Team

They poured their hearts into Swagino’s, a quick-service restaurant, investing ₹1.65 crore into a sleek, modern space. It became a hub for locals — daily sales touched ₹1,00,000, and soon they expanded with a bottled water brand, My Water, delivering hundreds of cases every day. They even launched Swagino’s in-house food delivery app. Everything seemed perfect.

In the beginning, investors’ faith was strong. But betrayal and conspiracies from people closest to the founders shattered everything from within. Negative narratives spread like wildfire, trust collapsed, and one by one, investors pulled out. Working capital dried up, and the founders were forced to rely solely on mounting debt. When external funding too came to a halt, the company was left with no option but to shut down. And all the blame fell squarely on the shoulders of the founders.

“Neither investors were ready to support us, nor were creditors willing to wait,” recalls co-founder Imran.

“We had put everything we owned on the line. But when no one stood with us, our dream collapsed. If even one person had stood by our side, Swagino’s could have survived. Instead of support, all we got was advice.”

Creditors soon arrived — some polite, others threatening. Every day felt like a trial, with disputes playing out in front of homes and even at police stations. A few creditors were willing to grant time, but most pushed relentlessly. Swagino’s assets were seized. The beautifully designed outlet — built with immense effort, sleepless nights, and hard-earned money — was repossessed by the landlord for just ₹7 lakh, an amount that barely scratched the surface of the debts owed. Even today, the videos of that outlet remain on Swagino’s Instagram page, a haunting reminder of what once was.

Shame and despair weighed heavily. The founders could not even walk through their own streets without feeling the sting of failure. Society whispered, judged, and pointed fingers. And yet, through all the loss and humiliation, one thing never broke — the unwavering support of family.

One afternoon, while reflecting over chai at a roadside stall, they noticed a universal problem — high shop rents, soaring electricity bills, poor hygiene, limited seating, inconsistent taste, smoke-filled air. And then it hit them: What if chai could be reimagined? A space where people could laugh, share, dream, and simply enjoy a perfect cup of tea?

From that vision, WhatsUp Chai was born, under WhatsUp Corporation — the “offline WhatsApp,” a place where conversations happen face-to-face, stories are shared, smiles exchanged, ideas sparked, and dreams nurtured.

At WhatsUp Chai, chai is not just tea — it’s amrut, refreshing the mind and uplifting the soul. While chai remains the crown jewel, the menu also features hot beverages, coffee, cold drinks, and café-style snacks, making it the perfect spot to sip, snack, and relax.

From Rock Bottom to Soaring Ambition
Today, WhatsUp Chai is preparing for nationwide expansion, introducing multiple innovative café formats. For its founders, this journey is more than just a business story — it is a testament to the power of perseverance, resilience, and vision.

“Failures are expensive lessons — but they’re worth every rupee if you learn from them.”