Starting a business is never easy: but starting one with your closest friends? That’s a whole different adventure. There’s excitement, trust, shared memories, and a common drive to build something meaningful. But there’s also risk, disagreements, and the challenge of balancing friendship with responsibility. Still, time and again, we see that some of the most inspiring startups are born not in boardrooms, but in living rooms, college canteens, and late-night chai sessions between friends.

From small-town beginnings to building high-impact brands, these Gujarati founders prove that when trust, vision, and hustle come together, friendship can fuel far more than just conversation, it can spark a movement. Whether it’s in food, tech, agriculture, or design, these homegrown partnerships remind us that a strong bond can be the best co-founder.

Here, we take a look back at some of those incredible journeys: friends who took ideas and made them happen, and actions and turned them into expanding businesses. Theirs are stories of challenges, candor, partnership, and a common aspiration to build something greater than themselves. Because in Gujarat, dosti doesn’t necessarily equal friendship: it often equals business.

Bull Agritech- Friendship, Farmers & A ₹135 Crore Vision

Bull Agritech was born out of a simple observation and a strong desire to solve the challenges farmers face in selling their produce. It opened a window of possibility for two friends—Divyajit Chauhan and Hit Desai, who saw this problem first-hand.

During the lockdown, back in his village, a farmer was forced to sell his produce at just one-third the market price, not because of quality, but because he had no access to the right buyers. That one moment planted the seed for Bull Agritech.

The agricultural supply chain has long been a web of middlemen, delays, unfair pricing, and zero transparency. But instead of just discussing the problem, the duo decided to solve it. They launched a farmer-first platform that directly connects farmers with processors, cuts out intermediaries, and ensures quality-based, real-time pricing. Their standout service? Buy-from-Home, a model that lets farmers sell directly from their doorstep, hassle-free.

From an idea born in a lockdown village to digitally connecting over 45,000 farmers and enabling trades worth ₹135 crores, Bull Agritech is redefining how Indian agriculture operates.

And what about doing all this with a friend?
“It’s rewarding,” they say, “because trust and understanding are already built-in.” But they’re quick to add—clarity is key. Defined roles, open communication, and mutual respect have helped them navigate both business and friendship without compromise.

“Friends can share dreams easily, but co-founders have to share sleepless nights too. Before starting with friends, ask yourselves if you can handle tough conversations without breaking the bond”

— Hit Desai, Founder & CEO, Bull Agritech

“When friends become co-founders, disagreements are natural. The key is to resolve them quickly and focus on the bigger goal, not ego. That’s how we’ve sustained our partnership.”

— Divyajit Chauhan, Co-founder & COO, Bull Agritech              

Because sometimes, solving a real problem begins with something as simple as going home—and starting up with a friend who believes in the same change.

Stroom: Built by Friends, Backed by Belief

In a market flooded with chalky protein bars and fake “healthy” snacks, three friends- Rohan Shah, Darshan Gattani & Shiven Chaturvedi spotted a glaring gap. Where were the genuinely delicious, protein-packed snacks that didn’t taste like cardboard? Stroom was born from this frustration, but more importantly, from a friendship rooted in shared ambition.

During their time abroad, especially in Australia, the founders saw how the global health food space had evolved. Protein snacks there didn’t feel like supplements. They felt like treats. Back home, Indian shelves were still stacked with either tasteless bars or junk food pretending to be healthy. The trio decided to change that narrative.

Their first big breakthrough? Asia’s first centre-filled protein bar: a rich, dessert-like snack that broke away from the typical chalky, chewy bar. It wasn’t just nutritious, it was indulgent, exciting, and actually enjoyable. The response was loud and clear. Stroom’s bars gained instant popularity across platforms like Zepto, Blinkit, Instamart, Amazon, and Flipkart. But Stroom is more than just a product—it’s a mindset. Built from the ground up as a function-first, flavour-forward brand, Stroom thrives on innovation and agility.

When Friends Start Up

“Starting a business with friends can be incredibly rewarding  but only if done with clarity, shared values, and strong mutual respect.”

Starting a company with close friends gave Stroom something rare and unshakable sense of trust and the freedom to be completely honest. That bond enabled them to transform chaotic starts into significant strides. They shared the same objectives in mind and a real admiration for each other that simplified speeding up, risking, and remaining grounded when things would sour. Stroom isn’t revolutionizing the way we think about snacks, it’s reminding us that when like-minded people band together, they can create something quite special.

For the team behind it, friendship wasn’t just the origin story. It became the fuel for everything Stroom stands for momentum, energy, and the flow of good ideas at scale.

“What worked for us was the balance between personal chemistry and professional alignment. We were friends first, but they also gave each other space to own specific roles, challenge each other when needed, and make decisions that prioritised the brand. Of course, disagreements happened  but the underlying friendship created a foundation of respect, which meant debates didn’t break trust.”

Beardo – Friendship, Risk & a Disruptive Idea

Priyank Shah and Ashutosh Valani were long-time friendswho turned into co-founders from Ahmedabad, with a shared passion for entrepreneurship. Both friends had business backgrounds, and this wasn’t their first startup. They initially started a t-shirt printing venture called “Retouch”, but it didn’t take off as expected. However, their entrepreneurial spirit stayed alive.

The idea for Beardo was born out of a personal frustration and casual conversation. Ashutosh, sporting a beard at the time, couldn’t find any good quality beard care products in the Indian market. That’s when they realized: there was a massive gap in the Indian men’s grooming segment, especially for bearded men — a trend that was catching on fast. They didn’t just want to start a product line; they wanted to build a brand for the modern Indian man.

What began as two friends trying out oil blends at home slowly turned into something much bigger. They sold their first product online, managed everything by themselves, and incrementally built what would eventually become Beardo. Along the way, the brand attracted the big players and was soon acquired by Marico, one of the FMCG industry leaders. At the center of it all was a trust-based friendship and vision—key ingredients behind one of India’s most successful men’s grooming ventures.

After Beardo’s success, the duo launched the lifestyle brand Villain that has an unapologetic edgy appeal. Villain was acquired by Mensa shortly after its incorporation. Subsequently, careful investments were made in rapidly expanding startups such as Rage Coffee. 

Along with their college mate Aashka Goradia, the two went on to establish RENÉE Cosmetics. It was a new, innovative beauty company that sought to reimagine makeup for Indian women. Borrowing from their experience in establishing Beardo, Priyank and Ashutosh added robust business strategy and practical execution, whereas Aashka added her artistic vision and extensive knowledge of beauty, which had been influenced by her television career. The outcome was a new, customer-focused brand that introduced affordable innovation to Indian cosmetics.     

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