Miten Kakaiya, Fitness Coach and Founder of Miten Says Fitness

Miten Kakaiya, Fitness Coach and Founder of Miten Says Fitness

At Sugermint, our aim is to bring to our entrepreneurs and startups community some of the inspiring and motivational stories from the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

As part of this endeavour, we invited yet another successful entrepreneur Miten Kakaiya, Fitness Coach and Founder of Miten Says Fitness for an exclusive interview with us.

Tell us a little about yourself

Miten Kakaiya: I grew up in Mumbai, before moving to the United Kingdom, where I completed my Master’s with honors in Aerospace Engineering.

After that, I worked for Airbus for a time but realized that this was not something I wanted to pursue for the rest of my life.

So, I went on a journey to find myself. I went through a year of unemployment, struggle, and some false starts. But somewhere along the way, hitting the gym became a part of my life.

I devoted my free time to explore new opportunities and was introduced to the concept of scientific nutrition!

I proceeded to implement everything that I had learned from my intensive research and discussions with knowledgeable experts.

In just 5 months, I achieved what I could not in 5 years of gymming—by controlling my diet & following a suitable workout plan. My motivation and confidence skyrocketed!

I started advising friends & family, which made me realise that helping others improve their fitness is something I’m truly passionate about. Then, in 2017, I founded MSF – Miten Says Fitness and made fitness coaching my profession.

Please tell us a little about your entrepreneurial journey

Miten Kakaiya: I wasn’t always this fit, as a kid, I had huge love handles and was bullied for my shape. Finally, I decided to do something about it and began to approach fitness in a scientific manner, training and eating according to my objectives, fitness level, and lifestyle.

In just a few months, my love handles disappeared, and people began to notice. On the inside, I felt more energised, fitter, fresher, younger, and confident.

I’d discovered the key to success, the key to achieving my full potential. I wanted to share this with others who were going through similar struggles, so I chose to pursue a career in fitness and wellness.

This is how I discovered my love for becoming a Fitness Coach and founded MSF to make fitness simple, inexpensive, and accessible to everyone, anywhere.

What service(s) or product(s) do you offer at Miten Says Fitness?

Miten Kakaiya: At MSF, we offer online coaching programs that include workout and meal plans. We help MSF Members build a lifestyle where exercise and diet are a part of their daily routines, making it easier for them to stay consistent and get amazing results. Each individual is different and requires a tailor-made solution to suit their individual lifestyle/routine.

What is unique about your label brand?

Miten Kakaiya: Every plan is customised according to each person’s expectations and the issues that they are facing. Our meal plans contain tons of tasty to make, delicious recipes which are customised to suit your budget, lifestyle, grocery availability, dislikes, meal timings, and fitness goals.

Our workout plans are prepared keeping in mind your fitness goals, current fitness levels, availability of equipment, daily routine and other restrictions if any.

MSF plans are updated every 14 days based on your progress & feedback. We adapt the right scientific principles to your daily life—so that following a diet and sticking to your workouts is never a struggle!

What made you choose this type of business?

Miten Kakaiya: Looking back at my childhood, I was always keen on getting fitter and better.
By the time I was 22, hitting the gym, gaining muscle and staying healthy had become my primary goals in life.

When I came back to India after studying in the UK, I saw people either neglecting their health or not getting the guidance they need—from an empathetic coach who understands them, and their individual needs.

That is when I decided to help them make a positive change in their lives, and started my own fitness program—MSF!

What was your mission and vision at the outset?

Miten Kakaiya: I aim to help more and more people get fitter and healthier while enjoying the process to the fullest. I want to help people get into their dream shape so that they live happily and with full confidence.

How many employees in your organization?

Miten Kakaiya: We currently deal with a lot of agencies, freelancers, and in-house experts to assist with day to day operations of the business including social media, marketing, customer support, operations, finance, etc.

What’s your company’s goals?

Miten Kakaiya: Our mission is to adapt customized fitness solutions to the daily lifestyles of our customers. With this mission, we aim to see a fitter India as well as transform the lives of the Indian population across the globe; turning them into fitter, more energetic, and confident individuals.

What was the inspiration behind turning an entrepreneur

Miten Kakaiya: We focussed on providing the best support & customised service to our initial customers and then slowly and steadily more people got inspired and started inquiring about our services.

We simply made sure that we kept upgrading our services, technology and support mechanisms to deliver more value to our customers, which led to us transforming the lives of more than 8000+ individuals across the globe.

We have members from both metro cities and small towns in India, as well as in locations such as the USA, UK, Tanzania, Singapore, Canada, UAE, Europe, etc.

What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them?

Miten Kakaiya: A failure is a failure when you accept fate and do nothing to overcome it. For sure, we have faced challenges in the business, especially during the peak pandemic period when the demand was so high that our team was overstretched while ensuring the same level of customisation for each of our customers.

I still remember, we had to put a pause on new memberships for a brief period–simply because we did not want to compromise on the quality of the service we provide and the value that we deliver. Since then, we have been able to leverage technology to help us scale our business better.

Key things to consider before starting a startup

Miten Kakaiya: When I was in the UK, I used to follow a lot of International Athletes and coaches and get inspired by their work ethic, discipline and lifestyle.

Seeing them live the life of their dreams motivates me even today; not just to stay true to my personal fitness journey, but also to ensure that we (MSF) give our very best to our customers.

What are some of the biggest mistakes you’ve made?

Miten Kakaiya: Plenty! Sigh! But if I had to pick one of the biggest learnings, I would say hiring the right talent is key for the growth of any organization.

If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?

Miten Kakaiya: Our mind & your body is your foremost partner in everything. No matter what you do in life or where you go, if your mind & body does not support you, you will not succeed.

Believe in yourself. Put in the hard work. Stay committed and consistent. Success will follow. And that is our mantra at MSF – Believe. Perspire. Persevere.

Apart from that, make sure that you put your customers at the forefront, empathize with them, and deliver value to them. Once you do that, they will take you to places you would have never even imagined!

Your success tips for young and aspiring entrepreneurs

Miten Kakaiya: During the pandemic years, we pledged to donate face masks to the needy for each customer that joins our program.

Website: https://www.mitensaysfitness.com

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