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— M.Periasamy

Mr E. Sarathbabu, Founder and CEO, Foodking Catering Services, addressing students at Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology in Coimbatore.

Our Bureau

Coimbatore, Oct. 28 Neither the depressing weather nor the bleak placement scenario put off the 150-odd management school students from attending a lecture by Mr E. Sarathbabu, CEO and Founder, Foodking Catering Services Pvt Ltd, at the School of Management- Sree Krishna College of Engineering and Technology, here.

The lecture was organised as part of Business Line Club lecture series. Mr Sarathbabu’s story, which has inspired millions across the country, seemed to convince the management graduates that ‘money, though important was not the end all in life.’

This self-made entrepreneur, an IIM-A graduate, hit the headlines two years ago, when he rejected several high profile job offers from various MNCs, to pursue his entrepreneurial dream.

Recalling his growth story, Mr Sarathbabu said ‘my mission has always been to help the poverty stricken ones in society. I started Foodking two years ago with just one person and an initial capital of Rs 2,000. Today, we have seven units and the team has grown to over 250. My dream is to engage 50,000 people when I turn 50’.

The past two years (since he ventured into this catering business) has however not been easy for Mr Sarathbabu. After struggling and making losses in the first year, he managed a turnaround in 2007.

Admitting that entrepreneurship was all about taking risk, he stressed the need for minimising the risk for greater success.

He urged the management graduates to be innovative, start a venture for a purpose and not just opportunity, for it (opportunity) may not be there tomorrow.

‘Start small, be focussed, smart,’ he said and pointed out that small money meant less risk.

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