‘It was a fun time at Apeejay School, Charkhi Dadri’

What does it take to walk away from a stable corporate career and bet everything on an idea you and your friends cooked up as a side hustle? 

For Nikhil Maan, an alumnus of Apeejay School, Charkhi Dadri (Class of 2016), the answer traces back further than his three years in the corporate world or his B.Tech in Computer Science. It goes all the way back to a school that lets him try things simply for the fun of trying. 

Today, Nikhil is the Co-founder and CEO of FoodPe, a customer engagement and retention platform serving restaurants and retail businesses across the country. In this candid conversation, he opens up about the school memories that shaped him, the leap of faith behind his startup, and the quality he says he owes entirely to his school years.

What are some of your fondest memories of your time at the school?

There are honestly a lot of memories I loved about that place. It was a really fun time as a kid at Apeejay. One that stands out is participating in a music competition with a friend during an inter-school competition. The event had a lot of categories, and we participated in music synthesizing. Though it was our first time taking part in a competition. We did not win the competition, but took back a lot of memories, learning and confidence.  

 If you had to describe your school life in three words, what would they be?

Opportunities, exposure, and growth beyond academics. 

What did you enjoy most about being a student here?

The chance to explore different creative fields. During my schooling, I participated in Olympiads, educational and music competitions. I also dabbled a little in sports — some football and participation in the annual sports meet. 

I remember, I signed up for that music competition, it wasn’t about winning — it was about trying something new and seeing where it led. That mindset of testing things out before committing fully is something that’s stayed with me. That trying out thing attitude helped me how FoodPe started too.

How would you describe the teachers who taught you, and how has their contribution played out in your professional journey?

The teaching methods at the time were genuinely up to date for what the world demanded then. During my time, there was a strong focus on assemblies, team-based activities, and other collaborative exercises. These things prepare you for a competitive corporate world and an uncertain job market.

The team-based activities and assemblies at school built habits of collaboration and initiative that carried straight into how I work today. Especially now that I run a company with friends as co-founders. Starting FoodPe together wasn’t so different from teaming up for a school competition: shared interest, a willingness to try, and figuring it out together.

Looking back, what is one quality you developed during your school years that you are especially grateful for?

The willingness to try new things without the pressure of having to be good at them immediately. That’s a quality I’ve leaned on heavily as an entrepreneur. From testing music-making for the first time at a school competition to testing a business idea as a side hustle before quitting my job for it.

Where are you working currently, and what is your job role?

I’m currently the Co-founder and CEO of FoodPe, a customer engagement and retention platform. We started out primarily serving restaurants — which is where the name comes from — but we’ve since expanded to work with other B2B and retail clients as well. 

It’s been about a year and a half since we started. FoodPe actually began as a side hustle that my friends and I tested out while still holding our day jobs. Once we saw a strong product-market fit and realised how much our clients loved what we were building, we decided to take the leap and do it full-time.