Raghav Verma

Act I: The Catalyst

Raghav Verma graduated in Chemical Engineering from IIT Delhi in 2010. A charismatic creative thinker with a passion for marketing and consumer psychology, Raghav began his career in management consulting at Opera Solutions. While working on global enterprise projects, Raghav bonded with his colleague Nitin Saluja over their shared obsession with chai and their frustration at the lack of clean, warm, neighborhood tea cafes in corporate hubs.

Act II: The Genesis Bet

In 2012, at age 25, Raghav resigned from consulting to co-found Chaayos with Nitin. As the creative brand architect, Raghav gave Chaayos its welcoming personality, quirky visual design, and comforting culinary identity. While Nitin engineered the Chai Monk hardware, Raghav designed the store ambiance—warm wood accents, quirky tea-pot chandeliers, and acoustic playlists that made Chaayos the default 'third place' for young India.

Act III: Zero-to-One PMF

Raghav crafted an irresistible food menu that paired authentically with Indian chai: introducing instant classics like Bun Maska, Keema Pav, Thepla, and Kulhad Matar Kulcha. His innovative marketing campaigns—celebrating regional tea rituals like Pahadi Chai and Desi Chai—created massive customer affinity, driving regular guests to visit Chaayos 3 to 4 times a week.

Act IV: The Flywheel of Scale

Raghav led Chaayos's omnichannel marketing, guest loyalty programs, and high-street retail site selections. He pioneered the Chaayos LoyalTea program, which became one of the highest-retaining loyalty engines in the Indian QSR sector with over 5 million enrolled members. Raghav's execution helped Chaayos comfortably scale past 200 stores and secure over $85 million in venture funding.

Act V: Crucible of Fire & Inflection Points

During shifting consumer trends and intense QSR competition, Raghav expanded Chaayos's packaged consumer goods portfolio (Chaayos at Home)—launching artisanal tea bags, spiced nuts, and baked cookies in modern supermarkets and e-commerce platforms, building a resilient secondary revenue stream.

Act VI: Ecosystem Architecture

Raghav Verma was named in Forbes Asia's 30 Under 30 and is celebrated as one of India's most innovative hospitality marketers. An active angel investor and public speaker, Raghav mentors emerging D2C brand builders on retail storytelling, customer retention, and brand aesthetics.

Act VII: The Long Horizon

Raghav is steering Chaayos toward an Initial Public Offering while planning international expansions into the UK, UAE, and North America. His vision is to make Chaayos a globally beloved beverage and culinary destination that honors the timeless spirit of Indian hospitality.