Season 3, Episode 11 - Global venture grind

On The Heels of Innovation with Ted Zoller

With Niki Shamdasani (UNC-Chapel Hill alumna), co-founder and CEO of Sani; and Ritika Shamdasani (NC State student), co-founder of Sani

For two sisters who grew up in rural North Carolina, building a startup that fuses South Asian fashion with the perspectives of first-gen South Asian Americans has been an entrepreneurial education on a global stage. Niki and Ritika Shamdasani launched Sani to increase the visibility of Indian culture and attire by designing the types of outfits they’d always wanted, but couldn’t find. Get their take on confronting feelings of imposter syndrome as fashion-industry novices who had to navigate the intricacies of fabrics, costs, quantities, and supply chains that stretch more than 7,500 miles between Delhi, India and their North Carolina headquarters. Both sisters discuss why mentors matter and ways to tap into second- and third-level professional networks. Get their advice on how entrepreneurs can practice patience when grinding through extended business cycles that don’t include immediate returns but set the stage for long-term growth.