From Daily Wages to ₹70 Crore Turnover: Bollapalli Srikant’s Remarkable Journey in Floriculture

New Delhi: From a school dropout to South India’s “Flower King,” Bollapalli Srikant, founder of Vensai FloriTech, has rewritten the rules of success. At just 16, he left school due to family debts and poverty. Today, his company boasts an annual turnover of ₹70 crore, exporting flowers worldwide, proving that determination and hard work can outperform formal education.

Early Struggles: Daily Wages and Hard Lessons

Srikant’s journey began in 1995, when he moved to Bangalore to support his family financially. He worked 18-hour days in flower farms for just ₹1,000 per month, learning not only cultivation techniques but also marketing and sales. By the age of 18, he pooled savings and borrowed from friends to invest ₹20,000 in a small venture called Om Shri Sai Flowers, achieving a turnover of ₹5 lakh in the first year itself.

Laying the Foundation of Vensai FloriTech

Realising the importance of quality control, Srikant established Vensai FloriTech in 2005, purchasing land near Bangalore and starting high-tech farming. Today, his 70-acre farms feature climate-controlled polyhouses cultivating over 20 varieties of flowers, including roses, gerberas, and carnations. His innovation has even earned international recognition: a Dutch breeder named a patented gerbera variety after his daughter, Moksha Shri.

Expanding to International Markets

Srikant’s company exports to Dubai, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand, investing heavily in cold-chain infrastructure to ensure flowers remain fresh immediately after harvest. Domestically, Vensai FloriTech supplies flowers to luxury hotels and high-profile weddings, and also imports exotic varieties like lilies and orchids to meet year-round demand.

Today and Beyond

With an annual turnover of ₹70 crore and over 300 employees, Srikant continues to innovate and advocate for sustainable practices. As President of the Growers Flower Council of India, he campaigns against plastic flowers to protect both the environment and farmers’ livelihoods. His future plans include transitioning to 100% solar-powered farming and reducing chemical usage.

Bollapalli Srikant’s journey is an inspiring example for young entrepreneurs, demonstrating that resource constraints are no barrier to global success.