Akshata Sharma
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Founded in 2018 by engineering grads and friends, Sumair Jain and Vinay Pratap, Ecofynd is a Gurgaon-based startup providing eco-friendly designer home decor products to promote sustainable living.
They met at Lovely Professional University and bonded over their love for plants and backgrounds in e-commerce.
After college, they gained valuable experience working for Alok Paul, the co-founder of Berrylush, and realised they had the potential to start their brand.
Driven by the desire to bring greenery into urban homes that often lack space and time for traditional gardening, they launched Ecofynd in 2018, focusing on urban gardening and home decor.
Starting a business with limited funds and experience is challenging. Sumair and Vinay started Ecofynd with just 3 lakhs, balancing their day jobs with building the company.
They focused on creating planters for small spaces, made of durable, recyclable metal.
Despite initial design failures, they learned from the experience, conducted extensive research, iterated on their designs, and progressively started learning their customer preferences.
In 2019, Ecofynd saw significant growth, with sales increasing from Rs 9 lakhs to 55 lakhs.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in sales as people sought to improve their living spaces.
"The pandemic triggered a shift in consumer behaviour, leading to a growing interest in gardening and the therapeutic benefits it offers", Sumair told Startup Pedia.
Ecofynd expanded its product line to include home decor items due to increased demand.
They utilised their Instagram account for marketing and engaged with a growing community of plant lovers.
Sumair managed technical aspects and account management, while Vinay focused on operations, quality control, and procurement.
In FY24, Ecofynd achieved a remarkable turnover of Rs 11.8 Cr, transforming their modest startup into a thriving business.
The journey was tough with challenges in shipping planters due to poor logistics. Sumair emphasized understanding dynamic customer preferences.
Innovative packaging and efficient supply chain management were crucial. Sumair and Vinay learned valuable lessons in leadership and teamwork.
With a team of over 20 members, they plan to expand into the home furnishing market while maintaining a commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.
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