Some stories are not built on success; they’re built on strength.
Today, we will be talking about one such story of Tatkalorry Pvt, Ltd. and its co-founder, Nikita Maheshwari. For her, resilience isn’t just a word; it’s her way of life. She believes that when everything seems to fall apart, that’s when you show up the most. To build something meaningful is her goal.
The Art of Resilience
“I kept going, I kept adjusting,” Nikita says simply, as if that’s all it takes. But behind those words is a decade of courage and reinvention.
A law graduate from GNLU, she knew early on that legal practice wasn’t her calling. “My boyfriend, now my husband, was a gold medallist in law — so I decided to take a different path,” she smiles.
At home, doing a master’s was non-negotiable. So, she joined the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), and it was there that her curiosity about business took shape.
At that time, India’s e-commerce boom was in full swing. Nikita’s father was a brand consultant in the Tile Industry for 20+ years. Coming from a service background, she saw an opportunity to bridge tradition and technology — and thus, Tilebazzar was born.
The First Venture: Tilebazzar
Back then, India was the third-largest producer of tiles (it’s now second). “I wanted to sell tiles online — it sounded so simple,” she laughs. But reality hit soon.
At just 22, with her 17-year-old brother helping her, Nikita was trying to digitise a traditional trade. “We thought it would be easy. But we soon realised — not everything can be sold online. You can’t just make a product because you like it. You have to make it for the people.”
Tilebazzar taught her the importance of research, listening to trade and customers, and building around real problems. “Passion fades,” she reflects, “but what continues is discipline and consistency. Just one step a day — that’s what works.”
From Failure to Foundation: The Birth of Tatkalorry
When Tilebazzar didn’t work out, Nikita had a choice — to cry over it or create something from it. She chose the latter.
“Tatkalorry is a product of failure,” she says. “We had so much research in hand from Tilebazzar — instead of letting it go waste; we used it to build something new.”
The insight was clear: logistics was the real challenge. Dispatching small tile quantities was difficult, and transportation systems were broken.
Nikita and her brother decided to focus on logistics, partnering with Tile Transportation industry stalwart Vinod Patel — and that’s how Tatkalorry Pvt. Ltd. was born.
“It’s been nine and a half great years of Tatkalorry– full of learning. Today, we’re self-sustaining, and that’s our biggest win.”
Lessons from Morbi
One of the toughest yet most rewarding chapters of Nikita’s journey has been building trust in Morbi — the heart of India’s ceramics industry.
“Morbi doesn’t let you in easily unless you have an insider,” she explains. “They’re kind people, but the market is very competitive. You’re replaceable if you can’t deliver. They don’t care if you’re an MBA or a lawyer — they care about service, speed, and commitment.”
Over time, she adapted to their rhythm and values. “Gujarat teaches you community. Here, people talk about profit, not just turnover. They share meals, housing, everything — and that mindset of growing together is something I’ve learned and now practice.”
Tatkalorry even provides driver and labour quarters — with spaces to rest, bathe, and freshen up. “Dignity is a part of service too,” Nikita believes.
Women, Work, and Real Empowerment
At Tatkalorry’s Admin office, the team is entirely made up of women. For Nikita, feminism isn’t about slogans — it’s about creating change on the ground.
“We give women the flexibility to study, to learn new things like Tally or pursue degrees — and we support them with leaves when needed,” she says. “Empowerment is not just hiring women; it’s helping them grow.”
She also rotates roles within her team — ensuring that everyone learns every task, especially admin work. “No one should be irreplaceable. Everyone should know how to handle things — that’s how you build resilience in an organisation.”
During COVID, that philosophy paid off. The slowdown became an opportunity to automate, upgrade internal technology, and reduce manual errors. “You can’t depend on people; you need systems that support people.”
Moments of Pride and Perspective
Among her proudest moments was meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“It was surreal,” Nikita recalls. “He knew all our names — someone at that stature remembering individuals is remarkable. He discussed our work and even asked me to prepare a DPR for bringing a railway line to Morbi.”
For her, that meeting wasn’t just an honour — it was validation that small, consistent work can reach national attention.
What’s Next for Tatkalorry?
“We’re working on tech integration in logistics. To make things more transparent, faster, and smarter. Our focus is on making the company digitally stronger. The next chapter is turning Digital for Tatkalorry. However, for Tatkalorry and Nikita, ambition is about sustainability more than scaling.” Says Nikita Maheshwari
She added, “I am proud of being self-sustaining. My next lined-up goals are very simple. To pay off our bank loan, keep setting achievable goals and growing steadily.”
Resilience. Reflection. Reality.
When asked for advice to young entrepreneurs, she said: “Resilience is not about being unbreakable, it’s about learning to bend and bounce back. If you want to do something, just do it. Even if you fail, don’t take it personally.”
Make a product for the market, not for yourself. Be resilient. Keep going. Don’t give up — just show up.” She added.
Her philosophy is simple yet powerful — competition is healthy, failure is feedback, and resilience is everything.
Because for Nikita Maheshwari, success isn’t about never falling. It’s about learning how to rise, adjust, and keep driving forward.
Gujpreneur, through its entrepreneurial stories, aim to share the same. Keep reading and be resilient!
