When I began a manufacturing unit, I paused Kanuka Gifts, realizing my true passion was building, selling, and creating value.

I pursued Digital Techniques in Designing and Planning at JNU and a PG Diploma in Entrepreneurship at Pune School of Midas. Inspiration for Kanuka Organics came from my heritage. My grandmother shared stories of our Goud community ancestors selling toddy, a tradition slowly fading. I discovered Neera, the unfermented toddy, which could be turned into nutritious palm jaggery and syrup.

I spent three years learning—training in Andhra Pradesh and at CPCRI Kerala, developing standard procedures and modifying machinery. Finding a unit in Telangana proved hard, so I moved to Dahanu, Maharashtra. I didn’t know anyone, my Hindi was average, and people warned it was unsafe. But locals welcomed me, and I slowly built trust with toddy tappers, showing them that switching to Neera could secure a better future. Setting up the factory was tough. My PMEGP loan got delayed, I had already bought machines and rented a space, and financial pressure mounted. But by November 2024, we started full-scale production.

Today, Kanuka Organics employs 12–15 people, including traditional tappers and youth from nearby villages. We sell palm jaggery and syrup under our brand, supply in bulk to other businesses, and are planning consumer packs. I’m also exploring products like ice creams, chocolates, and a ready-to-drink Neera beverage. Recently, someone shared that my story inspired their father to let them pursue studies. That moment meant everything.

If there’s one lesson I’ve learned, it’s that you’ll never feel “ready.” Start and build anyway. Trust the process. And most importantly, don’t let your roots fade away. Carry them forward, give them new shape, and create a future for them. That’s what I’m working to do. One palm at a time.”

• Sriya Nerella, Founder, Kanuka Organics