A 21-year-old college student in Gurugram is making headlines after her newly opened cafe reportedly generated Rs 15 lakh in revenue within its first 50 days. Ananya Agarwal, who is pursuing her final year of a Bachelor's degree in Management Studies, has taken on the challenge of running a restaurant while continuing her education.
Ananya co-founded Lume & Lime, a vegetarian bistro in Gurugram, alongside her parents, Dr Vishal Agrawal and Preeti Agrawal. The restaurant focuses on international cuisines and offers customers a welcoming space to enjoy Italian, Mexican and Mediterranean-inspired dishes.
While most students her age are preparing for examinations and exploring career opportunities, Ananya is balancing academic responsibilities with real-world business operations.
Speaking to Curly Tales, Ananya acknowledged that managing college and entrepreneurship requires considerable effort. However, her enthusiasm for building a business has encouraged her to continue learning through practical experience.
The cafe's reported revenue of Rs 15 lakh in just 50 days has attracted attention, although the amount represents sales rather than confirmed business profit.
Lume & Lime Gurugram: A Student Entrepreneur's Family Venture
Ananya's decision to launch Lume & Lime came from her interest in creating a restaurant that serves international cuisine while preserving its original flavours.
She noticed that many restaurants in India modify Italian, Mexican and Mediterranean dishes by adding local spices and ingredients. Although such adaptations appeal to Indian customers, Ananya wanted her cafe to offer flavours closer to the cuisines' traditional styles.
Her parents have played an important role in developing the business. Her father, Dr Vishal Agrawal, has more than a decade of business experience, providing guidance as Ananya learns about restaurant management and entrepreneurship.
The family venture has allowed her to participate in business meetings, branding discussions and operational decisions while continuing her management studies.
For Ananya, the experience goes beyond earning a degree. It provides an opportunity to understand customer expectations, restaurant operations and the practical challenges involved in establishing a hospitality business.
Her journey also highlights the importance of combining academic knowledge with hands-on experience, particularly for students interested in pursuing entrepreneurship.
Vegetarian Bistro Menu and Cafe Revenue in 50 Days
Lume & Lime offers a vegetarian menu featuring a combination of Italian, Mexican and Mediterranean-inspired dishes.
Customers can explore brick-oven pizzas, handmade pasta, tacos, mezze platters, specialty breads and different varieties of fries. The cafe also serves specialty coffee, refreshing beverages and desserts, along with vegan options.
According to its official Instagram account, Lume & Lime operates daily from 9 am to 11 pm, offering customers opportunities to visit throughout the day.
The restaurant's reported Rs 15 lakh revenue within its first 50 days has drawn attention to Ananya's early entrepreneurial journey. However, maintaining steady sales, controlling operational expenses and building customer loyalty will be important for its long-term success.
Managing the restaurant alongside college commitments remains a demanding responsibility. Ananya must balance lectures, assignments and examinations with the daily decisions involved in running a business.
Her experience demonstrates how young entrepreneurs can begin exploring business opportunities before completing their formal education.
With support from her family and practical exposure to the hospitality industry, Ananya is gaining valuable experience that extends beyond classroom learning.
As she continues her studies and works on developing Lume & Lime, her story offers an example of a college student turning an entrepreneurial idea into an operating business.
