Many of India’s most successful startups didn’t begin with massive funding rounds or fancy offices. They started as side hustles—small experiments run on weekends, after office hours, or from living rooms. These founders didn’t quit their day jobs right away. Instead, they validated their ideas, built communities, and turned passions into profitable companies.
As India’s startup culture matured, so did the opportunities for side hustlers. With digital tools, online marketplaces, and social media platforms, anyone with a skill or idea could reach customers faster than ever before.
Here’s a look at some inspiring Indian startups that began as side hustles and are now thriving businesses.
Notable Side Hustles That Made It Big
1. UrbanClap (now Urban Company) – Started as a weekend project
Founders: Abhiraj Bhal, Varun Khaitan, Raghav Chandra
Sector: Home services
UrbanClap began as a weekend side hustle while the founders were still working full-time jobs. What started as a simple idea to organize the fragmented home services market grew into India’s largest home services platform.
2. Chumbak – Hobby turned lifestyle brand
Founders: Vivek Prabhakar & Shubhra Chadda
Sector: Lifestyle and Retail
Chumbak began as a passion project selling quirky souvenirs during weekends and vacations. Starting with fridge magnets, it has now grown into a pan-India lifestyle brand selling apparel, home décor, and accessories.
3. BoAt – Solving a personal problem
Founders: Aman Gupta & Sameer Mehta
Sector: Consumer Electronics
BoAt started as a side hustle to solve the founders’ frustration with expensive, low-durability earphones. What began as a side experiment became India’s top audio wearables brand, competing with global giants.
4. Razorpay – Side project to solve payment pain
Founders: Harshil Mathur & Shashank Kumar
Sector: Fintech
Razorpay’s founders, while working corporate jobs, struggled with integrating payments into their earlier side projects. They decided to solve the payments challenge itself—and that became the multi-billion-dollar Razorpay.
5. The Souled Store – Evening side hustle for pop culture fans
Founders: Vedang Patel, Aditya Sharma, Harsh Lal, Rohit Raj
Sector: D2C Apparel
Starting as a fun project selling quirky t-shirts to friends and family, The Souled Store turned into a leading pop-culture apparel brand catering to millennials and Gen Z.
Common Threads Behind Their Success
Solving a Personal Problem: Almost every successful side hustle solves a problem the founders faced themselves.
Testing Before Scaling: These founders validated demand through small launches, pre-orders, or word-of-mouth before scaling.
Smart Use of Digital Tools: They leveraged social media, e-commerce platforms, and low-cost marketing to build traction without big budgets.
Passion-Driven Execution: Most side hustles succeed because the founders deeply care about the problem they are solving, not just the profits.
Gradual Transition: These entrepreneurs didn’t quit their jobs on day one. They made the switch only after building steady traction.
Why Side Hustles Work in India
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Low cost of starting: Online marketplaces, no-code tools, and affordable logistics help test ideas without large investments.
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Huge niche markets: From regional products to pop culture merchandise, India has diverse consumer segments waiting to be served.
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Social media virality: Side hustlers can build a loyal audience through Instagram, YouTube, and WhatsApp communities.
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Growing startup culture: Family and society are increasingly supportive of entrepreneurial side gigs.
Lessons for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
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Start small, start now: You don’t need VC money to begin. Just solve one small problem for a specific audience.
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Be consistent: Most side hustles take 1–2 years of effort before they become sustainable businesses.
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Upskill continuously: Learn digital marketing, finance, and customer service even if your product is great.
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Balance your time: Manage your job and hustle until one of them grows enough to deserve your full focus.
What’s Next?
With India’s gig economy booming and digital infrastructure improving, expect to see more side hustles becoming scalable startups in:
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Creator economy platforms
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Sustainable products (eco-friendly brands)
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Vernacular edtech
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Regional e-commerce brands
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D2C beauty, fashion, and health brands
Final Takeaway
Some of India’s most loved brands didn’t begin in boardrooms—they were built in living rooms, cafés, and late-night brainstorming sessions.
If you’ve got an idea, don’t wait for perfect conditions. Start it as a side hustle. Who knows? You might be building India’s next big startup story.
Looking for more founder journeys and startup growth tips? Visit FounderLabs.in for exclusive insights.
