“Since I was in 6th grade, I dreamed of being my own boss. I was born and brought up in Dubai but my entrepreneurship journey started in India. Choosing Chennai for my venture was easy; I had a home here, making things financially simpler.

Solo travels since 6th grade toughened me up, and by 19, I asked my parents if I could relocate to start my business. I took a brave step, to shift my living, from Dubai to Chennai to start my cafe. They were all in, offering full support. However, my parents stayed in Dubai, visiting Chennai during breaks.

After high school, I took a year off. It wasn’t a vacation, though. I dove headfirst into studying Chennai, its people, and the kind of business I wanted to open here. That year was filled with groundwork, learning everything I could. Finally, I felt I was ready for the challenge called ‘entrepreneurship’.

One of the biggest hurdles was my age. Landlords wouldn’t take me seriously. They thought a 19-year-old wouldn’t last. But then, I found a gem, a place that believed in my vision. Then came the investment – my amazing parents, my forever supporters, stepped in. They didn’t just invest money; they invested in my dream.

With paperwork sorted all by myself, I secured a spot in the heart of the city and named it Eleven Point Eleven Cafe. Last year, after months of hard work and countless sleepless nights, we launched our cafe. I wouldn’t say that it has been amazing since then – you know, it’s not easy to sustain in any field, especially in the food industry, unless there’s something new coming every season to keep the customers engaged and engrave the unique flavorsome essence into their tastebuds. There were/are challenges.

I’m in my early twenties, not having figured out life much yet, not knowing a lot of people, balancing between my college and work, leaving my parents in another country – it is hard 🙂
But what drives me – my passion, the fire to make my entrepreneurship goal bigger. My confidence in myself and my cafe never wavered. Now, with my degree freshly completed, I’m ready to dedicate myself full-time to Eleven Point Eleven, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me. It’s all about believing in yourself and your work – that’s the key that unlocks your dreams.”