Meet woman who left home with only Rs 300, slept on railway station, build Rs 104 Cr company

Founder of Rubans Accessories had to leave school in Class 10 & then she also left home at the age of 15.

Written by: Anirudha Yerunkar Edited by: Anirudha Yerunkar

Published: September 12, 2024, 3:37 PM IST

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https://www.india.com/business/meet-woman-shar-tank-india-fame-chinu-kala-who-left-home-with-only-rs-300-slept-on-railway-station-build-rs-104-cr-company-namita-thapar-vineeta-singh-7240766/ Copy

Chinu Kala, founder of Rubans Accessories, is known as a fearless and spirited entrepreneur. Despite not completing her education, she carved her own path in the business world. Chinu’s journey began when she left school in Class 10 at St. Aloysius School, Mumbai. 

Chinu had also made an appearance on Shark Tank India, Season 2, where she secured an investment of Rs 1.5 crore from Namita Thapar (Executive Director, Emcure Pharmaceuticals) and Vineeta Singh (Co-founder, Sugar Cosmetics).

Chinu Kala Left Home At Age Of 15

At just 15, Chinu left her home due to family issues, with only Rs 300 and a bag of clothes. She faced many struggles, including spending two nights at a Mumbai railway station. To make ends meet, she worked as a waitress, receptionist, and door-to-door saleswoman, earning just Rs 20 per day by selling knives and coaster sets. Later, she worked at a clothing store, where she learned valuable lessons about customer service and behavior.

In 2007, Chinu was a top 10 finalist in the Gladrags Mrs India beauty pageant. While modeling brought her financial stability, she saw its limitations as a long-term career. 

In 2014, she founded Rubans Accessories with an initial investment of only Rs 3 lakh. She started her business in a small 36 sq. ft. kiosk at Phoenix Mall, Bengaluru. AT that time she used to manage it herself. By 2018, Rubans had expanded to five locations across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kochi.

Shark Tank India: Rs 1.5 crore investment

Chinu later transitioned to an online business model, which gave major boost & growth. Today, Rubans Accessories is valued at Rs 104 crore, after Chinu’s determination, and entrepreneurial vision she made business to reach at this stage. The brand’s revenue surged from Rs 56 lakh in 2014 to Rs 35 crore in 2022. Rubans, now a Rs 104 crore fashion jewelry brand, stands as a powerful testament to Chinu Kala’s unwavering tenacity and sharp business acumen.

Chinu Kala’s story impressed the judges on Shark Tank India, resulting in a Rs 1.5 crore investment from Namita Thapar and Vineeta Singh.