She Bakes, She Studies, She Succeeds: The Inspiring Story of Samriddhi Elantholy and Her Home Bakery ‘La Joie’
At an age when most students juggle college assignments and exams, Samriddhi Elantholy from Mumbai was also juggling baking trays, delivery boxes, and Instagram reels. A first-year law student at MKES College of Law, Samriddhi is the proud founder of La Joie, a home-based bakery that has quickly become one of Mumbai’s favorite dessert destinations. Within just six months of officially launching her bakery in March 2025, she earned nearly ₹4 lakh in revenue, proof of how passion, discipline, and social media savvy can turn a simple idea into a successful business.The Beginning: A Young Girl with a Sweet DreamBorn and raised in Malad, Mumbai, Samriddhi grew up watching her parents work corporate jobs. But her interests leaned elsewhere; she was drawn to the art of baking. During her school years, she would spend hours on YouTube, watching baking tutorials and experimenting in the kitchen with her mother’s utensils. While still in Class 12, she decided to open a small home cake business. However, without marketing or a customer base, she only received a handful of orders, mostly from friends and family. With time, the business slowed down and eventually shut. But instead of giving up, Samriddhi treated that failure as a lesson. “I learned that a good product isn’t enough. People must see it. You have to connect with them,” she recalls.A Sweet Comeback: The Birth of La JoieFast forward to December 2024. Samriddhi, now a first-year law student, decided to try again. This time, she participated in her society’s event with a small bomboloni stall selling Italian-style stuffed doughnuts. To her surprise, the desserts were a huge hit. That one event changed everything. Encouraged by the response, she officially relaunched her business in March 2025 under a new name, La Joie, French for “The Joy.” Her brand specialized in homemade desserts like bomboloni, brookies, banana cake, tea cake, brownies, and Korean flan cheesecake. But it was bomboloni that stole the show, contributing nearly 70% of her total sales.Social Media: Her Recipe for GrowthHaving learned from her first venture, Samriddhi knew that in today’s world, visibility is everything. She turned to Instagram, the modern marketplace for small businesses. She started posting short reels showing her baking process, behind-the-scenes moments, and customer reviews. Her authenticity and creativity caught people’s attention. “Social media became my store window,” she says.In her first month, she made ₹7,000 with just 24 orders. By April, her orders shot up to 300+, with each order averaging ₹250–₹300. Her videos went viral among dessert lovers, and soon, she didn’t have to invest her own money anymore; the business was self-sustaining. At her peak, she clocked ₹1 lakh in a single month, and even when sales fluctuated between ₹60,000 and ₹70,000 during the monsoon months, she remained determined to grow.The Challenges Behind the Sweet SuccessRunning a business alongside college life isn’t easy. For Samriddhi Elantholy, every day begins at 6 AM and ends around 9 PM. Her mornings are spent preparing for college, attending lectures, and managing academic work, while her evenings are devoted to her homegrown bakery. Once her classes end, she transitions seamlessly into her role as a baker and entrepreneur, kneading dough, baking fresh desserts, packaging orders, and coordinating deliveries. Balancing two demanding worlds requires immense discipline and consistency. Despite the exhaustion that comes with managing both college and business, Samriddhi’s determination keeps her going. Her ability to plan her day, prioritize tasks, and stay focused has become the foundation of her success.Family: The Secret IngredientBehind every successful entrepreneur lies a circle of support. For Samriddhi, that’s her family. Her parents, though from corporate backgrounds, have been her biggest cheerleaders. They encouraged her to chase her dreams even when the first venture failed. “My mom’s kitchen became my first bakery, and my dad was my first delivery partner,” she laughs. Her friends, too, helped by promoting La Joie online and spreading word-of-mouth publicity.More Than Desserts: Building a Brand of JoyWhat sets La Joie apart is not just its desserts but also its emotion. Samriddhi named it La Joie because she wanted her customers to feel happiness in every bite. At just 19, Samriddhi Elantholy represents the new face of India’s youth: creative, ambitious, and fearless. Her story is inspiring students and young entrepreneurs to believe that passion, when paired with persistence and digital awareness, can build something extraordinary. Her journey is a reminder that in today’s India, you don’t need a big budget or a fancy setup to start—just a skill, a smartphone, and the will to work hard.
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