Scrolling past stories of people promoting their small businesses has become a familiar sight for today’s youth: a fresh batch of cookies just out of the oven, a review from a happy customer, or an announcement of fresh stock. Across Pune, many Gen Z entrepreneurs are transforming their hobbies into small businesses, from tote bags and jewellery to clay keychains and custom bakes. These small ventures aren’t just side hustles for them, but expressions of individuality and entrepreneurship.

For classmates Diksha Sasane, Mrudula Kshirsagar, Shruti Rajopadhye, and Yashashree Parab, 20-year-old BCA students, what began as a fun project soon turned into ‘Tote Tales’, a small venture where they hand-paint and embroider tote bags.

“Our business started as a fun project. We liked hand-painting a

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