Shubham Atwal, a 27-year-old software engineer based in Chandigarh, embodies the essence of modern entrepreneurship as a relentless journey rather than a fleeting milestone. Shubham’s path began in his college years, where his sports background inspired a fitness initiative promoting ground-based training over traditional gyms. Collaborating with coaches, he aimed to foster discipline through real movement, but the venture faltered due to timing and market readiness. Undeterred, he dipped into sales by trading protein supplements, earning his first independent income, and grasping customer behavior fundamentals.
Post-graduation, Shubham entered the tech world as a software engineer, but his entrepreneurial fire never dimmed. Meeting his business partner at work sparked their foray into the food industry. Observing workplace woes like unreliable meals for corporate teams, they launched Vibe24 Cafe, a brand tailored for B2B clients such as offices, hospitals, and institutions. This shift from code to cuisine highlights Shubham’s newsworthy pivot: balancing a full-time job while founding a food venture focused on corporate meals, bulk orders, and event catering. Specializing in consistency, timing, and cost sensitivity, Vibe24 adapts menus for working professionals, emphasizing predictable demand, portion control, and on-time delivery.
Shubham’s tech mindset infuses operations with process-driven efficiency, optimizing procurement, vendor coordination, and waste reduction in an industry plagued by thin margins. Currently in a growth phase, he’s experimenting with scalable models like office tiffin services and recurring contracts, proving professionals can build B2B businesses alongside careers.
Navigating Struggles: Resilience in the Face of Real-World Hurdles
The path to establishing Vibe24 Cafe was filled with challenges, highlighting that entrepreneurship requires patience and execution. Starting small with limited resources, Shubham and his partner managed everything from sourcing to delivery. Early difficulties included low foot traffic due to poor location choices, operational inefficiencies, and fluctuating demand, all while balancing a demanding software engineering role.
The first year was marked by experiments and failures, culminating in a pivotal relocation to IT-heavy commercial areas where corporate demand aligned perfectly. Even now, profitability is a work in progress, but these trials have honed their systems. A defining moment came when a chef quit days before a major school combo order; Shubham stepped in, preparing and delivering it himself, reinforcing accountability and adaptability.
What sets Shubham apart from his peers is his ground-level involvement and system-oriented approach. Unlike those chasing hype or rapid growth, he prioritizes sustainable economics, client relationships, and hands-on learning. Admiring brands like Sodexo for their institutional reliability, Rebel Foods for their tech-scaled operations, and FreshMenu for their menu innovation, Shubham draws inspiration to build lasting structures in India’s B2B food landscape.
His personal brand reflects this: a practical entrepreneur who rigorously tests ideas, learns from setbacks, and fosters resilience. As he notes, “Entrepreneurship is not about avoiding failures, it’s about taking ownership when things break and building better systems each time.”
Looking Ahead: Inspiring Sustainable Growth and Lasting Impact
Shubham’s vision extends beyond Vibe24 Cafe’s recurring meal contracts and customized solutions. He envisions scalable, tech-enabled food operations across commercial hubs, focusing on standardized kitchens and quality consistency in the HoReCa ecosystem. The goal is replicable growth that creates employment and solves institutional problems without shortcuts.
Through his story, Shubham hopes to inspire others by demystifying entrepreneurship’s realities, emphasizing commitment during tough times, and the power of consistent effort. A key life lesson he shares: “Progress comes from showing up consistently, even when results are slow, and the path is uncertain.” As a software engineer turned entrepreneur in corporate food services, he exemplifies how patience and mindset build businesses that endure.
In a world of overnight success tales, Shubham’s journey in the B2B food business in India reminds us that true achievement lies in the grind, offering a blueprint for aspiring professionals to pursue dreams without abandoning stability.
