Former Urban Planner Earns $2.8M Annually with Artisanal Ice Cream Brand

Pooja Bavishi, a former urban planner with a degree from the London School of Economics, successfully transitioned careers at age 42 to found Malai, an artisanal ice cream brand in Brooklyn, New York. Starting in 2015 with no industry experience, she produced ice cream in her kitchen and sold it at local markets. A pivotal moment occurred after a feature in The New York Times boosted online sales, prompting her to take on approximately $200,000 in credit card debt to scale production and open a physical store. Through rigorous market validation and a focus on unit profitability, Bavishi paid off her initial debts within two years. The company achieved break-even status and profitability in 2024, after prioritizing expansion and brand awareness. With $1.8 million in external investment, she retained majority control while expanding into wholesale and retail channels. In 2025, the business generated $2.8 million in revenue. The article highlights her strategy of balancing debt with growth and understanding customer purchasing behavior as key drivers of her financial success.