When you think of a startup founder who raised a million in funding, you probably picture someone from a big city, a fancy college, or a LinkedIn profile filled with internships and incubators.
But Kushal Bali’s story is none of that and that’s what makes it so inspiring.
Born and raised in Siliguri, West Bengal, Kushal grew up in a town where dreams are usually whispered, not chased. “Startups weren’t a thing,” he says. “In places like ours, people don’t even talk about building apps or raising rounds. You’re taught to play it safe, stick to the known, and celebrate only the big things. But what about the small joys?”
That one question became the fuel for something extraordinary.
In 2023, Kushal launched Maachao, a platform that lets people plan surprise birthdays, order cakes, book decorations, hire photographers, makeup artists and even send gifts, all in just a few clicks. No stress. No endless phone calls. No overpriced vendors. Just clean, beautiful, on-time celebrations.
“I’ve seen families cancel birthdays because the decorator didn’t show up or they couldn’t figure out where to get a good cake,” he says. “I wanted to fix that to make celebrating easy for everyone, not just the rich or well-connected.”
Fast forward to today, Maachao has already completed over 500+ orders, earned a 4.9-star customer rating and is live in Siliguri, Darbhanga, and Delhi. And just a few weeks ago, the platform secured a million in funding, led by the Department of Industries, Government of Bihar.
Let that sink in, a small-town startup, built by a 24-year-old who started working at 14, raised a million without investors from VC hubs or elite networks.
But this didn’t happen overnight. Before Maachao, Kushal worked with Flipkart, Amazon, Fashion TV, FICCI and even the Punjab Kings IPL team. “Every job taught me something, how systems break, how to manage chaos, how to lead when you’re the youngest in the room,” he says.
The path wasn’t smooth. There were failures. Financial stress. People who said it would never work. But he kept showing up, even when everything else felt like it was falling apart.
His motto?
“Fall hard, learn faster, repeat forever.”
Maachao now plans to expand into 10 more cities by the end of the year and the goal is clear make it easier for every Indian, no matter their budget or city, to celebrate with ease and joy.
And what’s even more beautiful? Maachao doesn’t just provide services. It creates moments, those perfect little setups that stay in your heart long after the candles have melted.
“I didn’t have much growing up, but I had this one belief that your dreams don’t need permission from your background,” Kushal says. “And that belief built Maachao.”
If you’re reading this from a small town or a room where no one gets your ideas, remember this story. Because someone just like you made it happen.
Explore Maachao at www.maachao.com
Follow their journey on Instagram: @maachaoindia
