SUMMARY
- Dhruv Kohli started “Boba Bhai” in 2023 to address the shortage of boba tea in India.
- He also leads international expansion and is co-founder of Geezy, a food-tech startup building dark kitchens.
- Boba Bhai currently dominates Bengaluru’s bubble tea market with a 90% share.
Have you seen the pictures of the colourful, pearl-filled drink that has gone viral on Instagram? That’s boba tea, India’s young star’s new love. Its Instagram-worthy appearance, unique taste, and customizable options make it very appealing to young people. The popularity of the #bobatea shows the widespread popularity of this trend.
Dhruv Kohli, A young entrepreneur, and an alumni of Western Sydney University, who recently returned from Australia in 2022, noticed this trend. He identified the gap that despite the high demand for boba tea in India, there was not enough supply for this unique drink. It was a classic ‘problem-solving’ situation. To solve this problem, Kohli with Harsh Bhagat, started “Boba Bhai” in 2023. Kohli did not just want to sell a drink, but he wanted to create an experience. He understands that Gen Z isn’t only paying for the taste but also values overall experience. As a result, Boba Bhai grew into a lifestyle brand rather than just Boba tea.
Since launching, Boba Bhai’s journey has been remarkable. They started with 45 flavours of boba tea that suit Indian tastes but they didn’t stop here. They launched the K-Pop Burger, which was a wonderful fusion of South Korean and Indian flavours. This extraordinary menu became popular very soon among Gen Z. In just one year, Boba Bhai has managed to open 27 outlets in seven cities. Their monthly revenue has crossed Rs 2 crores with over 60000 monthly customers.
Recently, this quick-service restaurant (QSR) brand focused on bubble tea and other food items, secured ₹12.5 crore funding in its seed round led by Titan Capital and Global Growth Capital UK. They also partnered with One Source, an integrated marketing consultancy, to handle their digital presence and creative marketing strategies.
Boba Bhai was started in 2023 and is already dominating Bengaluru’s bubble tea market with a 90% share. For FY24, the brand achieved a valuation of $5M and an Annual Revenue Run Rate (ARR) of INR 24 Cr with monthly more than 60000 customers. Boba Bhai’s strong market presence and financial performance highlight its promising future in the startup ecosystem.
Their plan includes tripling their offline presence by opening 80-100 stores across the top cities in India. The plan is to open 300 outlets in the next three years and 500 in five years, with an annual turnover of INR 100 crore. The startup is in talks with several malls and real estate for the perfect location for their outlets but is facing challenges with competitive prices. They planned to explore international markets like Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
Kohli understood that this generation is looking for a story, an experience, not just a product. This is one of the major reasons behind Boba Bhai’s success. This proves how important it is to understand the needs of Gen Z and communicate them correctly.
Boba Bhai is not just a brand, but it tells the story of a local brand that delivers global quality products. This startup proves that with the right approach and strategy, it is possible to transform a foreign idea into a local success. It’s all about finding the opportunity and serving the correct demand. Gen Z’s genuine support and love also played a major role in the success of this company.
