MEET Monika Tiwari who Built ₹5 Crore AKROL Empire from Single Garage

The mechanic barely looked up when Monika Tiwari asked the simple question that would eventually disrupt India's ₹60,000 crore lubricant industry: "What kind of oil are you putting in my scooter, and why does it matter?" His dismissive shrug in that Patna garage became the spark that ignited one of India's most remarkable female entrepreneur startup stories.

Most customers would have simply paid and left. But Monika's MBA-trained mind couldn't ignore the glaring knowledge gap between what customers needed and what the industry was delivering. She didn’t know, that ordinary morning in 2024 would soon transform into an extraordinary Indian startup journey that would challenge every assumption about who belongs in the lubricant business.

The Awakening That Started a Revolution

What began as personal frustration evolved into Monika's most ambitious venture to date. As she observed the interaction between mechanics and customers across numerous garages, a disturbing pattern emerged: fake oils, incorrect grades, and a complete absence of customer education were quietly destroying engines across India.

"I realized this wasn't just about one garage or one customer," Monika reflects. "This was a systemic failure affecting millions of vehicle owners who trusted their mechanics blindly." This revelation became the foundation of her approach to building a business from scratch – one that would prioritize education and quality over quick profits.

The entrepreneur struggles she would face weren't just about market penetration or funding. They were about dismantling decades of industry complacency while proving that a woman could not only enter but revolutionize one of India's most male-dominated sectors.

Building AKROL: Where Education Meets Innovation

AKROL represents Monika's bold answer to the question of how to start a startup that creates lasting impact. Unlike traditional lubricant companies focused solely on product distribution, AKROL was built on a revolutionary premise: what if customers actually understood what they were buying?

The company, operating as Arkay Tech Lubricants LLP, offers premium engine oils, gear oils, greases, and coolants with a twist that sets this female entrepreneur startup apart from established players. Every product comes with comprehensive education – mechanic training programs, consumer demonstrations, and easy-to-understand guides that demystify engine care.

"We don't just sell oil," Monika explains with the confidence of someone who has found her calling. "We sell peace of mind, one properly maintained engine at a time."

This philosophy shaped every aspect of AKROL's strategy. Rather than competing solely on price or availability, the company built its reputation on trust, education, and genuine customer care – principles that would prove crucial in navigating the complex landscape of India's automotive aftermarket.

The Resistance That Forged a Leader

Learning to navigate a male-dominated industry as a female entrepreneur/startup founder meant accepting that every achievement would be questioned, every decision scrutinized, and every failure amplified. Monika's most challenging entrepreneurial struggles weren't technical or financial – they were about proving her right to exist in a space where women were considered outsiders.

"The biggest rejection I ever faced wasn't from a customer or investor," she admits. "It was from industry professionals who doubted my technical expertise simply because I was a woman. They didn't think I belonged."

Instead of retreating, Monika made a decision that would define her leadership style: she would earn her place through knowledge, not just persistence. She spent countless hours in garages, studying real-world use cases, meeting mechanics face-to-face, and understanding customer pain points that industry veterans had ignored.

This approach to building a business from scratch transformed initial skepticism into respect. Mechanics who initially questioned her expertise began recognizing her commitment to solving their problems. Distributors who worried about market acceptance discovered that customers trusted her education-first approach.

The Strategy That Conquered Markets

Monika's approach to how to start a startup in a traditional industry centered on turning every obstacle into an opportunity. When established players dismissed Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities as unprofitable, AKROL made them the foundation of its growth strategy.

The company's success in these markets wasn't accidental. It was the result of understanding that smaller cities and rural areas needed more than just products – they needed partners who could help them navigate the complex world of automotive maintenance with confidence and knowledge.

By combining premium quality with accessible education, AKROL created a competitive advantage that larger companies couldn't easily replicate. The company's strong team of 45 people focuses on building relationships rather than just managing transactions, creating a loyal customer base that became the foundation of sustainable growth.

The Vision That Drives Innovation

Today, AKROL represents more than a successful female entrepreneur startup – it embodies a new approach to industry leadership that prioritizes customer education over pure profit. Monika's vision extends beyond current achievements to create an end-to-end ecosystem where vehicle owners understand their needs, mechanics have access to proper training, and quality products are available regardless of location.

This vision is particularly powerful because it addresses systemic issues that the industry has ignored for decades. By focusing on education and genuine customer care, AKROL is creating a new standard for how lubricant companies should operate in modern India.

"This journey had to be built brick by brick," Monika reflects on her Indian startup journey. "What was a challenge in the early days has become our biggest competitive advantage."

The Legacy That Inspires Change

As AKROL prepares for its next phase of growth, Monika's impact extends far beyond business metrics. Her success has opened doors for other women considering entrepreneurship in traditional industries, proving that gender doesn't determine capability or potential for success.

"If I were starting again, I would move faster but not differently," Monika concludes. "This journey taught me that authentic leadership isn't about fitting into existing molds – it's about creating new ones."

The Revolution Continues

From a simple question in a Patna garage to a ₹5 crore enterprise with 400+ distributors, Monika's story proves that the most powerful innovations often come from the most basic human needs. Her startup journey demonstrates that success isn't just about building businesses – it's about building better solutions for real people facing real problems.

In a world where industry giants often prioritize scale over service, AKROL asks us to imagine what's possible when customer education and genuine care become the foundation of business strategy. Because sometimes, it takes a woman with a question and the courage to build the answer to change an entire industry, one properly maintained engine at a time.