Gurugram, India – In a striking career pivot, 33-year-old entrepreneur Saket Saurabh has built a rapidly growing food business, The Momos Mafia, achieving over ₹5 crore in revenue within two and a half years. This remarkable success comes after Saurabh resigned from a corporate position that paid an annual salary of ₹52 lakh.
Saurabh, a co-founder and CEO of the dumpling-focused brand, officially registered The Momos Mafia in January 2024. His journey into the food industry began even before his corporate departure in September 2023, where he served as a product manager after his previous venture, Wowflux, was acquired by FlixStock.
From Cafe Experiment to Street Cart Success
The initial spark for Saurabh's venture ignited while assisting his sister and brother-in-law with their Bamboo Cafe in Gurgaon. Despite a diverse menu, momos consistently emerged as the top-selling item. This observation led to an experimental canopy outside the cafe, exclusively selling momos, which quickly proved popular.
Encouraged by this early success, the team placed a dedicated momo cart at Gurgaon's Infotech location. This cart quickly garnered significant attention, generating daily sales between ₹10,000 and ₹12,000, primarily from office workers.
The Evolution of The Momos Mafia Business Model
The strong demand from office-goers sparked the idea of a broader expansion, particularly a franchise model. Many customers expressed interest in opening their own momo carts, laying the groundwork for what would become The Momos Mafia's expansion strategy.
Today, The Momos Mafia operates with five partners: Saket Saurabh, Ekta Kumari, Gautam, Surya Prakash, and Shubham Thakur. The business has expanded significantly, now boasting approximately 40 carts, 20 small outlets, and two quick-service restaurants across seven Indian states.
Overcoming Operational Challenges
The early, purely cart-led model presented several operational hurdles, including difficulties with cart placements, staffing, and weather-related disruptions. To address these challenges, the company innovated a hybrid approach, coining it the “Cart Service Restaurant” (CSR) model. This involves opening small, fixed shops with carts positioned outside, combining the mobility of a cart with the stability of a physical outlet.
Financial Milestones and Future Projections
The financial trajectory of The Momos Mafia has been impressive. The business reported ₹16 lakh in revenue during the first three months of the 2023-24 financial year. This figure soared to ₹2.2 crore the following year. For the current year, the company has already recorded ₹2.2 crore and projects reaching ₹3 crore by year-end, bringing its total revenue over two and a half years to more than ₹5 crore.
Saurabh's journey, chronicled in an Instagram video captioned “50 lakh ki job resign kar chale momo business karne” (Left a ₹50 lakh job to start a momo business), has resonated widely, attracting nearly three lakh views and inspiring many with his entrepreneurial spirit.