From College Kitchen to ₹2 Crore Revenue: How Megha Sarayan Built a Baking Empire

Megha Sarayan, a bright student from Kolkata, never imagined that her future would lie not in corporate offices, but amid ovens and cakes. What began as a casual baking workshop soon sparked a passion that transformed into a multi-crore business. Today, her brand Land of Cakes generates an annual revenue of ₹2 crore, all starting with just ₹5,000.

Humble Beginnings in Mom’s Kitchen
In 2017, while pursuing her studies, Megha started baking cakes as a hobby. Encouraged by friends, she listed her first product, a chocolate truffle cake, on Zomato. With no prior business experience, she began working from her mother’s kitchen, earning just ₹3,000 in the first month. Balancing college during the day and fulfilling orders at night, her dedication soon paid off. Megha then invested ₹5,000 to rent a modest 100-square-foot space, officially launching Land of Cakes.

A Game-Changing Partnership
Megha’s breakthrough came when she entered an exclusive partnership with Zomato. The platform began giving priority to her brand, increasing daily orders from 8 to 25. By the end of the first year, revenues had reached ₹3 lakh, serving over 500 customers. This success allowed Megha to automate operations, build a small team, and balance her studies with her growing business.

Turning Down an IIM Offer
When Megha was selected for an MBA at the prestigious IIM Kozhikode, she faced a tough choice: pursue higher education or focus on her flourishing venture. Choosing her passion over a degree, she declined the offer. During the COVID-19 pandemic, while offline bakeries shut down, Megha leveraged online orders with the help of her father and brother. This period tested her resilience and confirmed a loyal customer base.

Scaling Up to ₹2 Crore Revenue
In November 2021, Megha expanded her business with a 1,500-square-foot facility, launching three cloud kitchens in Kolkata. By 2024, she opened her first café, On D’ Go. Today, Land of Cakes offers over 100 products and earns ₹2 crore annually. In December 2024, the startup secured its first angel funding of ₹72 lakh. Megha now aims to grow the brand to a ₹6 crore turnover and establish a legendary bakery presence across India.

Megha Sarayan’s journey is a testament to the power of following one’s passion, turning a modest investment into a thriving entrepreneurial success story.