Meghalaya is one of the seven sister states in Northeast India known for its rich culture and natural beauty. It is located in the hilly terrain area. It shares a border with Assam to the north, and Bangladesh to the south and southwest. According to the 2011 census, the population of Meghalaya was 2,964,007, with 1,492,668 females and 1,471,339 males. While the state has made progress, it continues to face unemployment challenges. As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2022-23, Meghalaya’s unemployment rate is 6.0 percent.
Startups from Meghalaya
In today’s article, we will talk about startups from Meghalaya. The government of Meghalaya has worked hard over the past few years to promote startups in the state by providing a platform like PrimeMeghalaya for startups to get financial support and other benefits. Let’s look into the top 10 startups from Meghalaya.
Top 10 Meghalaya Startups
- Kiniho
- 7 united
- The Tea Story
- The Chicken Wagon
- OiHelp
- Jets24x7
- Baghmara Campers
- Digital Fuel
- Seven Cherri
- Little Sunshine Boutique Nursery
1. Kiniho
Kiniho is a renowned fashion brand hailing from the beautiful state of Meghalaya, India. This label has garnered significant attention for its unique blend of tradition and modernity, seamlessly incorporating the rich heritage of the region into contemporary designs. It was Founded by Iba Mallai in 2016 after she left her corporate job at IBM.
Kiniho originates from the village of Umden, where Eri silk is made using silkworms. This startup follows the best sustainable fashion practices, using organic materials like Eri silk and supporting local artisans. It also draws inspiration from Meghalayan culture and indigenous textiles.
2. 7 united
7 United is another startup from Meghalaya that has managed to transform the traditional rice beer, bitchi, into a popular carbonated drink and sell it in cans under the brand named 7 United. It was founded by Keenan K Marak from Tura in 2022 he partnered with some local brewers and made this traditional rice beer, and the startup managed to sell more than 50,000 cans and made 30 lakhs rupee in revenue in FY24.
3. The Tea Story
This is another startup from Tura that sells tea. This startup was founded by Abhi Silchi in 2019. This startup sources tea from their garden and sells directly to the customer. The startup sells a variety of tea variants that they make from indigenous fruits and spices.
They sell tea in a pop-up at local markets before they go online and sell all over India. This startup is looking for funding to expand its tea business.
4. The Chicken Wagon
The Chicken Wagon is a food truck company based in Shillong. Established in 2017 by Chillibreeze Solution Pvt Ltd, the venture was led by Khrawborbha Kharpuri. Before this, Khraw had been working at Zizira, a spice-selling unit under the Chillibreeze umbrella.
Initially, the Chicken Wagon operated as a roadside food truck offering fried chicken and burgers. However, in 2019, when Chillibreeze decided to discontinue operations, Khraw acquired the business and became the sole owner of The Chicken Wagon.
5. OiHelp
OiHelp is a food and grocery delivery platform based in Tura, Meghalaya. Founded by Avik Chakraborty and Naina K Sangma in 2021, the company emerged during the pandemic to help offline retailers transition to online operations.
OiHelp has generated revenue of ₹28 lakhs in the fiscal year 2024. The company is now looking to expand its services beyond Tura to other parts of Meghalaya, including Shillong.
6. Jets24x7
Jets 24/7 is an online two-wheeler booking aggregator based in Shillong founded by Pynskhemlang Wuriah in 2020. The company was established with the goal of addressing unemployment, traffic congestion, and carbon emissions in Meghalaya.
Jets 24/7 faces stiff competition from Uber and Rapido in the city.
7. Baghmara Campers
Baghmara Campers is a tourism startup founded by Mark Pantora M Sangma and Tangseng Marak in 2021. The company offers personalized and responsible adventure experiences for people wanting to explore West Garo Hills, from trekking expeditions in Balpakram to cave explorations in Siju.
Baghmara Campers generated Rs 35 lakhs in revenue in FY24 and is now planning to expand its business across the Northeast and neighboring countries.
8. Digital Fuel
Digital Fuel is an advertising solutions company founded in 2022 by Mansha Sharma and Pinak Deb. Blending innovation, creativity, and technology, the company pioneers marketing solutions for the Northeast.
Digital Fuel offers a range of services, including marketing campaigns for businesses and individual services like online video production, to help clients grow their businesses.
9. Seven Cherri
This is another startup from Tura founded by Semada Marak. This startup sells handcrafted tribal culture jewellery. Seven Cherri provides opportunities to more than 30 artisan women in the area. Seven Cherri has generated a revenue of Rs. 35 lakh in FY24.
10. Little Sunshine Boutique Nursery
Bob Thangkiew started this company as a hobby. Having lived in Bangalore for 20 years, he began cultivating a succulent plant in his mother’s unused backyard coop house.
Initially selling his plants through WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, he opened his own nursery, Little Sunshine Boutique Nursery, in October 2021. Today, the nursery specializes in a wide variety of succulent plants.
Also read: Jubilant Divine Esports: Gaming’s New Frontier in Meghalaya
Conclusion
These are 10 startups that have emerged from the small hilly state of Meghalaya. With the government’s encouragement to start businesses, more startups are now coming up and growing.
