# How a Startup Turned Temple Flower Waste Into a 200 Crore Business in Kanpur

> A startup in Kanpur has built a business worth over 200 crore rupees by turning discarded temple flowers into incense sticks and a leather alternative called fleather.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Success Stories · **Published:** 2026-11-13 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/success-stories/kanpur-mein-temple-flowers-se-200-crore-ka-business-59486 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Kanpur startup, Phool company, Fleather, Ankit Agarwal, Waste management, Temple flowers, Biomaterial

In temples across India, offerings of flowers are a common sight, but people usually assume that these remnants end up being discarded into local rivers. However, a startup based in Kanpur found a unique commercial opportunity in these unwanted floral wastes that few would have imagined. The enterprise not only manufactured incense sticks from temple flowers but also developed a leather-like material named fleather. Beyond this, the company produces hundreds of new products entirely derived from flowers. Today, the valuation and business turnover of this enterprise has crossed the 200 crore rupee mark. Named Phool, this venture is a prime example of turning an innovative idea into a massive success.

## The Inspiration Along the Banks of the Ganges
The journey began back in 2015 when the founder of Phool, Ankit Agarwal, visited the banks of the Ganges in Kanpur along with his friend Karan Rastogi. While observing people bathing in the river on one side, he noticed numerous individuals discarding floral offerings into the very same waters. Ankit wondered whether these flowers could be put to a much better and more productive use. This observation planted the seed for creating useful products out of discarded flowers. According to information provided on the company website, people initially doubted the concept, but eventually came around to accepting that it was a brilliant idea.

## The Accidental Discovery of Fleather
Ankit explains that the initial hurdle involved collecting flowers from various temples while ensuring they remained clean and usable. The team managed this carefully and first started by making incense sticks from these collections. They separated the petals to make them suitable for processing. One day, a thick white mat-like layer of fiber was noticed over the leftover floral waste at the factory after production. Upon testing this material, its texture remarkably resembled leather; it was flexible and could be shaped into a sheet. This breakthrough marked the beginning of crafting leather from flowers, leading to the launch of fleather, which combines the terms flower and leather. In 2022, fleather earned a spot among the finalists for the prestigious Earthshot Prize in the United Kingdom.

## Extensive Research and Fashion Industry Demand
Creating fleather required months of dedicated effort, spanning two years of research before the team achieved success in 2020. The operational process starts by collecting flowers from temples and cleaning them to remove intertwined plastics, threads, and paper remnants. Afterward, the petals are segregated to produce a fibrous material. Today, this sustainable material finds extensive application in the fashion industry. Fleather is not animal leather, but rather an innovative biomaterial derived entirely from botanical waste.

## Investor Backing and Empowering Women
As investors caught wind of this unique experiment, capital began flowing into the venture. According to reports, the operating revenue of the company has reached 77 crore rupees, with its valuation surging past 20 crore rupees. Back in 2020, investors pumped approximately 2 million dollars into the startup, followed by another 8 million dollars in April 2022. Prominent investors, including actress Alia Bhatt, participated in the Series A funding round at the time. Currently, the enterprise has provided direct employment to 163 women. Records indicate that Phool has successfully collected 13 thousand tons of floral waste to manufacture sustainable materials.

## What this means for you
This innovative venture promotes environmental sustainability and cleanliness while creating new employment opportunities for women at the local level.

- **Environment and Cleanliness:** Diverting floral waste away from rivers curbs water pollution and maintains cleanliness around sacred religious sites.
- **Employment in Kanpur:** The local startup has provided direct jobs to 163 women in Kanpur, uplifting their standard of living.

## Why this happened
The framework for this unique business was conceived after observing massive amounts of floral waste generated by temples and the growing pollution in the Ganges river.

- **River Pollution Issue:** Large numbers of people discarded flowers into the river after rituals, increasing pressure on water bodies.
- **Recycling Waste:** Technical possibilities of separating discarded flower petals to manufacture incense and biomaterials sparked the creation of this business.
- **Extended Research and Success:** Discovering a leather-like fibrous layer during incense production led to two years of rigorous research that successfully developed fleather.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Who founded the Phool startup?
The startup was founded by Ankit Agarwal along with his friend Karan Rastogi.

### 2. What are the primary products made by the company?
The company manufactures incense sticks and a leather alternative called fleather using temple flowers.

### 3. Which international award nominated fleather as a finalist?
In 2022, fleather was featured among the finalists for the prestigious Earthshot Prize in the United Kingdom.

### 4. How many women have been employed by the company?
The Phool enterprise has provided direct employment to 163 women.

### 5. What is the current business turnover of the company?
The overall business valuation and turnover of the startup has crossed 200 crore rupees.

## Inspiration & Lessons
This success proves that waste can be transformed into a profitable enterprise with the right vision and persistent hard work.

- **Turn Problems into Opportunities:** Identify everyday environmental issues or waste and explore ways to convert them into viable products.
- **Patience and Research are Vital:** Bringing any novel innovation to life requires long-term dedication, experimentation, and research.
- **Social and Economic Impact:** A sustainable business model should drive financial growth while positively impacting society and the environment.

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