Kashmiri entrepreneur redefines food waste, wins TiE U Bangalore 2025
Srinagar, Nov 12: Hanan Majid, 26, is building one of India’s most promising sustainability startups – transforming unsold meals into affordable dining options through his venture, Aasta.
Born and raised in Srinagar, Kashmir, Hanan has emerged as a promising young entrepreneur in India’s startup ecosystem after Aasta won the TiE U Bangalore 2025 Pitch Competition, one of the country’s most prestigious student entrepreneurship events.
He is joined by Saiyam Kumar and Muhammad Kaif Alam from the PW Institute of Innovation, who serve as Aasta’s co-founders.
The competition saw over 70 applications from universities across the country, of which 20 promising ventures were shortlisted for an intensive programme featuring workshops, mentorship, and mock pitches.
These finalists advanced through multiple rounds, gaining hands-on guidance, investor exposure, and real-world entrepreneurial experience.
Emerging victorious, Aasta will now represent TiE Bangalore at the TiE U Global Finals, competing against the best student startups from 40 TiE chapters worldwide for international recognition and potential funding support. The winners were evaluated on several criteria, including opportunity assessment, value proposition, business viability, management credibility, financial acumen, and presentation skills.
A former student of Tyndale Biscoe School, Hanan’s journey is rooted in perseverance and purpose. At 15, he earned a full scholarship to attend an international boarding school in the United States, followed by another full scholarship to complete his degree in Industrial Psychology from an American University.
After several years abroad, Hanan felt a strong urge to return to India and contribute to its thriving startup ecosystem. “India has incredible potential right now,” he says. “The startup culture here is vibrant, and I wanted to solve a problem that impacts millions every day.” That problem was food waste, which led to the creation of Aasta – a platform that connects restaurants and cloud kitchens with consumers to sell unsold but high-quality meals at 50 to 70 percent off. Aasta helps restaurants recover the raw material cost of their unsold food instead of dumping it.
At the same time, it provides quality, affordable meals for people who need them the most. “It’s not charity – it’s smart business with real impact,” says Hanan, explaining Aasta’s mission.
Hanan credits much of his journey to India’s growing support for entrepreneurship. “The Government of India’s active encouragement of startups has truly transformed the landscape,” he says.
“Talented people studying abroad shouldn’t hesitate to come back, there are tremendous opportunities here, and the government is genuinely helping young founders succeed,” Hanan says.
“I believe in the power of supply and demand,” he saus. “India demands affordable food, and restaurants have the supply. We just needed to connect them intelligently. Success isn’t about short-term wins – it’s about building something that lasts. Life’s a marathon, not a sprint.” With national recognition and growing traction, Aasta now aims to expand across major Indian cities, working toward its vision of becoming India’s first large-scale platform that turns food waste into opportunity. From the heart of Srinagar to the innovation hubs of Bengaluru, Hanan’s story is one of vision, grit, and impact – a reminder that Kashmiri talent continues to shine brightly on the national stage.
