The Journey of a Young Entrepreneur

At just 19, Ayesha Khan had an idea she couldn't shake—eco-friendly stationery that would plant seeds, literally. Based in a small town in Maharashtra, she noticed how paper waste was affecting her environment. So, she combined recycled paper with embedded basil and marigold seeds, calling her brand “GreenScribe.” She faced multiple roadblocks. Local suppliers didn’t take her seriously. Her college friends doubted the idea. But she persisted. She borrowed Rs. 10,000 from her grandmother and launched a pilot batch of 500 pens and notebooks. She marketed through Instagram reels and short storytelling videos showing how her products could be planted after use. To her surprise, the content went viral. Orders poured in from across the state. Schools, NGOs, and eco-conscious businesses started placing bulk requests. Within a year, she turned her passion into a registered startup, employing three local women and collaborating with schools to run eco-awareness programs. Today, Ayesha is 22, has received multiple sustainability awards, and recently partnered with a European brand for a cross-cultural green project. “Success isn’t just about money,” she says. “It’s about doing what matters—and sticking with it when no one else believes in it yet.”