A Conglomerate Of Conceptions This discovery led to the foundation of his very first entrepreneurial venture that they named 'Herbal Tobacco Company'.

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Entrepreneur India

For a company called Hurban, it is difficult to define in a line. A conglomerate with quirky ideas and elegant products, Hurban is best known through its brands that have carved their own space in the consumer's mind through unique product placements to reach an audience that is anything, but ordinary.

Not long after graduating from Indiana University, Aayush Bhasin chanced upon a unique blend of unprocessed Arabic tobacco and herbs called- "Dokha' in the Middle East and was surprised to find that despite being a traditional blend being smoked for over 500 years in Persia, it was not available in India. He and his childhood school friend Aviral, who was studying Aeronautical Engineering in Florida, decided to explore possibilities with the product.

This discovery led to the foundation of his very first entrepreneurial venture that they named "Herbal Tobacco Company'. "Today, HTC imports, packages, distributes and markets "Dokha' across 15 states with a network of 25,000 stores in India," tells Aayush, Founder, Hurban. "HTC also manufactures in India a specialized wooden smoking pipe called Iranian "Medwakh' that has made presence of daunting scale in the Middle-East region," he adds. Talking about his second venture, he says, "I love watches, and perhaps was fascinated with wood while working on Medwakh that we got the idea to create unique lifestyle brands "Wristwood' and "Tocca Di legno'." What is different about that? Well, the material to be precise.

"It caters to the affordable luxury market," he tells while showcasing an enchanting handcrafted beauty- a stunning wooden (Indonesian black sandalwood) wrist watch with a contemporary styling (Swiss machinery for movements on dial) and a classic elegance that is sold online under the brand called "Wristwood'. Similarly, alluring are the wide array of wooden-frame sunglasses with its classic retro look and a high quality polaroid vision that Hurban sells under the brand name- "Tocca Di legno'.

"I love watches, and perhaps was fascinated with wood while working on Medwakh that we got the idea to create unique lifestyle brands wristwood and Tocca Di Legno," Aayush Bhasin, Founder, Hurban.

Unlike Dokha and Medwakh which are sold in retail stores in India, Wristwood and Tocca Di legno are mostly sold online and so have a strong presence in overseas markets while also gaining traction in metropolitan states in India. Talking about his passions, Bhasin says, "I have found my forte in retail and consumer goods. That's what excites me." But he also says that dirty surroundings disgust him. So, Hurban, hopes to help MCD clean up Delhi as well.

Just in case we are not yet surprised at the diversity of ideas that this young entrepreneur's mind has exploded with, we find that Hurban utilises its experience and network at HTC and in a parallel endeavour, provides consultation in retail management services to budding entrepreneurs, helping them to launch and market their consumer good products in the retail sector and emerge as entrepreneurs themselves. Not just that, a project by the name of "Houseofpreneurs' is also in the pipeline.

It is hardly surprising that at the Small Business Awards 2017, a serial entrepreneur of sorts, Bhasin was crowned the winner in the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Category. This, he says, would not be possible without Tanaviz and the rest of his team.

(This article was first published in the April issue of Entrepreneur Magazine. To subscribe, click here)

Business News

JPMorgan Shuts Down Internal Message Board Comments After Employees React to Return-to-Office Mandate

Employees were given the option to leave comments about the RTO mandate with their first and last names on display — and they did not hold back.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

'I Want the Best People on Our Teams': Meta Is Laying Off More Than 3,000, CEO Mark Zuckerberg Calls for 'Extensive Performance-Based Cuts' — Read the Memo

In an internal memo shared on Tuesday, Zuckerberg said it's "going to be an intense year" at the company.

Growing a Business

How Meta Generated $32 Billion in Ad Revenue Last Quarter — and How You Can Create Million-Dollar Weekends Using the Same Strategies

Meta's staggering $32 billion quarterly ad revenue isn't just about size; it's about strategy, systems and execution as well.

Growing a Business

5 Risk-Taking Lessons From Founders Who Bet Big and Won

Discover the bold moves and strategic risks that catapulted these entrepreneurs to success. Learn how their fearless decisions can inspire your own path to growth.

Technology

Why 2025 Will Be a Breakthrough Year for MSMEs in India's Digital Revolution

With the convergence of AI, cloud ecosystems, enhanced connectivity, and ethical data practices, 2025 represents a pivotal year for MSMEs in the digital sector. To remain competitive, MSMEs must embrace these technologies while fostering innovation and strategically aligning their operations with emerging trends.