TOI Youth Icons Summit & Awards 2026
Sharing THF’s growth story, Sahani said the company expanded from an initial capital of Rs 5 crore in 2019 to a turnover of around Rs 200 crore now. He added that the workforce grew from about 50 people in the first year to nearly 2,000 at present.
Ankit Sahani, founder of The Hazelnut Factory (THF), told the gathering that determination and clarity of purpose mattered more than background or formal qualifications. Sahani, in his mid-30s and from the Palia area of Lakhimpur Kheri district, said he decided early that he would build his venture in Uttar Pradesh . “I was not going to give up the prime time of my life to any place other than Uttar Pradesh,” he said. He said the Uttar Pradesh govt has introduced policies aimed at strengthening the start-up ecosystem, including sustenance allowance, seed capital support and “patience capital” for deep-tech ventures. Principal secretary, MSMEs, Shashi Bhushan Lal Susheel, said the state’s focus is on supporting small businesses and manufacturing units by improving disbursement of incentives and subsidies. He said the focus should shift to identifying unresolved problem areas where AI can improve outcomes, creating fresh opportunities for innovation. The IIT Kanpur alumnus said the right skill set can help youths build secure futures in the evolving UAV sector.
Lucknow: Is success driven more by degrees or destiny? That question framed a youth-focused interaction, where senior govt officials, business leaders, entrepreneurs and technical experts addressed hundreds of young attendees, urging them to build skills, take risks and tap emerging opportunities. He credited product innovation for the brand’s traction, including unconventional mithai offerings and beverages. Sahani cited changing consumer preferences in cities like Varanasi and Prayagraj, where young customers are choosing options like matcha over traditional drinks, as evidence that experimentation can pay off. Principal secretary, planning, Alok Kumar , stressed the need for practical expertise and encouraged youths to consider entrepreneurship once they develop capability. He added that the department is engaging with stakeholders to explore ways to promote exports of products made in Uttar Pradesh. Mayank, CEO of Adrosonic, urged youths to look beyond fears of job losses linked to artificial intelligence. Rama Krishna of EndureAir Systems highlighted the importance of institutions in building technical competence, especially for careers in unmanned aerial vehicle technologies.
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