At BrilliantRead Media, we always strive to bring meaningful and powerful stories from India and around the world to empower and motivate our growing community. As part of this endeavour, we invited Divya Rathod for an exclusive interview with us. She is an Entrepreneur, Leader, Change Maker, Speaker, and Scientist. Divya is the Founder of Silvery Nanos Innovations LLP. Let’s learn more about her incredible journey, background, and advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Divya:
Talk us through your journey as a women entrepreneur and how did the idea to start something like this come from?
I started my journey of entrepreneurship in 2014 when I suffered from Urinary tract infection and being a microbiology student, I took it up as a project to prevent Urinary Tract Infections from public toilets and everyone can sit and feel comfortable in public toilets.
The expenditure on UTI medicines has increased in years due to microbes getting resistant. In 2014 we made a HAPITO in paint form where only new toilets can be painted with our nanotechnology product HAPITO which you apply once on toilet one gets infection-less and easy cleaning toilets for MONTH having water and stain repellent properties with saving environment from harmful chemicals and also saving water upto 55%.
In 2018 we turned HAPITO into spray form where it can be used on any given public toilets. We won Chancellor’s challenge 5 lakh INR and started my journey at AIC-NMIMS, boot strapped and sold products to get the funds for production.”
Started HAPIDRY to support HAPITO product to get funds for HAPITO. After which we applied HAPITO at NMMC, Indian Railways, Indian Army, Hyderabad, Punjab, Chandigarh, etc.
What were the challenges you faced as a women entrepreneur? How do you keep yourself motivated and going despite all odds?
There are lot of challenges being a WOMAN as our Society has a misconception that woman has to handle only house and our previous generations has done that only, there is always a generation gap and thinking difference between us and our parents and now In laws as I recently got married.
Our mother and mother-in-laws have been in the environment which was surrounded by household chores and they expect us to get along with them as they can handover their responsibilities to us on the other side being educated and wanted to do something of our own has always been a challenge, recently after marriage I shifted from AIC-NMIMS and took a new office nearby my house on rent as after marriage we need to take care of household chores as well as our office work, but never give up.
I strongly feel that life without challenges is like slippery floor without any friction where you will not be able to walk. Hence accept all challenges and go ahead.”
Being a young entrepreneur, you do not know about the market. You do not know how to do a proper pitch. How to present yourself. Through the assignments I had to do as part of the Springboard Programme, I learned all those things.
Brief us about Silvery Nanos Innovations LLP and the problems it is solving;
My Organisation Silverynanos Innovations LLP is for Women, by Women and to prevent diseases and problems of Women.
Every year many women suffer from UTIs and bad experiences at public toilets like standing and peeing or squatting.
Old women and young girls cannot seat on public toilet seats, etc. Here at Silverynanos, we bring you HAPITO which you apply once on the toilets you get infection-less and easy cleaning toilets for a MONTH.
We Initiated a project called NARI –SAAF TOILET KI SAWARI last year on Women’s day where we applied hapito on all Mumbai Railway Stations with Indian Railways.”
How does this innovative product work? How is it different from others?
Once sprayed on any toilet, Hapito, registered under Silvery Nanos Innovations LLP, makes it an anti-bacterial, anti-algal, and anti-biofilm surface.
It prevents the growth of germs on the toilet itself rather than killing it as other cleaners work.
The nano-alloy spray on application creates a thin film inside as well as outside the toilet, offering bacteriostatic action with antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antibiofilm properties”
Well, there are competitors who follow the same marketing strategy but our product’s unique composition is its differentiator.
Tell us more about the rewards & recognitions or awards you have received till now?
WON prizes and awards at Chancellors Challenge, Top 50 in Bombay Stock exchange startups, Eureka IIT Bombay, BIRAC Winer programme, Top 10 by AIM in Singapore InSpreneur, Won UK DCMS programme Go Global India UK programme 2019, UN Women Youth leadership awards National, 2nd Runner up in International level (among 17 countries), Won UNDP Nationals, etc
During this COVID-19 crisis, what are the measures you have undertaken to continue your business without disruption?
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, many of my peers had to put all business endeavours on hold, but for me, it created new opportunities to serve my community. Even though I had to face challenges due to the pandemic, especially related to production, as the company expanded further.
We launched new products to help combat the virus.
To begin with, HAPITO ++, which can be applied to any hard surface not just toilets, like desks, chairs or even doctor’s instruments.
HAPIDRY, which can be applied to soft surfaces, like cushions or curtains.
And finally, HAPISHIELD, a sanitiser.
COVID-19 also broadened my vision for Silvery Nanos.
‘There are a lot of viruses that are present, but we are not aware about many of them. So, I think I am going to put more emphasis on being antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antibiofilm.’
Silverynanos’ plan for the future is to scale the marketing of its products in B2C and B2G segments, and also “grow on digital platforms”.
What is your advice for other women entrepreneurs?
Being a Women Entrepreneur you have a lot of skills and talents to do multi-tasking, an entrepreneurial journey needs a lot of patience, multitasking, running at small budgets, saving money for later, investment of time and money at the right place where women can do better than anyone else. The Entrepreneurial ecosystem is still male-dominated but soon with all these women coming up in the system will create an equal ecosystem for both men and women to grow happily.
If you are firm in your decision as to what to do and how to go about your life, you can achieve your dreams.
“Get into the sea, you will see both sharks and boats – choose your boat and set sail. Every experience is new learning. There are mentors and people to help you along the way.
BrilliantRead is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem, stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at [email protected], we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
