Akshay Kathariya: Co-Founder — Life, Growth & Business | Anurag Shirahatti | BetterNow | Ep 1

Welcome to the BetterNow Podcast — because your story deserves to win.In this episode, host Anurag Shirahatti sits down with Akshay Kathariya, Co-Founder of The Tea Toast Co., to talk about life, growth, business, and building something meaningful in your 20s.Akshay shares:• How Tea Toast Co. started• What co-founder partnerships look like behind the scenes• Why debates and disagreements made the team stronger• Balancing friendship and business• Responsibility, risk and tough decisions• Lessons from failure, growth and challenges• The mindset young founders need to scale a brandIf you’re into startups, entrepreneurship or personal growth, this episode gives raw, relatable insights you won’t find in typical interviews.Timestamps(00:00) – Intro(01:19) – Who is Akshay Kathariya?(02:59) – Early family life(03:31) – College days(06:18) – First job(08:23) – Tea Toast origin story(10:45) – Starting a business in India(11:44) – Financial backup(13:17) – Building with limited finances(14:16) – Financial crisis(15:37) – Love life(17:21) – Challenges while building Tea Toast(18:33) – Early mistakes(19:06) – What kept him going(19:31) – Vision & name(21:31) – Menu creation(22:54) – Core values(23:29) – Competing in the market(24:14) – Ambience design(25:07) – Breakthrough moment(25:53) – Do you need a fourth founder?(26:16) – Handling founder conflicts(27:26) – Choosing a co-founder(28:02) – Role of social media(28:34) – Brand vibe vs promotions(29:09) – Advice to younger self(29:28) – Myth about entrepreneurship(30:01) – Definition of success(30:27) – Introducing yourself beyond labels(31:15) – Who are you when no one is watching?(31:43) – The version he misses(32:37) – Past wound that shaped him(33:43) – What love means(34:26) – Something he misses(34:44) – Life-changing person(35:45) – Proudest moment(36:23) – Lack of closure(37:01) – Realising he deserved better(37:27) – Best advice(38:10) – Worst advice(38:21) – One thing he stopped caring about(38:44) – Networking as wealth(39:43) – Gen Z corporate mindset(41:50) – Advice for someone starting Tea Toast(42:50) – Riskiest decision(43:41) – Starting with ₹10,000?(44:49) – Success is not fixed(45:21) – Society killing dreams(46:02) – Journey in 3 words(46:15) – OutroBetterNow Podcast by Anurag ShirahattiStories and conversations that help you grow — because your story deserves to win.Instagram:   / the_anurag_shirahatti  Podcast Page:   / betternow.podcast_  Akshay KathariyaCo-Founder, The Tea Toast Co.Instagram:   / akshaykathariya  TimestampsAbout the ShowGuest