I had no idea my vacation in Darjeeling would turn into one of the most inspiring weekends I've had in a long time.
Out of the blue, I got a message from a gentleman named Ashish Syangbo. He lives in a small town near Darjeeling. We'd never met. But he saw one of my linkedin post, figured I was around, and asked if we could meet.
I said yes. And I'm glad I did.
Here's what I learned—and why I'm writing this.
Ashish's story blew me away:
- Born in a humble family.
- Studied at Jadavpur University, Kolkata - #1 Engineering college in Kolkata
- Served in a local electricity board in Kolkata, then got selected into the Navy.
Took early retirement—not for money, but to care for his family in a remote town near Darjeeling.
Now that's a pivot most of us wouldn't imagine making.
What did he do next? He built a business. From scratch.
Ashish started a functional drink brand—Syang's Kombucha and Sparkling Teas. Real stuff. No chemical cocktail in disguise.
He brought samples. Not just his—but competitor brands too. Asked me to taste them side by side. His products? Refreshing, crisp, honest. You can taste the difference instantly.
Felt like a flashback to when I first met Taran Chhabra from Neeman's —carrying his shoes around in a backpack. Same vibe. Same hunger.
And it gets better. His mother is the chief brewer. The business started in her kitchen. He sold door-to-door for the first month.
His home and factory—same building, in Sukiyapokhri (the gateway to Sandakphu).
He invited me and my family. We went.
Beautiful home. A small, clean, expanding setup. He walked me through the entire brewing process, patiently answering my naive questions. I was like a schoolkid.
We ended with a home-cooked meal. Locally sourced. Cooked by his family. I felt at home. ❤️
Here's what stayed with me:
No complaints. No excuses. Just pure intent. Deep purpose.
A builder. In action. From a place that's not startup-friendly. With no playbook.
This is real entrepreneurship.
I'm committed to helping Ashish in any way I can. If you're in FMCG, beverage retail, or distribution—and want to support a real founder—DM me.
Happy to connect you directly. Let's help him scale this.
Also, we will be using Syang's drinks at INT, so feel free to drop-in to taste this wonder.
Ashish Syangbo Tamang, Syang's (Syangbo's Living Food and beverage Pvt Ltd), Indus Net Technologies (INT.)