Vikas D Nahar had a small starting capital, two employees and an idea to build an Indian brand for dry fruits and healthy snacks when he launched Happilo in 2016. Nearly a decade later, the Bengaluru-based company has raised around Rs 377 crore in equity funding, attracted celebrity endorsements and expanded its presence across online and offline retail channels.
The journey, however, began well before Happilo. Nahar had already experimented with entrepreneurship, faced difficulties raising capital and relied on financial support from his wife and a government-backed loan to establish the business.
He also appeared as a guest investor on Shark Tank India 2 in 2023, years after reportedly facing rejection from around 20 investors while building his own venture.
Nahar grew up in Sakleshpur, Karnataka, in a family involved in agriculture. His early exposure to farming was followed by a career in the food and trading businesses.
After completing his graduation, he worked at a spice-trading company, where he gained experience in international business. He subsequently pursued an MBA at Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development in Pune.