Madhu Menon - Geek Blogger Turns Into a Chef

Madhu Menon is 31 years old, a computer science graduate and quit his 7 year old IT career to launch Shiok, a Far-Eastern Cuisine restaurant in Bangalore. Madhu has been a blogger for more than 7 years and he also did the India Uncut site of Amit Varma, the most well known figure in the Indian Blogging circle.

Outlook magazine writes about the challenges faced by food-entrepreneur Madhu:

But the computer science graduate was also aware that the lack of professional training could be a huge handicap. “There was no way I could acquire the skills and knowledge required to run a restaurant in a short time. I think one of the best decisions I made was to hire an experienced and knowledgeable manager. After all, a good businessman must also be able to hire smart people.”

Menon’s timing was important as well. He launched while he was in his 20s, knowing that he would be able to take and bear higher risks at that point than at any later stage in life. “Though we never borrowed money from banks, we had a Rs 500,000 overdraft facility that we used frequently in the initial year-and-a-half,” says the geek-turned-chef. “Now I’m about a year away from breaking even.” Link.