Clear Pani by Nayan Shah: An MBA Entrepreneur Who Left Family Legacy to Build his Own Empire

Water is still a luxury for many people across the world while 2 million people don’t have access to clean drinking water. Realizing this, Nayan Shah, left his family business to launch Clear Pani and now, is generating a revenue of over Rs 250 crore.

Nayan Shah, in 2002, completed his MBA degree from the University of Technology in Sydney. Upon returning to India, he had no plans, but he always wanted to start something of his own.

Despite having a well-established family business of wires and cables in Ahmedabad, he refused to join it and decided to create his path. He worked with Line O Matric Graphic Industries for two years and gained valuable experience.

After two years of working in the corporate world, he decided to quit and pursue his dream of becoming a self-made man.

Nayan’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2005 when he recognized the global success of the popular energy drink Red Bull.

With an initial investment of Rs 2 crore, he launched his first business named Current Energy Drink. In the beginning, his startup was a hit and earned an impressive annual revenue of Rs 3.20 crore.

However, sales started dropping due to stiff competition and high price points compared to traditional beverages like coffee and tea.

By the year 2009, the sales of his energy drink were lower and dropped to an annual revenue of Rs 60 lakh. Nayan decided to quit this business.

He understood his mistakes and learned about FMCG products and the consumers’ mindset. He then realized that many Indians don’t have access to clean water. After this observation, he decided to start a bottled water venture.

In February 2010, he launched Clear Pani under Energy Beverages Private Limited. The company manufactured units in Mumbai, Jaipur, and Pune. In its first year, it could sell only 500–700 bottles.

To boost his business, Nayan decided to give more importance to branding and differentiation. He made a strategy to beat the competitor by leveraging unique packaging and making the bottle look premium.

Other brands use plastic sleeves on their water bottles, so Clear Pani opted for premium packaging and branding labels to attract more customers. Another strategy he made was to choose a square-shaped bottle instead of the cylindrical shape that competitors use.

The startup successfully secured a partnership deal with The Grand Bhagwat Hotel chain in Gujarat, where they focus on quality and branding.

By expanding their reach, they also secured contracts with hotels and airlines, which resulted in sales of over 25 lakh bottles in a day.

When everything was going well and Pani was achieving success, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, changed everything, and affected numerous businesses and human lives.

The startup 90% relied on restaurants, airlines, and more. During the pandemic, airlines and hotels shut down, which affected Clear Pani. Despite these obstacles, Nayan refuses to give up and decides to shift his focus to retail sales.

For providing pure, high-quality, refreshing bottled water Nayan was honoured with the GenNext Awards Gujarat 2024 for Inspiring Entrepreneur of the Year. Apart from this, the brand also earned numerous accolades for the high-quality taste and purity of water and holds certifications of ISO 22000:2005, ISO 9001:2015, HACCP, EPR, CCA, BIS, CGWA, FSSAI, GPCB, and NEPHRA.

In FY23, despite several failures and obstacles, Clear Pani generated a revenue of Rs 250 crore.

In the previous year, the brand also made Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan, its brand ambassador.

With innovation and quality the pillars of their core philosophy, Clear Pani witnessed amazing growth in the past few years. Now, the startup aims to generate Rs 1000 crores by 2025-2026.

The success journey of Nayan showcases the importance of innovation, adaptability, and perseverance in building a successful beverage business. With the success of Clear Pani Nayan has been recognised as an inspiring entrepreneur for many individuals.