About Bala Sarda- Founder and CEO of Vahdam Teas
Bala is the 28-year old Founder & CEO of Vahdam Teas. It is one of India’s fastest-growing consumer brands. He is a 4th generation entrepreneur; he comes with a legacy of over 80 years in the Tea industry. A graduate in Business Studies from the premier Delhi University, Bala had started two successful student ventures in college.
By Leveraging technology, he has disrupted the 200-year old traditional supply chain of tea in India, bringing premium-quality, garden fresh teas to consumers across the globe in the shortest time possible. His vision is to establish a successful, home-grown Indian tea brand which strengthens the enfeebling industry by adding value at source and by retaining profits at source for the millions of farmers, empowering them to build a better and sustainable future.
Bala launched Vahdam’s first social initiative – ‘TEACH Me’ in 2018, under which 1% of the revenue goes towards the education of the tea growers’ children.
The program has already inducted the wards of all the farmers at two partnering estates of Vahdam. Vahdam Teas has raised $16M USD from India’s top consumer funds with a growth of more than 5X in the last two years. It is the first Indian company to be featured on the prestigious list of Oprah Winfrey’s list of Favorite Things for 2018.
What makes Vahdam different from other similar Tea business?
The first pioneering and innovative concept has been the radical supply chain, which is devoid of unnecessary middlemen like retailers, auctioneers, distributors, etc. The groundbreaking supply chain and innovative technology helps in making available garden-fresh, premium quality tea to consumers across the world in the shortest time possible.
A unique, differentiating factor that all the tea from Vahdam carries is a ‘Date of Picking / Harvest’ along with a ‘Date of Packaging,’ which honestly informs the customer about the tea’s freshness and origin. The supply chain helps in retaining profits at source for the farmers who nurture and grow these teas with great love, care, and passion. This helps in getting better, deserving prices for their efforts, empowering them and their families over some time.
Speaking of innovation in the products, the exquisite range of tea bags has garnered a reputation in consumer markets because of the innovative loose-leaf pyramid tea bags that carry authentic garden-fresh, loose-leaf teas, unlike inferior quality tea dust which is used by a majority of conventional tea brands around the world.
Funding and future plans of one of the youngest entrepreneur
Vahdam Teas has received total funding of $16million (110+ cr) with a series C round closing 2 weeks back ($11 million or INR 75 Cr).
However, much of the fresh capital would be invested in bulking up its supply chain network and setting up additional offices in the U.S. and Europe. The startup also plans to launch new products and enter new markets in South Asia and the UAE.
Achievements of Vahdam Teas
Bala Sarda has been inducted into the ‘Forbes 30 under 30 Asia for 2018’ and on the list of ‘Top 35 Entrepreneurs under 35, Asia’ for the year 2019. He had also been invited to speak at Harvard University.
Oprah’s Favorite Things 2018, Forbes 30 under 30 (2018), Entrepreneur 35 under 35 (2019)
20+ global awards including SOFI 2018 and 2019, Global Tea Championship, Great Taste awards, etc.
Message from Bala Sarda
Thanks to our groundbreaking supply chain, our innovative marketing strategy, and a premium line of high-quality products – Vahdam Teas has seen a growth of more than 200% CAGR in the last two years.
