Baking Dreams into Reality: Anika Gupta, the teenage philanthropist & kidpreneur

Meet Anika, the 14-year-old dynamo from Kanpur with a mischievous smile that hides a world of innovative entrepreneurship. She’s not your ordinary teen – she’s the proud winner of the Kidpreneurs Award 2023, where her startup, ABC (Anika Bakes Cakes), stole the spotlight for its unparalleled creativity.

Anika’s journey began in her family kitchen, where her love for baking blossomed into a full-fledged business. Her secret? Using top-quality ingredients to craft delectable treats sets ABC apart from the rest. But what truly distinguishes her is her heart – sharing 50% of profits with her kitchen helpers, turning her passion into a force for good.

Her Inspiration 

Ever since she was a child, Anika loved baking and used to watch baking shows with her family. She started experimenting with recipes.

” Every time I baked something for my family and friends, the smiles on their faces encouraged me to pursue my dream,” she says.

When the lockdown happened, she launched ABC, combining her love for baking with a desire to create something special. 

The goodies on her menu include Nutella mudpuds, coconut pudding, mango gelato, brownies, chocolate chip cookies, etc.

She has taken 900 + orders to date. Her biggest order was 140 baby announcement hampers for a client. Everything is made in her home kitchen.

It is a profitable setup unless she chooses to donate to a cause.

“Baking isn’t just a business for me; it’s a form of relaxation and joy. I make sure not to overburden myself and keep stress at bay. It’s all about maintaining balance. This means sometimes saying no to orders if it conflicts with my studies or personal time,” she adds.

Once the lockdown was over, balancing school and her business became difficult.

 “I’ve found that taking most of my orders on weekends works best as it allows me to focus on academics during the week,” she says.

  Anika is grateful for the support of her family, friends, teachers, and customers.

Anika, the philanthropist

Anika is an avid book reader. She learned from her mother that children in many schools nearby barely had access to school books.

” I believe every child deserves the chance to explore new worlds and dreams through books,” she says.

At age eight, she started the ‘Let’s Read’ campaign to set up libraries in underprivileged schools around Kanpur. 

Using the portable Pratham Book Wall, she has opened 17 libraries so far. 

“When I go to these schools, I get to see how these books bring curiosity and happiness to the lives of the children there. The teachers feel that books have brought positivity in students’ learning attitudes,” she adds.

Anika plans to expand the “Let’s Read” program beyond Kanpur District.

Anika is a dog lover and is crazy about her dog, Cocoa. When a storm ruined a dog shelter, Anika contacted the owner and organized a fundraising campaign. 100% of the funds raised from her campaign were allocated to this cause, and she donated the proceeds for all her orders to build another shelter for dogs. 

Experience at the Kidpreneurs Award 2023 

Recently, Anika took part in the Kidpreneurs Award in 2023, held in Delhi. Setting up a stall for the first time to showcase and sell her products to a new clientele was a challenging yet exciting prospect for her. Among more than 20 kidpreneurs’ stalls, her endeavor stood out.

 “Winning the Kidpreneurs Award was a surreal experience and gave me the confidence to dream big, ” she adds. 

Lessons from the Entrepreneurial Journey

• Learn to share
• Be exclusive
• Understand your customers

• Listen to your instincts to make decisions
• Manage time efficiently
• Plan your financials  wisely

“I want to embrace new challenges and learn more lessons in the future to shape me as an entrepreneur,” she adds.

Message to Gen Z

“Embrace what you love and never feel embarrassed about your passions. Do not get discouraged by others’ opinions, as staying true to your beliefs and passion is the most fulfilling,” is Anika’s message to Gen Z.

Anika, the person

Anika describes herself as passionate, supportive, and versatile. She draws inspiration from her mother’s hard-working nature and is grateful for her support. Her mother, Ms. Aarti Gupta, National Head of FICCI FLO Startup Cell, also manages ABC’s Instagram account. She wants to pursue history and economics in the future and loves visiting historical places. A quote that is the mantra of her life is,” Love yourself and be your biggest support.”