Woman found hanging in Bhopal, family claims ‘dowry death’, blames lawyer husband, mother-in-law. What is the case?Deceased's family has accused Samarth and his mother of murder. The family also claims that daughter's in-laws physically assauted her, destroyed the evidence. Updated on: May 18
Indian-origin woman shares how she built $2.8 million-a-year ice cream business in USPooja Bavishi, 42, is the founder and CEO of New York-based ice cream brand Malai, which she founded in 2015. Published on: May 17, 2026 9:56 PM IST By Bhavya Sukheja Share via Copy link An Indian-origin
NCB busts Dehradun lab making banned ‘jihadi drug’ Captagon; hunt on for another Syrian national linked to network31.5kg of Captagon was seized from a house in Delhi’s Neb Sarai and 196.2 kg from a container at the Mundra Port in Gujarat. Updated on: May 18
This Indian woman went from earning ₹5,000 a month to running ₹48 crore business: 'Happiness doesn’t come from money'Nayana Vaidya went from earning a salary of ₹5,000 per month to owning a ₹48 crore business Updated on: May 18, 2026 7:21 AM IST By Sanya Jain Share via Copy link Nayana
‘No reparations, only 1 nuclear facility’: Iranian report lists US demands amid shaky ceasefireThe current impasse in diplomatic exchange between Iran and the United States comes after Iran's preconditions to resume negotiations for ending the war. Updated on: May 18
Indian-origin woman shares how she built $2
Indian-origin woman shares how she built $2.8 million-a-year ice cream business in US
Indian-origin woman shares how she built $2.8 million-a-year ice cream business in US
Pooja Bavishi, 42, is the founder and CEO of New York-based ice cream brand Malai, which she founded in 2015.
Published on: May 17, 2026 9:56 PM IST By Bhavya Sukheja Share via Copy link An Indian-origin entrepreneur in the US has shared how she built a multi-million-dollar ice cream business inspired by Indian flavours despite having no prior experience in the food industry. Today, Malai has four physical stores across New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC. (LinkedIn/Pooja Bavishi) Pooja Bavishi, 42, is the founder and CEO of New York-based ice cream brand Malai, which she founded in 2015. According to CNBC Make It, her company generated $2.8 million in sales in 2025 and turned profitable after years of expansion and experimentation. Today, Malai has four physical stores across New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC, along with wholesale and e-commerce operations. The company is known for using Indian-inspired flavours like cardamom, saffron, rose and nutmeg in its ice creams. “Malai is so different because we go beyond chocolate and vanilla,” Bavishi told CNBC Make It. “We introduce flavours like cardamom, rose, saffron, (and) nutmeg into ice cream — flavours that are so ubiquitous to so many people around the country and the world that we want to mainstream into American flavours.” Bavishi said she had always dreamed of building a business around desserts but only started pursuing it later in life. Before launching Malai, she studied urban planning at The London School of Economics and worked as a civil rights project coordinator at a nonprofit organisation in Washington DC. She said that the idea for the company came during a dinner party in 2014 while she was pursuing an MBA at New York University. She made homemade ice cream using ginger and star anise, and the response from friends encouraged her to explore the concept further. “I just remember my friends being like, ‘We’ve never had anything like this before,’” she said. (Also Read: Indian woman earning ₹1 crore in US says life isn’t as glamorous as it looks: ‘It takes hard work and resilience’)Home kitchen and pop-ups before opening store
Bavishi started small by making ice cream in her own kitchen and selling it at outdoor markets across New York City. She said she relied on friends to help sell scoops from a camping freezer and collect customer feedback. “I needed to make sure that there was a market for my products and that my idea actually made sense,” she said. “I would test different (flavours). I needed to know exactly who my customer was, what they were looking to buy, what their buying behaviour is and who I’m catering to. If I didn’t have that information, I had no viable business,” she added. The 42-year-old shared that one turning point came when a food writer from The New York Times tried her ice cream and featured Malai in an article in 2015. Bavishi said that the coverage boosted online orders for ice cream pints and frozen desserts, which she packed and shipped herself. To grow the business, she said that she used credit cards to pay for ingredients and commercial kitchen space. She later raised a small “friends and family” investment round in 2017 to launch pop-ups and temporary food stalls across New York. Bhavish said that for opening Malai’s first permanent store in Brooklyn, she had to take on nearly $200,000 in credit card debt. She said it took almost 2 years to repay the amount. Over time, the company expanded steadily. Bavishi said that about 80% of Malai’s current revenue comes from its physical stores, all of which are individually profitable. She added that the company has raised $1.8 million in total outside funding, much of which has funded new store openings and increased production. She remains the company’s majority owner, she said. Talking about the future, Bavishi said that she now plans to expand Malai’s wholesale presence across grocery stores and retailers in the US. “Indian flavours are not experimental. These flavours have been enjoyed by billions of people all over the world on a daily basis for generations… So, the fact that we’re introducing it to the mainstream American market, and the fact that we’re a leader in that, actually makes me so proud,” Bhavish said. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Bhavya Sukheja Bhavya Sukheja is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over 6 years of experience in digital journalism. She specialises in covering stories that reflect everyday human experiences, with a focus on viral videos, social media trends, and human-interest features that inform readers while sparking meaningful conversations. She loves chasing page views and finding stories that tug at readers’ heartstrings. Known for her strong news sense, Bhavya has a keen ability to spot emerging trends and craft angles that transform viral moments into impactful narratives. Her coverage spans pop culture, entertainment, global affairs, and the internet’s most talked-about topics, helping readers better understand the context behind what is trending online. Before joining Hindustan Times, Bhavya worked with Republic World and NDTV, where she developed her skills in real-time reporting and digital storytelling. Working in fast-paced newsrooms helped her build an editorial approach that prioritises accuracy, clarity, and audience engagement. Bhavya is driven by a curiosity about how people communicate and connect in the digital age. She is particularly interested in stories that highlight cultural shifts, shared emotions, and the evolving nature of online conversations. When she is not tracking trends or producing stories, Bhavya enjoys unplugging and spending time with her cat.Read More Us Us Top News Indians Abroad Home/Trending/Us/Indian-origin Woman Shares How She Built $2.8 Million-a-year Ice Cream Business In US See Less Home/Trending/Us/Indian-origin Woman Shares How She Built $2.8 Million-a-year Ice Cream Business In USAn Indian-origin entrepreneur in the US has shared how she built a multi-million-dollar ice cream business inspired by Indian flavours despite having no prior experience in the food industry.
Pooja Bavishi, 42, is the founder and CEO of New York-based ice cream brand Malai, which she founded in 2015. According to CNBC Make It, her company generated $2.8 million in sales in 2025 and turned profitable after years of expansion and experimentation. Today, Malai has four physical stores across New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC, along with wholesale and e-commerce operations. The company is known for using Indian-inspired flavours like cardamom, saffron, rose and nutmeg in its ice creams.
“Malai is so different because we go beyond chocolate and vanilla,” Bavishi told CNBC Make It. “We introduce flavours like cardamom, rose, saffron, (and) nutmeg into ice cream — flavours that are so ubiquitous to so many people around the country and the world that we want to mainstream into American flavours.”
Bavishi said she had always dreamed of building a business around desserts but only started pursuing it later in life. Before launching Malai, she studied urban planning at The London School of Economics and worked as a civil rights project coordinator at a nonprofit organisation in Washington DC.
She said that the idea for the company came during a dinner party in 2014 while she was pursuing an MBA at New York University. She made homemade ice cream using ginger and star anise, and the response from friends encouraged her to explore the concept further.
“I just remember my friends being like, ‘We’ve never had anything like this before,’” she said.
(Also Read: Indian woman earning ₹1 crore in US says life isn’t as glamorous as it looks: ‘It takes hard work and resilience’)
“I needed to make sure that there was a market for my products and that my idea actually made sense,” she said. “I would test different (flavours). I needed to know exactly who my customer was, what they were looking to buy, what their buying behaviour is and who I’m catering to. If I didn’t have that information, I had no viable business,” she added.
The 42-year-old shared that one turning point came when a food writer from The New York Times tried her ice cream and featured Malai in an article in 2015. Bavishi said that the coverage boosted online orders for ice cream pints and frozen desserts, which she packed and shipped herself.
To grow the business, she said that she used credit cards to pay for ingredients and commercial kitchen space. She later raised a small “friends and family” investment round in 2017 to launch pop-ups and temporary food stalls across New York.
Bhavish said that for opening Malai’s first permanent store in Brooklyn, she had to take on nearly $200,000 in credit card debt. She said it took almost 2 years to repay the amount.
Over time, the company expanded steadily. Bavishi said that about 80% of Malai’s current revenue comes from its physical stores, all of which are individually profitable.
She added that the company has raised $1.8 million in total outside funding, much of which has funded new store openings and increased production. She remains the company’s majority owner, she said.
Talking about the future, Bavishi said that she now plans to expand Malai’s wholesale presence across grocery stores and retailers in the US.
“Indian flavours are not experimental. These flavours have been enjoyed by billions of people all over the world on a daily basis for generations… So, the fact that we’re introducing it to the mainstream American market, and the fact that we’re a leader in that, actually makes me so proud,” Bhavish said.
Source: HindustanTimes
Related Posts: Fashion blogger shares how she built ‘7 figure income’ from content creation He made jazz under air raids - and built an Indian city's music scene World’s First Black Alien’ Temple Is Built In This Indian City 25-year old techie shares how he built a ₹20 lakh portfolio in 3 years Indian-Origin Woman Raped In UK In ‘Racially Motivated’ Attack Indian-origin woman arrested in US for knife attack on husband Community in shock after Indian-origin woman's 'racially aggravated' rape in Walsall Indian-origin woman Indian-origin woman raped in UK Indian-Origin Woman Raped In UK In Suspected ‘Racially Aggravated Attack’
Protesters clashed with the police in West Bengal’s Kolkata on Sunday during demonstrations against the state government restricting the offering of namaz on streets and demolishing allegedly illegal structures in the Tiljala area, according to media reports
Just now
Vitamins, repair tape and a jar of mango chutney - just some of what my household bought last month via Amazon's sprawling online shopping platform. We also shopped at the company's supermarket chain Whole Foods, streamed its TV shows, read books on Kindle e-readers
1 minutes ago
The political consequences of the Election Commission of India’s controversial voter-roll revision came into sharp focus on May 4, when the Bharatiya Janata Party swept to power in West Bengal with 207 seats. In a state where 1.36 crore voters were reportedly flagged by the commission as having a
Just now
TMC cries foul over ‘selective FIR’ against Abhishek BanerjeeThe FIR was registered at the Bidhannagar North Cyber Crime Police Station for allegedly making inflammatory statements ahead of the elections. Updated on: May 17, 2026 2:31 PM IST ANI Share via Copy link TMC leader Tanmoy Ghosh on
1 days ago
So close, yet so far for India’s star men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. The former world No. 1 duo had to settle for Silver after falling to Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin in the men’s doubles final of the BWF Thailand Open Super 500 on
1 days ago
Not far from Bengaluru, on a sprawling farm filled with barking, running and tail-wagging dogs, lives a man many people across India now know as the “Dog Father." Rakesh Shukla, a software engineer and entrepreneur by profession, spends much of his life caring for hundreds of dogs that nobody
1 days ago
Mumbai, May 17 (PTI) More women and freshers among the country’s blue- and grey-collar workforce are moving beyond their hometowns for better jobs and higher pay, driving a 31.4 per cent year-on-year rise in job-related migration during January-April 2026, according to a report.Mumbai
1 days ago
Chelsea have appointed former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso as their manager on a four‑year contract, starting in July. The 44-year-old Spaniard was available after leaving Real Madrid by mutual consent in January, less than eight months into a three-year contract
1 days ago
JEECUP has revised the UP Polytechnic entrance exam schedule. Students can register online by May 17. The Joint Entrance Examination Council, Uttar Pradesh (JEECUP) has revised the examination schedule for the UP Polytechnic entrance examination 2026. As per the updated notification
1 days ago
Tamil Nadu has a new Chief Minister — and the internet has receipts from two years ago. As actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay settles into office, fans and political observers are busy mining his filmography for signs they insist were always hiding in plain sight
1 days ago
Taliban says ‘silence of virgin girl’ can be treated as consent for marriage in Afghanistan: ReportThe new regulations say that marriages involving female children may later be annulled after puberty, but only with the approval of a Taliban court. Updated on: May 17
1 days ago
Targeting commercial shipping, endangering civilian crew and impeding freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is "unacceptable", India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Parvathaneni Harish has said, stressing that international law governing safe passage must be "fully respected"
1 days ago
Amid concerns, Ministry of Education says On-Screen Marking foolproof, international normAmid concerns, Ministry of Education says On-Screen Marking foolproof, international norm Published on: May 17, 2026 2:13 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link New Delhi
1 days ago
![Saran (Bihar) [India], May 17 (ANI): Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani on Sunday said the group has placed “additional emphasis](http://newsorbit360.com/files/news/en/imgs/adani-group-ramps-up-bihar-infra-focus.webp?height=520)
Saran (Bihar) [India], May 17 (ANI): Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani on Sunday said the group has placed “additional emphasis" on infrastructure development in Bihar, while underlining that the group’s investments in the state will be driven by a commitment towards public service and
1 days ago
Housing sales across major cities moderated by 2.2% year-on-year; Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai posted growth, while MMR and Pune saw a decline in sales India’s housing market recorded 93,065 new unit launches and 95,973 unit sales across the top eight cities in Q1 2026, with supply rising 1
1 days ago
Who was Krystal Anderson? Body found in search for missing South Carolina mom 4 years after she was murdered by BFThe body of a South Carolina mom, Krystal Anderson, has been discovered four years after she was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend, authorities believe. Published on: May 17
1 days ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Tried and Tested: I used this hair dryer for 30 days, and it has changed the way I dry my frizzy hairI have used Croma hair dryer for over three weeks
1 days ago
The cabinet list for the incoming UDF government in Keralam is expected within hours, ahead of Chief Minister-designate VD Satheesan's swearing-in on Monday. Congress leader Shafi Parambil stated the new government's focus will be on fulfilling public expectations after a decade
1 days ago
There is no smoke without fire, and Jose Mourinho finally admitted as much. After weeks of speculation linking him with a sensational return to Real Madrid, the Portuguese manager confirmed that contact has indeed been made between Los Blancos and his camp.There is no smoke without fire
1 days ago
The story so far: Russia-based hackers targeted high-profile users in Germany, according to reports from the German media over the past few weeks. Der Spiegel reported that 300 Signal accounts belonging to politically connected individuals were attacked. On May 7
1 days ago
Fitness coach shares realistic rules he would follow to lose 30 lbs of stubborn belly fat without extreme dietingFrom protein intake to walking daily, here’s a breakdown of realistic rules that you can follow to lose 30 lbs of stubborn belly fat. Published on: May 17
1 days ago
Ankur Warikoo shares update on shutting down ₹100 crore courses business: ‘The problem is the system'Ankur Warikoo has now clarified that the courses business has not ended entirely but has instead been converted into a subscription-based model under WebVeda. Updated on: May 17
1 days ago
A Anbalagan, the sole AIADMK legislator, will take oath as pro tem Speaker of the Puducherry Assembly on Monday. Lieutenant Governor K Kailashnathan will administer the oath. Anbalagan represents the Uppalam constituency and has a long electoral history there
1 days ago
India pushes back on minority rights question during PM Modi's Netherlands trip: ‘Lack of understanding’India and Netherlands ink 17 pacts, elevate ties to strategic partnership during PM Narendra Modi's visit Updated on: May 17, 2026 2:21 PM IST By HT News Desk Share via Copy link A senior
1 days ago
Liquor prices revised in Karnataka after new alcohol tax system implementedThe excise department said the new tax structure aims to rationalise liquor prices, make alcohol cheaper and align rates with neighbouring states. Updated on: May 17, 2026 2:31 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link The Karnataka
1 days ago
For newly married Rajesh and Aarti from Delhi, Indonesia’s Bali with its beaches, water sports, safari, jungle swings, forests and mountains, is more than a tourist destination. It is a liberating getaway where they could splurge, shed inhibitions and be themselves
1 days ago
An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than 80 as authorities warned there was no vaccine for the strain in a crisis that the World Health Organization declared an international health emergency on Sunday (May 17, 2026)
1 days ago
