Chaayos, India’s leading chai cafe chain, was co-founded in November 2012 by Nitin Saluja and Raghav Verma in Gurugram, Haryana. Today, Chaayos CEO Nitin Saluja leads the company’s growing network of over 200 cafes across India, serving personalized chai to millions of customers annually. An IIT Bombay graduate who left a lucrative analytics career in the United States, Saluja has built Chaayos into a tech-driven chai brand with annual revenue of approximately INR 330 crore (~$40 million) and a valuation of INR 2,600 crore (~$312 million). Under his leadership, Chaayos became EBITDA-positive in FY2024 and was the first cafe chain in India to introduce facial recognition for chai ordering.

Nitin Saluja – Quick Facts

Chaayos Competitors

Chaayos operates in the fast-growing Indian chai cafe market, estimated at INR 873 crore and growing at over 15% annually. Chai Point and Chaayos together control approximately 51% of the organized tea cafe business in India. Key competitors include:

• Chai Point – Bengaluru-based pioneer in the organized chai cafe segment; Chaayos’ primary rival
• Chai Sutta Bar – Largest footprint by outlet count (~36% market share by stores); popular among youth
• MBA Chaiwala – Franchise-driven chai brand expanding rapidly across India
• Yewale Amruttulya – Iconic Maharashtrian chai brand known for strong kadak chai
• Tea Post – Gujarat-based chain with a strong regional presence
• Chai Kings – South India-focused tea cafe chain
• Starbucks India (Tata Starbucks) – Premium coffee and tea competitor in metro cities

Nitin Saluja Net Worth 2026 – Chaayos CEO Salary

As of 2026, Nitin Saluja’s net worth is estimated at approximately $5–12 million USD. As Chaayos is a private company, exact salary and compensation details are not publicly disclosed. The combined net worth of the two Chaayos co-founders (Nitin Saluja and Raghav Verma) is estimated at approximately INR 258 crore (~$31 million), based on the company’s latest valuation of INR 2,600 crore (~$312 million) and their combined equity stake.

Chaayos has raised a total of $93.8 million across 14 funding rounds from prominent investors including Tiger Global Management, Alpha Wave Global, Elevation Capital, and InnoVen Capital. The company’s largest fundraise was a $53 million Series C round in June 2022 led by Alpha Wave Global.

Chaayos Financial Summary

Early Life & Education

Nitin Saluja was born around 1984–1985 in Delhi, India. He was always known as the “designated chai-maker” of his family, a passion that would eventually shape his entrepreneurial career. He grew up in Delhi and went on to attend one of India’s most prestigious engineering institutions.

In 2002, Saluja enrolled at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT Bombay), where he earned a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Mechanical Engineering in 2007. While still a student at IIT Bombay, he co-founded ThinkLabs Technosolutions, an educational robotics company incubated at IIT Bombay. ThinkLabs went on to become a successful company valued at over $10 million, focusing on hands-on science and technology education for schools and colleges across India.

Education

Career & Company – Nitin Saluja Career Timeline

Nitin Saluja’s career spans entrepreneurship, management consulting, and the food-tech industry. Below is his complete career timeline:

Career Timeline

After graduating from IIT Bombay in 2007, Saluja moved to Houston, Texas, where he worked as a Senior Management Consultant at Opera Solutions, a data analytics firm. He spent over five years in the United States, building expertise in data-driven decision-making — skills he would later apply to Chaayos’ technology-first approach to chai.

The idea for Chaayos was born during his time in Houston. While living abroad, Saluja and his wife Yosha craved a fresh, flavorful cup of Indian chai after dinner one evening in 2008 — and couldn’t find one anywhere. That simple frustration planted the seed for what would become India’s largest organized chai cafe chain.

In November 2012, Saluja left his comfortable corporate career and returned to India. Together with his friend Raghav Verma (also an IIT graduate), he opened the first Chaayos outlet in Cyber City, Gurugram. Today, Chaayos operates over 200 cafes across major Indian cities, employs approximately 2,400 people, and generates annual revenue of around INR 330 crore (~$40 million).

CEO Role – Leadership & Achievements

As Co-Founder and CEO of Chaayos, Nitin Saluja oversees the company’s overall strategy, product innovation, technology, and growth. He personally handles product R&D for the menu offerings. Under his leadership, Chaayos has achieved several notable milestones:

• EBITDA Positive – Chaayos achieved positive EBITDA of INR 28.3 crore in FY2024, a major turnaround from years of losses
• Revenue Growth – Revenue surged to ~INR 330 crore in FY2025, up ~33% year-over-year
• 200+ Cafes – Expanded from a single Gurugram outlet to over 200 cafes across India
• Facial Recognition Pioneer – First cafe chain in India to use facial recognition for ordering — the system remembers customers’ chai preferences
• Tech-First Approach – Built a proprietary operating system and technology stack that personalizes each cup of chai
• $93.8M Raised – Attracted investment from Tiger Global, Alpha Wave Global, Elevation Capital, and others
• $312M Valuation – Chaayos valued at approximately INR 2,600 crore (~$312 million)
• First Venture Success – Previously co-founded ThinkLabs (robotics education), now valued at $10M+

Nitin Saluja Wiki – Age, Family, & Personal Life

Chaayos CEO Nitin Saluja (age ~41) is based in the Gurugram/Delhi NCR area. He is married to Yosha Saluja, who has been a supportive partner throughout the Chaayos journey. The couple has a daughter named Brinda, who was born just three months before the first Chaayos cafe opened in 2012.

The decision to leave a comfortable job in America to start a chai business was not easy. Saluja used all of his savings to fund the venture. To cut costs in the early days, Yosha moved to her parents’ home while Nitin moved in with friends. His father was initially against the decision and didn’t speak to Nitin and Yosha for several months. His mother and sisters, though skeptical, gave their blessings.

Yosha has described the Chaayos journey as a “shared dream” and a roller coaster — but one neither of them would trade for their old lifestyle. She has said that with hard work and dedication, everything can be achieved.

Notable Achievements & Recognitions

• IIT Bombay Alumnus – Graduate of one of India’s top engineering institutions
• Serial Entrepreneur – Co-founded ThinkLabs (robotics education, $10M+ valuation) before Chaayos
• India’s Chai Revolution – Credited with popularizing the organized chai cafe concept in India
• Tech Innovator – Pioneered facial recognition ordering and personalized chai technology
• Featured Speaker – Regular speaker at startup and entrepreneurship events across India

Chaayos CEO Email Address | Nitin Saluja Contact

Below are the official contact details and social media profiles for Chaayos CEO Nitin Saluja:

About Chaayos

Chaayos (legal name: Sunshine Teahouse Pvt. Ltd.) is an Indian chai cafe chain headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana. Co-founded in November 2012 by Nitin Saluja and Raghav Verma, the company has grown from a single outlet to over 200 cafes across major Indian cities including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Jaipur, and Hyderabad.

Chaayos positions itself as a “tech company that sells tea,” using proprietary technology to personalize each cup of chai from over 25,000 possible combinations. The brand’s core offering spans chai, snacks, and a delivery platform. The company employs approximately 2,400 people and generates annual revenue of ~INR 330 crore (~$40 million) as of FY2025.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who is the CEO of Chaayos?

The CEO of Chaayos is Nitin Saluja, who co-founded the company in November 2012 along with Raghav Verma. Saluja is an IIT Bombay graduate who left a management consulting career in the United States to build India’s leading organized chai cafe chain.

What is Nitin Saluja’s net worth in 2026?

As of 2026, Nitin Saluja’s net worth is estimated at approximately $5–12 million USD. The combined net worth of both Chaayos co-founders (Saluja and Raghav Verma) is approximately $31 million, based on Chaayos’ valuation of ~$312 million.

What is Chaayos CEO’s email address?

Chaayos CEO Nitin Saluja’s email address is [email protected]. He is also active on Twitter/X at @Salujanitin and on Instagram at @salujanitin.

How many Chaayos cafes are there?

As of 2025–2026, Chaayos operates over 200 cafes across major Indian cities including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Jaipur, and Hyderabad.

Is Chaayos profitable?

Chaayos achieved positive EBITDA of INR 28.3 crore in FY2024, a major turnaround from previous losses. Revenue grew to approximately INR 330 crore in FY2025. While the company is still reporting a net loss, it has halved its losses by 50.6% and is on a clear path to full profitability.

What is Nitin Saluja’s education?

Nitin Saluja holds a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Bombay (2002–2007). During his time at IIT, he co-founded ThinkLabs Technosolutions, an educational robotics company now valued at over $10 million.

Article last updated:January 2026March 4, 2026