She chose baking over an IIM MBA. Her Rs 5,000 venture won Rs 1 crore in Shark Tank

Megha Sarayan turned down an MBA at IIM Kozhikode to focus on a bakery she started with Rs 5,000. An economics graduate and certified pastry chef, she grew Land of Cakes into Modge, a dessert brand that secured Rs 1 crore from Anupam Mittal on Shark Tank India Season 5.

In Short

• Megha Sarayan turned down an IIM Kozhikode MBA offer to focus on her Rs 5,000 bakery venture
• She baked up to 40 cakes a day while preparing for CAT during the Covid-19 pandemic
• Her dessert brand Modge secured Rs 1 crore from Anupam Mittal for 9% equity on Shark Tank India

An IIM MBA is a dream for many management aspirants. Megha Sarayan had secured a seat at IIM Kozhikode, but she had another venture demanding her attention: a bakery she had started with just Rs 5,000.

She chose the bakery.

Years later, her business, now known as Modge by Land of Cakes, secured Rs 1 crore in funding from investor Anupam Mittal on Shark Tank India Season 5. The business had also reported annual revenue of Rs 2 crore in 2024, according to reports.

FROM ECONOMICS CLASS TO BAKING CAKES

Sarayan studied economics at Scottish Church College, affiliated with the University of Calcutta. Baking was not initially part of her career plan. A workshop organised by a senior sparked her interest, and she began making cakes for friends and family.

A friend encouraged her to sell them. She listed her home bakery on Zomato when the platform was expanding in Kolkata, starting with just one product: chocolate truffle cake. Her first month's revenue was Rs 3,000.

In August 2018, she invested Rs 5,000 from her savings to rent a small workspace and establish Land of Cakes.

BAKING CAKES WHILE PREPARING FOR CAT

The business faced a major test during the Covid-19 pandemic. With employees gone and online orders rising, Sarayan relied on her father and brother to help fulfil demand.

In an interview with YourStory in March 2026, she recalled baking 25 to 40 cakes a day while preparing for the Common Admission Test (CAT). She spent more than six hours baking before turning to her studies.

Her MBA plans eventually came down to a choice between pursuing a degree and staying with the business she had built.

Speaking to StartupPedia, she explained her decision: “I had put in too much effort to let it all go.”

A PASTRY CHEF WITH AN ECONOMICS BACKGROUND

Sarayan's journey was not built on baking skills alone. Her LinkedIn profile lists a pastry chef certification from City & Guilds. She has also described visiting more than 500 restaurants to understand pricing, customer preferences, tastes and market trends.

Land of Cakes expanded into cloud kitchens and a physical caf before being rebranded as Modge, a broader dessert and food brand.

The business now offers cakes, cheesecakes, brownies, beverages and savoury products. On Shark Tank India, Sarayan secured Rs 1 crore from Anupam Mittal for 9% equity.

Her story began with a small investment and a home kitchen. The bigger bet was choosing to build a business before she had a management degree.

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