(November 9, 2025) Drawing upon her extensive experience and keen aesthetic sense, Shwetha Rajashekar, co-founder of India Sweet House, has spearheaded initiatives to elevate the brand’s presence. In just four years, her leadership has helped India Sweet House grow to 50 outlets across Karnataka, making it one of the fastest-growing premium mithai brands in the region. Shwetha has been reimagining Indian sweets by bridging age-old craftsmanship with today’s appetite for design and quality.
Flashback
Born and raised in Bengaluru, a city that has always balanced tradition with modernity Shwetha grew up in a family that valued both education and creativity. “My early years were spent deeply engaged in academics, but I also had a strong inclination toward classical dance and the arts. I completed my bachelor’s in computer science at National College, after which I pursued my MBA from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune,” she shares in a chat with Global Indian. Her education not only gave her the technical and managerial foundation she needed, but it also instilled in her a deep curiosity for how systems, whether businesses or cultural institutions, can be built with purpose and efficiency.
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Her professional journey began in 2008 with Goldman Sachs in Bengaluru, where she worked in the investment banking operations team. “It was my first exposure to the rigour, precision, and pace of global finance. After three years, I moved to Tesco HSC, the technology and retail arm of the British retail giant, where I spent over five years handling global sourcing, business analytics, and process design. Each role brought new challenges, whether managing large-scale operations or navigating cross-cultural teams,” she recalls.
These experiences shaped her understanding of leadership and resilience. They taught her that success is not only about efficiency but also empathy, understanding people’s motivations and working collaboratively toward shared goals. “I also learnt how structure and process can be powerful tools in scaling any business sustainably. These were the learnings that later proved invaluable in my entrepreneurial journey,” she adds.
Corporate call
Working in global environments taught Shwetha to appreciate diversity not just in culture, but in thought and approach. At Goldman Sachs, she learnt precision and accountability, every number and every decision mattered. “At Tesco, where I had the opportunity to work closely with teams in the UK, I learnt the power of customer-centric thinking and how great brands are built on trust and consistency,” she says. After years in the corporate world, she began to feel a deep pull toward entrepreneurship, something that could merge her business acumen with her cultural roots. Around 2021, together with her co-founder, she conceptualised India Sweet House (ISH), a brand that would reimagine Indian mithai for the modern consumer without losing its soul.
“We saw a gap in the market for premium, hygienic, and beautifully crafted Indian sweets that celebrated authenticity yet appealed to contemporary sensibilities. Our vision was to create a brand where tradition met innovation, where each sweet told a story of India’s heritage but was presented with global finesse,” she explains.
Before India Sweet House, Shwetha Rajashekar was involved with two ventures that deeply influenced her entrepreneurial mindset. Unventured Expeditions, which she co-founded earlier, is a sustainable travel company that focuses on experiential journeys across India and abroad. The goal was to offer travellers a chance to explore destinations through local experiences—cycling through spice trails, staying with communities, and learning about culture firsthand. It was a project born out of passion for meaningful travel and responsible tourism. “Transact Dairy, on the other hand, was a business consulting initiative that focused on building sustainable business models for dairy entrepreneurs. Both experiences strengthened my conviction that entrepreneurship can be a force for positive change, whether in sustainability, community development, or cultural preservation,” she says.
Sweet things
At India Sweet House, every item on the menu is an outcome of thoughtful curation and culinary craftsmanship. What truly sets the brand apart is the team’s commitment to purity, premium ingredients, and authenticity of flavour. “We don’t just replicate traditional recipes—we refine them. For example, our Special Ghee Mysore Paks are crafted with slow-roasted gram flour and pure desi ghee, striking a perfect balance between texture and richness. Our Jaggery Kaju Katli and Rose Pistachio Laddoo have become bestsellers because they blend nostalgia with elegance. We also take great pride in presentation. ISH sweets are beautifully boxed, making them ideal for gifting. The idea is that when you open a box from India Sweet House, you don’t just see sweets; you experience a moment of joy, warmth, and nostalgia, says Shwetha.
Balancing act
Apart from managing her demanding career, Shwetha is also a dancer with Bharatanatyam being an integral part of her life since childhood. “I began training at the age of six and have continued to learn, perform, and now teach. To me, Bharatanatyam is meditation in motion—a way to express emotion, discipline, and devotion. As a practitioner and teacher, I view the art form as a dialogue between the ancient and the contemporary. While rooted in tradition, it constantly evolves with each dancer’s interpretation. Teaching Bharatanatyam allows me to share not just technique but also philosophy—the values of perseverance, grace, and mindfulness that extend beyond the stage into every aspect of life,” she adds.
Advice for women entrepreneurs
Her advice to women entrepreneurs is simple—don’t wait for the “perfect” time—start where you are, with what you have. There’s never an ideal moment; clarity comes through action. “It’s also essential to build a support network—mentors, peers, or family—who believe in you, especially during the inevitable low phases. And most importantly, never feel the need to fit into a predefined mould. Leadership doesn’t have to be loud or aggressive; it can be empathetic, intuitive, and quietly powerful. Lastly, remember that ambition and balance are not opposites. You can nurture your career, your passions, and your family—each will enrich the other if you allow yourself that grace,” adds Shwetha.
She believes entrepreneurship in India today is at a beautiful crossroads where tradition meets technology, and local ideas can have global resonance. Through India Sweet House, their aim is to elevate the perception of Indian sweets to the same pedestal as global desserts and to show that our culinary heritage is timeless. “We are also deeply committed to building an inclusive workplace where women play strong roles across production, design, and retail. It’s rewarding to see how our team puts their heart into every aspect of the business from crafting sweets to serving customers,” she says.
Vishwanath V and Shwetha Rajashekar, Co-founders, India Sweet House
Wise words
Shwetha has always been inspired by her mother, who balanced family, creativity, and work with incredible grace. “Watching her taught me that strength doesn’t have to be loud—it can be steady, kind, and consistent. One life lesson I hold close is progress over perfection. Whether in dance, business, or personal growth, it’s the small, consistent steps that create lasting impact. Perfection is an illusion, but progress keeps you grounded and motivated,” she says. Her team has recently opened their 50th store in Karnataka. “We are exploring retail formats that combine experiential design with artisanal food and collaborations that merge Indian heritage with contemporary creativity. On a personal front, I want to continue teaching Bharatanatyam and supporting initiatives that empower women and artisans. The goal is not just growth in scale but in impact—to build something enduring, authentic, and deeply rooted in Indian values,” she signs off.
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