--- title: "Bala Sarda of VAHDAM India: Direct Global Sourcing Eradicates Antiquated Supply Chains and Empowers Local Growers" url: "https://authoritymag.co/articles/bala-sarda-of-vahdam-india-direct-global-sourcing-eradicates-antiquated-supply-chains-and-empowe" publisher: "Authority Magazine" author: "Penny Bauder" authorUrl: "https://authoritymag.co/authors/penny-bauder" interviewee: "Bala Sarda" company: "VAHDAM India" category: "Social Impact" datePublished: "2021-07-06T19:23:07.428Z" dateModified: "2026-11-12T17:08:29.006Z" tags: "Social Impact" --- # Bala Sarda of VAHDAM India: Direct Global Sourcing Eradicates Antiquated Supply Chains and Empowers Local Growers *The founder and CEO explains how eliminating middlemen in the tea industry delivers garden-fresh products globally while retaining earnings at the source.* > The conventional supply of tea in India is impaired by the involvement of multiple middlemen like auctioneers, wholesalers, retailers, suppliers, etc., and by the time the tea reaches its consumers, it loses its prime freshness, flavor and quality. --- As*part of*[my series about young people who are making an important social impact”,](https://medium.com/authority-magazine/search?q=young%20change%20makers)*I had the pleasure of interviewing Bala Sarda.* *Bala Sarda is the founder and CEO of VAHDAM® India. The 29-year-old is the first to create India’s largest digitally native, global wellness brand by taking the country’s finest teas and superfoods to consumers across the globe under a home-grown, sustainable brand.* *The tea company is disrupting the 200-year-old supply chain of tea, and Bala has raised more than $17 million in investments and closed FY 20–21 with a revenue of $21.5 million. The company is on track to reach $71 million in the next three years.* *The award-winning tea has been endorsed by Oprah Winfrey (twice named in Oprah’s Favorite Things), Ellen DeGeneres, Mariah Carey, among others and is available in over thousands of retail stores, including Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and more. VAHDAM India has been shipped to more than 2 million consumers in 130 countries.* --- **Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a bit how you grew up?** I was born and raised in New Delhi, India. I was an extremely active and impatient child, and my father ensured to put me in a lot of extracurricular activities outside of my academics. I graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree in Business Studies. My father was born and raised in Darjeeling, and I have more than 85 years of lineage in tea. Most of my earliest holiday memories are, in fact, travelling to tea estates in Darjeeling and staying at the manager’s bungalow. I still remember waking up to mist and the fresh aroma of tea leaves in the air. I would start my day with the freshest cup of tea, walk through the garden and watch the art of plucking tea. While in college, I started two student startups. **Is there a particular book or organization that made a significant impact on you growing up? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?** Honestly, there was no specific book or organization that made a significant impact. My early experiences have gradually shaped my career and passion in entrepreneurship at every point. I had the entrepreneurial bug, right from my childhood. I’ve always loved reading business autobiographies. **How do you define “Making A Difference”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?** The ability to take an Indian product global is something which is very exciting and drives all of us at VAHDAM® India. The day we started VAHDAM, we knew that if we could build a successful business in this category, we would not only make available India’s finest teas, spices and superfoods to consumers under a home-grown label, but we would also help empower the farmers here who will ultimately benefit from a positive macro environment for Indian products. In addition, we direct 1% of our revenue towards the education of tea growers’ children under our flagship social initiative TEAch Me. Our motto of business has always been “do good by doing good.” If we are able to make that happen, that to me, would be “making a difference,” and we aspire to do that every single day. **Ok super. Let’s now jump to the main part of our interview. You are currently leading an organization that aims to make a social impact. Can you tell us a bit about what you and your organization are trying to change in our world today?** Even though we’re a young startup, VAHDAM has been striving to grow as a responsible brand that is committed to sharing success and making a difference wherever possible. We have a strong sense of social purpose. We identified early on that education can really make a difference and redirect 1% of its revenue towards the education of their tea growers’ children under our social initiative TEAch Me. We partnered with BYJU’S, the world’s highest-valued EdTech company, to make available 100,000 academic programs to the tea grower’s children, absolutely free. We are also a Certified Climate Neutral and Plastic Neutral brand. Till the time we are completely plastic free and carbon negative in our operations, our endeavor is to offset the carbon footprint and emissions created by us. **Can you tell us the backstory about what inspired you to originally feel passionate about this cause?** The conventional supply of tea in India is impaired by the involvement of multiple middlemen like auctioneers, wholesalers, retailers, suppliers, etc., and by the time the tea reaches its consumers, it loses its prime freshness, flavor and quality. Additionally, even though globally acclaimed tea brands continue to grow significantly every year, millions of tea growers back here in India are still plagued with problems like low wages, poor education and an uncertain future. Even though India grows some of the finest teas in the world (25–30% of the world’s production), the absence of a home-grown brand has made the tea industry dependent on bulk exports to foreign brands. To initiate a journey, to solve these problems, is when I decided to launch VAHDAM. All VAHDAM Teas & Superfoods are procured directly from plantations and farmers within days of harvest, packaged garden fresh at our BRC Certified state-of-the-art facility in India and shipped directly to our fulfillment centers in various parts of the world. By eliminating all unnecessary middlemen, we are not only able to make available garden fresh, high-quality teas and superfoods to consumers across the globe but we are also able to retain all earnings in the region where they are grown and nurtured by millions of farmers with immense love, care and passion. A process which ultimately helps every farmer get a better price for their produce. **Many of us have ideas, dreams, and passions, but never manifest it. They don’t get up and just do it. But you did. Was there an “Aha Moment” that made you decide that you were actually going to step up and do it? What was that final trigger?** Even though my family has been in tea for generations, I never thought I would join the industry. From the outside, it looked like a very boring and commoditized industry. And everybody from India was primarily bulk exporting, which was not something that excited me. It was only after my graduation that I started researching a few industries, and I realized the white space for a native Indian brand for the world. I had the entrepreneurial bug, right from my childhood, and always knew that I wanted to do something of my own. In 2015, I finally decided to take the plunge and launch VAHDAM India at the age of 23 years. **Many young people don’t know the steps to take to start a new organization. But you did. What are some of the things or steps you took to get your project started?** Not exactly. I did join my family business for a couple of years before I started VAHDAM independently, which definitely helped me. However, a lot of it I learned myself as I progressed as a single founder. Like in all categories, starting a new business is hard. The tea category was even more crowded and cluttered, hence differentiating the brand and making available an exceptional product was critical. And that is what I focused on right from day one. **Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?** There are a few interesting stories that have happened after I founded VAHDAM; however, being awarded by Jeff Bezos in person the “Global SMB of the year” award last year was a high point. I’ve always admired Jeff Bezos and to be awarded by him in person was surreal. Also, we were thrilled to be endorsed by Oprah Winfrey, organically. She’s a chai lover herself and Oprah Winfrey drinking and endorsing our teas was a great validation for the brand. **Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson or take away you learned from that?** Uhm, can’t think of any funny mistake as such :) **None of us can be successful without some help along the way. Did you have mentors or cheerleaders who helped you to succeed? Can you tell us a story about their influence?** I have some great mentors in the form of investors. My first round of funding was the toughest, and I struggled quite a bit. But I didn’t give up. When Kanwaljit Singh who headed Lipton for 10 years put his faith in me, I started believing more in myself and my vision. He has been a great support and mentor. My father continues to be my greatest inspiration. VAHDAM is, in fact, the reverse anagram of my father’s first name, MADHAV. **Without saying specific names, can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?** Not one person specifically, but with our TEAch Me and BYJYU partnership, we have been able to touch the lives of 8,000 children, and we aim to touch the lives of 20,000 children with this initiative in the next two years. We are trying to make available the same quality education to the tea growers’ children in tea-growing regions as in the metropolitan cities of India. **Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?** Yes, I think the community should support brands that have a strong social purpose, give back to the society, are concerned about the environment and are responsible towards its people and the planet. The government should promote and offer subsidies to sectors and companies that are helping this transition to sustainable commerce. **Fantastic. Here is the main question of the interview. What are your “things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? (Please share a story or example for each).** I am an impatient person which most of the time leads to anxiety. I struggled quite a bit during my first round of funding with countless investor rejections. Even though I didn’t give up, there were times I would doubt myself. I wish I had known then that fear and anxiety are always going to be there when you are starting your own venture and it’s inevitable, but no matter what, never doubt yourself. Believe in your product, idea and vision. VAHDAM has raised $17 million in funding so far, and in hindsight, everything seems to have fallen into place. I just kept going. **If you could tell other young people one thing about why they should consider making a positive impact on our environment or society, like you, what would you tell them?** The youth are the backbone of the nation. It is our responsibility to protect our future and the future of generations to come. **Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them :)** Elon Musk, most definitely! He is a brilliant creator of extraordinary vision and capability. **How can our readers follow you online?** I am active on Twitter (@balasarda) and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsarda/). Feel free to drop me a line on bala@vahdamteas.com **This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!** --- Source: https://authoritymag.co/articles/bala-sarda-of-vahdam-india-direct-global-sourcing-eradicates-antiquated-supply-chains-and-empowe (Authority Magazine, Social Impact). Interviewee answers are first-person statements of the guest. Index of all pages: https://authoritymag.co/llms.txt