It’s not every day that a startup walks into the Shark Tank India boardroom, asks for an investment of Rs 50 lakh, and walks away with a Rs 2.5 crore deal. But that’s exactly what Kiwi Kisan Window, a brainchild of Abhinav Ahluwalia and Nupur Agarwal, achieved in 2025. This Dehradun-based venture, which began as a small farmers’ market initiative, has now become a shining example of sustainable entrepreneurship.
Abhinav and Nupur’s journey started in the most unconventional way — at a drum circle in Dehradun. The two connected over their shared philosophy of life and love for community building. What began as a friendship turned into a life partnership, and eventually, a mission to empower farmers and promote sustainable living.
The duo’s first venture was Evolve Foundation, a non-profit aimed at creating smart, sustainable villages by focusing on three pillars: livelihood generation, healthcare, and skill development.
“To fulfil these fundamentals, we explored various projects like plantable stationery and rural ecotourism,” Abhinav recalls. This grassroots involvement brought them face-to-face with the challenges farmers face, particularly in marketing their produce and ensuring fair prices.
How ‘Kiwi Kisan Window’ was born
“Every time we spoke to farmers, two questions kept coming up: ‘Where will I sell my produce?’ and ‘How do I get the best price for it?’” says Nupur. The couple realised the vast potential of India’s agricultural diversity and decided to bridge the gap between farmers and conscious consumers. Thus, Kiwi Kisan Window was born — a platform to bring healthy, organic produce directly from farms to tables.
Their first step was organising a small farmers’ market in Dehradun in 2017. The overwhelming response from both farmers and consumers set the tone for their journey. Encouraged by this success, the duo started packaging and branding farm produce under their own label, expanding their reach year by year.
In 2019, Kiwi Kisan Window received an angel investment of Rs 80 lakh. This funding proved to be a turning point. “We used it to set up better infrastructure, build a robust supply chain, and open our first store in Dehradun,” Abhinav explains.
Scaling against all odds
The journey wasn’t without hurdles. “One of the biggest challenges was educating consumers about the variability in natural products,” Abhinav shares. For instance, they had to repeatedly explain why their honey crystallised, unlike commercial brands. “Natural products are imperfect, and that’s their beauty. But getting consumers to accept this was a long and arduous process,” adds Nupur.
Despite these challenges, Kiwi Kisan Window grew steadily. By 2022, they had opened their third store in Chandigarh, followed by expansions in Mohali and Gurgaon. Their commitment to staying profitable from day one enabled them to bootstrap their growth while staying true to their ethos of fair pricing and sustainability.
In the 2022–2023 financial year, they earned Rs 4.3 crore in revenue, which increased to Rs 5.06 crore in 2023–2024. Earlier, in 2021, their total revenue was reported at Rs 34.08 lakh.
The company currently employs around 70 people at their head office in Dehradun and across their stores.
Shark Tank India: A turning point
Entering Shark Tank India wasn’t a part of the original plan. “We were pushed into it by friends and family who believed in our brand,” says Nupur. While they initially hesitated, they soon realised the opportunity to showcase their vision on a national stage. They asked for an investment of Rs 50 lakh but walked away with a staggering Rs 2.5 crore from Kunal Bahl, founder of Snapdeal.
“The experience was surreal,” Abhinav says. “We went in with no expectations but came out with not just funding but also validation for our mission.”
However, the investment is still in the pipeline. “We’re working out the final details,” says Abhinav. But the response since their Shark Tank appearance has been overwhelming. “Our website traffic has surged, and we’re seeing a massive uptick in enquiries and orders,” Nupur adds.
A window of opportunity
Today, Kiwi Kisan Window is much more than a retail brand; it’s a movement. The startup works directly with thousands of farmers across the country, ensuring fair trade practices and delivering high-quality, unadulterated products to consumers. They’ve set up local processing units, employed robust quality checks, and built a strong supply chain to ensure consistency.
“We’ve always believed in creating impact at scale without relying on subsidies or charities,” says Abhinav. Their efforts have not only earned them a loyal customer base but also recognition as one of India’s most promising sustainable brands.
Looking ahead
With plans to expand to over 100 cities and introduce more value-added products, Kiwi Kisan Window is poised to revolutionise India’s agricultural landscape. “We’re not just building a brand; we’re building a legacy of trust and transparency,” Nupur emphasises.
For a couple who started with a simple idea of connecting farmers to consumers, Kiwi Kisan Window’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, innovation, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship. As they continue to grow, they’re not just creating a window of opportunity for farmers but also opening doors for a more sustainable future.
Edited by Arunava Banerjee; All images courtesy Kiwi Kisan Window
No comments:
Post a Comment