At 22, Nikita stepped into the world of starting a business. At 23, she faced her first failure. But by 24, she had bounced back stronger than ever, determined to make her mark. Her story is one of resilience, determination, and persistence.
Nikita’s mornings begin with setting up her laptop, reviewing the previous day’s work, coordinating with her team, and crafting a to-do list. Her secret to staying on top of things? Prioritizing the three most important tasks for the day and managing her time around them.
Originally from Bhind, a small town near Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, Nikita and her family now reside in Ahmedabad. Her father’s transferable job had her switching schools frequently, which introduced her to the art of adaptability. By the time she was 14, Nikita had changed seven schools. Reflecting on this experience, she believes it shaped her into an extrovert and a go-getter, always working to make her mark wherever she went. Encouraged by her father, her idol, to focus on the positives, Nikita excelled in both academics and her passion for photography.
In 2000, her family finally settled in Ahmedabad, a city Nikita has since come to love. She graduated with a B.Com LLB (Hons) from Gujarat National Law University in 2015. Yet, during her studies, she realized her true calling was business. It aligned perfectly with her fearless and independent spirit. To gain the knowledge she needed, she pursued a Post Graduate Diploma in Management – Business Entrepreneurship (PGDM-BE) at EDII, a decision that proved pivotal. Nikita recalls how EDII helped her turn her scattered ideas into concrete plans, providing the knowledge and skills necessary to build her own venture.
Her first entrepreneurial attempt, Tilebazzar.com, launched in 2015 with her brother, ended in failure. Entering the ceramic tiles industry without any experience was a steep learning curve. Nikita took the setback in stride, learning from her mistakes instead of giving up. “Failure,” she says, “is often the precursor to bigger ideas.” Undeterred, she consulted with mentors, refocused, and on June 13, 2016, launched Tatkalorry—a tech-enabled logistics company connecting manufacturers, dealers, truck owners, and transporters for ceramic goods deliveries. The company caters to diverse industries, offering flexible transport solutions across India.
Nikita attributes much of her success to thinking outside the box and keeping an eye on opportunities. Her company’s name, Tatkalorry, is a reflection of her innovative mindset , combining the Hindi word ‘Tatkal’ meaning quick with ‘Lorry,’ symbolizing transport.
With over 50 employees and revenue crossing seven crores in 2019-20, Tatkalorry is thriving. The company’s ability to accept low volume loads and provide flexible delivery options has made it a favorite among customers, with 60 percent repeat business, a significant feat in the competitive logistics market.
In just a few years, Tatkalorry has won several prestigious awards, including the National Entrepreneurship Award 2019 by the Ministry of MSME and the SSIP Startup Prashansha Award by the Gujarat Government. Nikita’s vision for the future is to continue delivering quality service at competitive prices, with a focus on solving customer problems creatively and efficiently. To budding entrepreneurs, she offers this advice: “Every problem has a solution. It just requires some hard thinking and creativity to find it.”
