If you are planning to venture into a food business, the Curly Tales interview with Wow! Momo co-founder is a must watch. In this inspiring conversation, Sagar Daryani, founder and CEO of India’s popular chain of Momo restaurants, shares valuable business insights. He also offers life lessons.
I’ve shared the video link at the end of this post for you to check out. But first, let’s dive into the key takeaways from the Curly Tales interview with the founder of Wow! Momo.
Wow! Momo A Rs. 500 Crore Empire
If you have visited malls in India, chances are you have come across Wow! Momo outlet. This brand generates ₹40–45 crores in monthly revenue from its chain of momo restaurants across India. (Selling varieties of momos)
Surprising, isn’t it?
With over 477 stores across India and more than one lakh plates sold daily, it really makes sense.
With just ₹30,000 and a dream, Sagar Daryani and his co-founder opened a tiny momo shop in Kolkata. They transformed it into a ₹500 crore empire. This journey was built on grit, vision, and relentless hustle.
Crazy, right? Maybe you are dreaming of setting up your own momo restaurant or a chain of momo shops.
Knowing how to make great momos is not enough to build a food empire. It takes more. You need vision, grit, resilience, and the ability to learn. Most importantly, you need the belief that your idea can make a difference.
Ideas often come from everyday experiences
Sagar Daryani recalls his school days – “There was a lady selling momo’s outside. I’d buy a plate of five but only manage to eat one — my friends would finish the rest. That’s when I realized: if the quality is good, momos can sell themselves.
Great ideas often come from everyday experiences but it is the vision, execution, and persistence turn them into successful business.
Sagar Daryani spotted potential in his school memory, believed in the product, started small, and scaled with strategy and passion.
The takeaway here is to start with what you know, believe in your idea, and stay relentless.
You don’t need fancy degrees
If you think success needs degrees, sharp intelligence, or a stroke of luck then Sagar’s story proves otherwise.
In the interview with Curly Tales, Sagar admits he struggled with numbers. He couldn’t crack an MBA. He also went through a breakup and a phase of feeling lost. But instead of giving up, he chose to build something of his own — with just one idea: momos.
Sagar says, if Domino’s can play with pizza, and KFC with chicken and if they can thrive in India…Why can’t I build a homegrown brand that can go global someday?
That’s the story that inspires anyone to jump into the restaurant business. It encourages people to dive into any business, for that matter.
You don’t need to be the smartest in the room, hold fancy degrees, or wait for luck to strike. What you need is clarity of vision, belief in your idea, and the courage to act.
Saving Re 1 is like earning Rs 5
Most of us have ideas, and many even get started — but that alone isn’t enough. Let’s rewind to Sagar Daryani’s early days to see why.
His co-founder, Binod, would ride a bicycle to buy vegetables and chicken. They would load momos into two autorickshaws to get them to their first store. By night, after selling all the momos, they would walk back home just to save money.
They realized that: in business, saving Rs. 1 is like earning Rs. 5. This was their mindset, and this is how they hustled.
Now ask yourself, “can you think like that? Can you hustle like that?
Yes, you can — but it all starts with one thing: believing it’s possible.
Believe in your product
Sagar had unshakable belief in his product. He would personally offer momos to customers, convinced that one bite was enough to turn them into loyal fans. It all started — and succeeded — with belief.
As word spread, a major supermarket chain took notice of Wow! Momo’s growing popularity and offered them space to open a store — a turning point in their journey.
Wow! Momo sold momos at ₹40–₹50 a plate. Street vendors offered them for just ₹10 in those days. Still, Wow! Momo was sold out. Why? Because people weren’t just buying food; they were buying quality, experience, and a brand built on passion.
Believe fiercely in your product — because if you don’t, no one else will.
Sagar Daryani didn’t wait for perfect conditions or the cheapest price point. He focused on quality, customer experience, and building trust. While others competed on price, he built a brand — and customers followed.
The lesson for us? It’s not about being the cheapest; it’s about being the most valuable. Always keep in mind that confidence, consistency, and conviction can set you apart in any crowded market.
14 years of relentless efforts
Today, Wow! Momo sells a plate of momo for ₹120 — nearly three times the price from when they started. They now generate a monthly revenue of ₹40–45 crores. But back then, they earned just ₹2,000 a day — about ₹60,000 a month. This incredible transformation took 14 years of relentless effort.
And it wasn’t easy. Sagar Daryani shares, “There were days of joy and excitement, but also moments of deep frustration and self-doubt. I felt like giving up more than once”
Behind this success lies a journey full of failures, setbacks, and being underestimated.
While his parents stood by him, others questioned the idea: “Your son wants to sell momos? What are you going to do about it?” But he kept going — backed by belief and support by his parents.
Sagar adds with pride, “In a country where a tea seller can become the Prime Minister, imagine the possibilities for a momo guy. That’s the belief that kept me going.”
The bigger goal
“Today, I have a bigger goal,” says Sagar Daryani. “By the time I turn 50, I want to build 50 free cancer hospitals across India. The funding will come from contributing ₹1 from every plate of momos we sell.”
He adds, “I also want to hand over the baton and step into politics. I seek to do this not for power, but to give back to the country. It’s a country that gave me everything. These 14 years as an entrepreneur have shown me the challenges of navigating systems and bureaucracy. It’s tough — but change is possible.”
If you are a dreamer, here is the message for you – Be the change you want to see. Take the leap. Just go out there and give it a shot.
Rejection is not an end, it is a redirection
Sagar recalls a moment that perfectly captures the early challenges he faced. When he approached a mall developer in Kolkata for space, he was brushed off with, “You want to sell momos? We already have a Chinese guy doing that.”
Sagar was underestimated in his own city. He didn’t give up. Instead, he took his vision to Bengaluru. There, a mall developer gave him his first real opportunity. That leap of faith marked the beginning of Wow! Momo’s journey into India’s top malls.
Rejection is not an end – It is a redirection!
Wow! Momo success story shows that being underestimated is not a setback, but a setup for a stronger comeback. When one door closed in Kolkata, Sagar found another open in Bengaluru and that became the turning point.
Do not let one “NO” stop your journey. Keep moving, keep believing because all it takes is one “YES” to change everything.
Sometimes, you must walk the talk — and prove your worth by doing, not just dreaming.
India is evolving. Our population is our greatest strength, and consumerism is thriving like never before.
Sagar rightly says entrepreneurship is about setting new trends.
The journey of Wow! Momo is more than just a business success — it’s a testament to belief, resilience, and bold thinking. Sagar Daryani faced rejection in his own city. Despite this, he built a ₹500 crore brand. He turned every “no” into fuel for his fire.
His story reminds us that you don’t need to come from privilege, have fancy degrees, or follow the crowd. All you need is an idea you believe in. You also need the courage to act on it and the persistence to keep going when things get tough.
Whether you’re dreaming of a food stall or a global brand, start where you are. Use what you have. Never underestimate the power of belief.
Because success isn’t served — it’s built, one momo at a time.
I hope you found this story both inspiring and valuable. If it sparked an idea or gave you a fresh perspective, consider bookmarking Libranpress.com for more real-life success stories and entrepreneurial insights.
Wishing you all the success on your journey — see you in the next post!
Check out the Curly Tales interview with Sagar here.