Finding Her Own Voice: A Woman Entrepreneur’s Story from Kolkata

Starting a business is never simple. But for many young adults in Kolkata, it means pushing against boundaries that still exist quietly in everyday life. It is not only about money or planning. It is about being taken seriously, about finding support in places that rarely expect women to lead, and about learning to trust one’s own voice in rooms that sometimes fall silent when a woman speaks. Many of them begin with small ideas, often born in their kitchens or study tables, and slowly shape those ideas into something real. They face questions from families, hesitation from society, and a lack of clear guidance. Yet they continue, building paths where few existed before. Their stories are not about overnight success but about the patience to keep learning and the courage to begin again after every setback. This is the story of one such young adult named Udeeta Dey from Kolkata who turned an ordinary moment in her kitchen into a journey of independence and self belief.

Udeeta grew up as the youngest daughter in her family and spent much of her childhood being told what to do. That is where the hunger for independence began. She did not set out to become a businessperson. She simply wanted a life where she could make her own choices and not feel the need to ask permission. During her graduation years that urge became a plan. One afternoon she made a jar of peanut butter in her kitchen, without additives or sugar because she is careful about fitness. A classmate tasted it, insisted on paying even when she refused, and his family loved it. He told her to commercialize it. That moment became the seed of NuttyNibbles (@NuttyNibbles), a name and a path she had not imagined a few months earlier.

From the start, Udeeta’s purpose felt clear. She had watched shelves fill with spreads that look healthy but are built on additives that can be worse than sugar. She wanted a fresh alternative for people in Kolkata, something that would not weigh on health in the long term. She also kept hearing friends talk about nausea or stomach aches after eating nuts, the quiet presence of allergy that many do not recognize. Instead of expecting them to avoid an entire category, she began creating seed butters for people who needed a safer option.

What felt less clear was everything else. A first generation founder learns by walking into fog. How do you begin when every task seems essential and none of them show you the next step. She wrestled with logo choices, labels, branding, social media ideas, basic photography, and the stubborn puzzle of packaging. Vendors were the toughest part. She had no contacts, no list of names that more seasoned owners pass around. So she went out into the city. Gariahat and New Market turned into classrooms. She stopped strangers, asked questions, and collected fragments of advice. One day in a post office queue a fellow entrepreneur overheard her talking and quietly shared his vendor details. She still calls him an angel.

Money was practical and small. She used scholarship funds from college to get started. Her parents helped in bits and pieces, paying for delivery here, a tripod there. It was enough to move forward and not enough to feel safe, which is how beginnings often feel. The harder part was not the accounting but the human weather at home. Her father still worries she is playing a game that may end in legal trouble or wasted savings. Her mother has questions but stands beside her anyway. Her elder sister shows up when it matters, filming reels and packing jars on long evenings.

The first six months hurt. Orders barely came in. Her videos did not perform. Most of her buyers were people who already knew her and kept returning because they believed in her and in the taste of what she made. That steady circle kept her afloat when faith ran thin.

Her hardest moments come from being a woman at the table.

“People do not take female entrepreneurs seriously. They think my business is a tiny game that I’m playing, it’s going nowhere. A lot of times people don’t bother answering my question when I’m speaking. If I’m present with a man, they only answer his questions or look at him while answering my question. As if I’m a ghost or what I’m saying is useless. They would look at the man and explain things about my business.” she said.

Today, she operates her business online and continues to learn through every challenge. Marketing on social media has been tough, especially without the funds for a professional manager. Despite the struggles, her customer base continues to grow, particularly among fitness enthusiasts who appreciate the honesty and quality of her products.

For women who wish to start their own ventures in Kolkata, her advice is simple yet profound. She believes that creativity and authenticity are powerful tools. In a world full of filters and perfection, people are drawn to what feels real. She encourages women to be confident and assertive, to speak like leaders and trust their instincts while balancing them with logic. Most importantly, she says, never stop believing in yourself, even when others laugh at your dreams.

Disclaimer: This story is an independent feature about the journey of an entrepreneur. It is not a sponsored or promotional piece. Readers are encouraged to use their own discretion and judgment before purchasing or using any mentioned products or services.