HOW I QUIT GOOGLE TO SELL SAMOSAS by Munaf Kapadia & Zahabia Rajkotwala Summary

How I Quit Google to Sell Samosas chronicles Munaf Kapadia’s journey from a Google consultant to founding The Bohri Kitchen, a Mumbai-based food startup celebrating Bohri cuisine. The memoir blends entrepreneurial lessons, cultural storytelling, and humorous anecdotes about scaling a home-based pop-up into a ₹4 crore business, including strategies for adapting during crises like the pandemic.

Aspiring entrepreneurs, food industry enthusiasts, and fans of memoirs will find value in this book. It’s particularly relevant for those interested in niche culinary ventures, family-run businesses, or career-change inspiration. Kapadia’s candid tone and practical "samosa gyan" (advice) resonate with readers seeking relatable, non-technical business insights.

Yes—reviewers praise its blend of humor, cultural depth, and actionable advice. With a 4/5 overall rating on BookGeeks, it’s hailed as "crisp, unexpected, and absolutely worth it" for its relatable take on overcoming failure and celebrating heritage through food.

Key takeaways include:

• Embrace unconventional paths: Leaving a corporate career for passion projects.
• Leverage cultural heritage: Building a brand around Bohri cuisine.
• Adaptability: Pivoting during crises (e.g., launching cloud kitchens post-pandemic).
• Community-driven growth: Using word-of-mouth and celebrity collaborations.

Nafisa Kapadia, Munaf’s mother, is the culinary backbone of The Bohri Kitchen. Her traditional recipes and hands-on role in early home-dining experiences helped establish the brand’s authenticity. Munaf credits her as both a business partner and cultural guide, preserving Bohri food traditions.

Major hurdles included balancing familial expectations, navigating Mumbai’s competitive food scene, and scaling operations sustainably. The book details setbacks like initial funding struggles, logistical issues with cloud kitchens, and pandemic-induced disruptions.

"Samosa gyan" refers to Kapadia’s bite-sized business lessons learned through trial and error. Examples include prioritizing customer retention over expansion, monetizing free PR from celebrity clients, and maintaining quality control in food delivery.

Kapadia shares strategies for crisis management, such as switching to contactless delivery, diversifying revenue streams (e.g., meal kits), and using social media to engage customers. These adaptations helped The Bohri Kitchen survive lockdowns.

Unlike typical startups, it began as a familial passion project focused on preserving cultural heritage. Its success stems from blending home-style Bohri cuisine (like dal chaawal and khichda) with modern delivery models, creating a niche in Mumbai’s crowded food market.

While sharing entrepreneurship themes, Kapadia’s memoir emphasizes cultural identity and small-scale scalability over Silicon Valley-style growth. Its focus on family collaboration and regional cuisine offers a fresh perspective compared to tech-centric startup guides.

• "If I can do it, so can you": Kapadia’s mantra for aspiring entrepreneurs.
• "Samosas don’t sell themselves": A reminder that passion must pair with hustle.
• "Your biggest critics can become your best marketers": Leveraging feedback for growth.

Some reviewers note the focus on anecdotal lessons over structured frameworks. However, most praise its authenticity, with BookGeeks calling it "a heartfelt tale of inspiration, courage, and a deep love for one’s culture".