Back in 2014, Sandeep Jangra was living in Gurgaon, earning a modest ₹9,000 a month. He was also juggling the weight of pending college arrears and the disappointment of being an engineering dropout.
One seemingly ordinary day, he tried his first slice of pizza — and it set off an extraordinary idea.
He pictured serving that same joy in Gohana, his small hometown in Haryana, where pizza was still a novelty.
The Leap
In December 2015, with ₹6.5 lakh pooled from his brother and friends, Sandeep opened Pizza Galleria — envisioned as India’s first 100% vegetarian pizza brand.
His father, skeptical of his son’s unconventional path, withheld belief. For Sandeep, the only way to change minds was through results.
Bootstrapped Hustle
The early days were pure grit.
- He hired and trained local Class 12 graduates to craft dough from scratch.
- He rode his bike through Gohana with loudspeakers, announcing: “Pizza Galleria is now open!”
- As a bold marketing move, he gave away the first 300 pizzas for free, betting that taste would be his hook.
It worked — people came for curiosity, stayed for quality, and brought friends the next time.
Scaling Beyond Gohana
By 2023–24, Pizza Galleria had transformed from a single‑store gamble into a 72‑outlet chain across Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Delhi‑NCR, and Chandigarh.
The numbers told a powerful story:
- 20,000 pizzas sold daily — over 6 lakh a month
- ₹15 crore turnover in FY 23–24
- 700+ livelihoods created for local talent
National Spotlight
The brand’s rise took it to the sets of Shark Tank India, Season 3, where the founders pitched for ₹1 crore at a ₹50 crore valuation.
From a ₹15 lakh‑registered company to a crores‑turnover enterprise, Pizza Galleria proved that a great idea doesn’t need a metro postcode to succeed.
The Founder’s Lesson
“Start where resources are limited. Lean into culture, authenticity, and community — that’s your unfair advantage.”
Bharat’s next big business story may not be born in Bangalore or Mumbai — it could be in any hometown where someone has a passion, a bike, and the determination to turn a ₹9,000 salary into a national brand.
