FROM SHED TO SUCCESS

In the late 1980s, with just Rs 20,000 and a rented 150-square-foot workshop in Pune, Shrikant Badve began a modest entrepreneurial journey that would eventually grow into Belrise Industries Limited, one of India's leading Tier-1 automotive component manufacturers.

- Amit Shanbaug

Badve's entrepreneurial journey was sparked by a clear vision: to be a job giver rather than a job seeker. “It's easy to say, but it's not so easy to practice,” Badve admits, reflecting on the challenges he faced in those early days. Despite the hardships, he was committed to creating something lasting, an ethos that defined his career. “You have to be fully committed, ready to face any challenge,” he says.

Badve's roots in entrepreneurship can be traced back to his family background. “My grandfather was in the military and later became the chief of the hospital in Jodhpur. My entire family was in service, so I was the first one to step into entrepreneurship,” he shares.

A HUMBLE BEGINNING

The journey began in the 1980s when Pune's automotive industry was booming. But Badve's entry into business was nothing glamorous. “I started with a small workshop. The first shop I rented was 150 square feet, and the rent was just 50 rupees,” he recalls. Though the start was humble, it was the foundation for what would later become Belrise Industries Limited. (formerly known as Badve Engineering Limited)

Initially, the business was focused on tier-2 supplies, providing parts to a larger tier-1 manufacturers. It was a struggle, but Badve’s drive to create something bigger never wavered. He faced the challenge of finding land in Pune, which was becoming increasingly expensive. Realising that he couldn’t afford the land in Pune, he looked beyond the city and found an opportunity in Aurangabad. “To my pleasant surprise, the land there was 25 times cheaper than in Pune,” Badve remembers.