Arman Sood, a co-founder of Sleepy Owl Coffee, initially wasn't an avid coffee consumer until his partners proposed starting a coffee venture in Delhi. Recognizing a market void between Nescafé and Starbucks Bottled Frappuccino, he left his job to embark on entrepreneurial endeavors.

Identifying a Market Need: Most Indian consumers are unfamiliar with using coffee beans, akin to someone being given hops and malt to brew beer. Sood observed that pre-made coffee in India was subpar: Starbucks being overly sweet and pricey, while Nescafé felt low-quality. Thus, Sleepy Owl Coffee was born to bridge this gap.

Launch and Progress: Starting as a novice entrepreneur, Sood and his team initiated their venture modestly, building from scratch. They first educated themselves about coffee in Chikmagalur. Returning to Bangalore, they experimented with samples, eventually choosing boxed cold brew coffee as their inaugural product.

Initial Success: In just two months, Sleepy Owl Coffee sold 1,000 boxes of cold brew, primarily through online marketing. This early achievement was significant, yet challenges remained.

Overcoming Seasonal Hurdles: The first major obstacle was the winter season, as cold brew coffee sales typically decline in cold weather. The Delhi NCR season proved tough for Sleepy Owl Coffee, leading the founders to consult a financial expert, who bluntly critiqued their performance but agreed to assist if they could achieve tenfold growth in six months.

Expanding Horizons: To spur growth, they ventured beyond Delhi NCR, creating a dry cold brew packet for nationwide shipping. They also introduced bottled ready-made cold coffee in Delhi NCR retail outlets, successfully meeting their ambitious growth goal and solidifying their brand in the region.