In a world where the pursuit of a lucrative company job is the end goal, Saket Saurabh’s odyssey is a brash rebellion against the status quo. In late 2023, Saket resigned his position as Product Manager in a top tech company where he was getting a stunning ₹52 lakh per annum (LPA). His mission? To create a recognisable, scalable brand around India’s favorite street snack: the momo.
The Leap of Faith
It wasn’t an instant switch. Saket, who was still doing his corporate job, was experimenting with a small canopy to sell momos outside a family-owned cafe in Gurgaon. The demand was instantaneous.
“We were running ₹10,000 to ₹12,000 in sales every day from just a cart,” Saket revealed in a recent interview. “I realized that office workers weren’t only searching for food, but for a brand they could trust.”
Saket formally retired from his 9-to-5 life in September 2023. In January 2024, he and some other partners Ekta Kumari, Gautam, Surya Prakash and Shubham Thakur co-founded “The Momos Mafia”.
Building the 'Momos Mafia'
It was not easy making the leap from a roadside stall to a multi-state franchise. In its initial year, Saket encountered the harsh realities of street-side operations: weather issues, staffing challenges and a regulatory dilemma with local authorities.
Understanding that a "₹500 crore brand cannot be constructed on carts alone", Saket also changed its business model around to be a CSR (Cart Service Restaurant). The concept successfully mixed small brick and mortar shops with satellite carts in a way that allowed them to be high profile while remaining stable: A few satellite cart stations placed outside of shop windows to the best visibility.
The Numbers: From Lakhs to Crores
The Momos Mafia has witnessed exponential growth:
- Year 1 (Q4 FY24): The brand racked up its maiden ₹16 lakh within three months of going live.
- Year 2: Revenue soared to ₹2.2 crore.
- Projected Present Year (2025-26): The company has already matched last year's revenue and is going to close the same period at ₹3 crore.
After a mere 2.5 years after the launch, the business has racked up over ₹5 crore in cumulative revenue. Currently, the brand has increased its footprint in seven Indian states with a footprint of 40 carts, 20 small shops and 2 full-scale Quick Service Restaurants (QSR).
A Message to Future Founders
Saket’s viral Instagram video, entitled “50 lakh ki job resign kar chale momo business karne,” has inspired thousands. His advice, however, stays down to earth. He serves as a warning to first-time entrepreneurs who want to scale to the “stall-only” mode.
“Begin with a proper outlet,” he says. “A stall can make you a few lakhs, but it is a proper business structure that allows you to hit the bigger numbers.”
