: After Losing Jobs to COVID, 3 Engineers Find Success Selling Tea From a Pushcart #IndiaNEWS #Kerala There are thousands of tea stalls dotting the highways in Kerala selling steaming hot ‘chaya’.

After Losing Jobs to COVID, 3 Engineers Find Success Selling Tea From a Pushcart #IndiaNEWS #Kerala
There are thousands of tea stalls dotting the highways in Kerala selling steaming hot ‘chaya’. But if you ever pass through Pallimukku, a town in Kollam district of Kerala, you could easily spot the ‘BTech Chai’, a unique tea stall set on the side of NH 66.
Anandu Ajay, Mohammed Shafi and his brother Mohammed Shanavas, three engineering graduates came together to start the BTech Chai. Set on a pushcart stationed on the roadside of one of the busy areas in Kollam, BTech Chai offers over 50 flavours of tea.
“We wanted to start something very unique in all aspects because spotting a chai shop is easy here, therefore it was essential to be different and to stand out from the crowd. Also, because we three are engineering graduates who are running a ‘chai’ business, we wanted it to be named BTech Chai,�? he says.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns that followed have been one of the toughest times for many across the country, including Anandu and Shafi who lost their jobs during this period.
“When we lost our jobs during the lockdown we both decided to start something of our own and a food business was always on our minds. But due to financial limitations, we couldn’t start anything big or something that involved risk. So, we started the BTech Chai on a pushcart,�? Anandu tells The Better India.
BTech Chai is set on a pushcart stationed on the roadside of one of the busy areas in Kollam
Shahnavas, Shafi’s brother who was working in the Middle East, also had to face many challenges during the pandemic period. He then decided to return home to join Anandu and Shafi in their business venture.
Despite facing a lot of resistance from his family, Anandu decided to move ahead with the chai business. He says, “It was very difficult to convince my family. My parents couldn’t accept the fact that a BTech graduate is going to sell tea on the roadside. My mother somewhat reluctantly came around but my father is still not convinced. �?
Unlike Anandu, Shafi’s parents were easily convinced and supported him on his venture. Shafi says it was his mother who helped them find a pushcart for setting up their business. “There were a lot of questions regarding the chai business. But I have been doing a lot of odd jobs for several years including painting, catering, event management, etc. So, my parents didn’t discourage me, they just didn’t want me to be jobless. Also, my brother joined us and he has been big support ever since,�? adds Shafi.
After brainstorming for several months, Anandu and Shafi came up with a proper business plan but there was another challenge in store for them — raising enough funds.

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