The Entrepreneurial Mindset: A Conversation with Teja Chekuri, Founder of Full Stack Ventures

An interview with Teja Chekuri, founder of Full Stack Ventures and a global entrepreneur

In this insightful interview, we speak with Teja Chekuri, the visionary founder of Full Stack Ventures and a prominent global entrepreneur.

With a wealth of experience in building successful startups, Teja shares his journey, innovative strategies, and the driving forces behind his ventures.

His unique perspective on entrepreneurship offers valuable lessons for aspiring business leaders navigating today’s dynamic landscape.

Can you share your journey from technology entrepreneurship to the F&B industry? What motivated this transition?

Teja Chekuri: My entrepreneurial journey has constantly been fuelled by the drive for innovation and my commitment towards crafting meaningful consumer experiences.

This evolution has been organic and deliberate that happened over a period. While my foundation in engineering and corporate leadership provided valuable strategic frameworks, my passion has always been fine culinary experiences.

The transition into F&B emerged organically from recognizing significant market opportunities that aligned with my personal passions.

With Ironhill, I identified a transformative moment in India’s beverage landscape—a growing appreciation for craft and authenticity that wasn’t being adequately addressed.

This venture became my vehicle for introducing sophisticated craft beer culture to the Indian consumer, essentially democratizing an experience previously limited to international markets and accessible to global travellers only.

While this was the initial thought, I turned this strategy upside down by launching first in Tier 2 & Tier 3 towns of India.

The love and success we tasted quickly moved us up to Tier 1 cities like Bangalore and we are now exploring other cities across the country for the same.

Similarly, the Godavari Group emerged from recognizing that South Indian cuisine, despite its rich heritage, remained underrepresented in the broader culinary conversation. I saw potential to elevate these traditions while making them accessible to contemporary diners.

Add to this my love for traditional recipes from generational Telugu cuisines found a home in these ventures.

Across Godavari, UTK, Ishtaa and some smart additions to Ironhill, has ensured that Telugu cuisine finds a place in the menu. What’s fascinating is how my technology background accelerated our success in F&B.

The systematic approach to scaling, data-driven decision making, and innovation mindset transferred seamlessly across industries.

Both sectors ultimately revolve around solving consumer problems and creating memorable experiences—the medium simply changed from digital interfaces to sensory ones.

This cross-industry perspective has proven invaluable, allowing my team and myself to bring technological efficiency to traditional F&B operations while maintaining the authenticity that defines our culinary philosophy.

You’ve taken significant risks, such as the $18M acquisition of Dunkin’ franchises. What factors do you consider when evaluating a potential investment or acquisition?

Teja Chekuri: As a business, we continuously evolve with changing consumer preferences to maintain a competitive edge. Strategic investments are an essential part of it.

These investments are based on three key aspects—scalability, market demand, and long-term growth potential.

But beyond just numbers and projections, I look for something deeper. Does the business have an existing market edge?

Does it have a strong foundation that can support sustainable expansion? Most importantly, who’s driving it forward?

These questions have been the foundations rather the deciding factors behind my business decisions and over the years, I’ve learned that a great idea is only as strong as the people behind it.

Another factor is a committed, visionary team that can turn challenges into opportunities and ideas into successful ventures.

That’s why I place a lot of emphasis on the leadership—passion, resilience, and the ability to execute matter just as much as the business model.

At the end of the day, investing isn’t just about financial returns; it’s about backing something I truly believe in and helping it grow into its full potential.

Innovation is key in any industry. How do you foster a culture of innovation within your restaurant chains and breweries?

Teja Chekuri: Smart innovation evolves with consumer preferences while maintaining brand identity. At Ironhill, we continuously experiment with craft beer styles, premium ingredients, and immersive customer experiences, where every customer of ours is privy to the craft beer we create and appreciates the magic behind the craft beer sharing a common love for it.

For Godavari Group, the focus is on preserving authentic South Indian flavors while enhancing presentation and introducing modern techniques the reason being, every experience at the Godavari group should uphold the authenticity of the South Indian Flavours for which every chef of ours is trained for the same, making sure that the soul of authentic South India is imbibed in the dishes.

Encouraging teams to explore creative ideas, staying updated with industry trends, and embracing customer feedback are integral to fostering innovation.

With a diverse portfolio under Full Stack Ventures that includes Ironhill India and the Godavari Group, how do you manage brand identity and customer experience across different markets?

Teja Chekuri: Each brand has a distinct identity and maintaining that essence while adapting to different markets is where the game lies.

Overseeing different restaurants in multiple countries, in multiple formats across multiple cuisines has given me the opportunity to serve diverse audiences and capitalize on unique market opportunities.

Ironhill India is known for its premium craft beer and experiential ambience, whereas Godavari Group is committed to providing an authentic South Indian dining experience.

We create consistency through excellent brand guidelines, detailed staff induction and training, and quality control mechanisms but also adjust to local nuances.

The experience has made me realise that adapting to different business environments, poses its own challenges but it further helped me improve my cross-cultural communication process and team management skills.

Through all of these, the consistent badge of brand identity that we maintain is our corporate culture which includes inclusive work policies, international quality standards for the F&B served, SOPs that hold the staff to a higher standard and customer centric design and attitude.   

As an active investor in food tech and FMCG startups, what qualities do you look for in a startup before deciding to invest?

Teja Chekuri: The most important factor is whether the startup is solving a real market problem. Though scalability, operational efficiency, and brand differentiation are also crucial in determining long-term viability.

The above factors are decided based on how efficient every arm of the startup functions, how aware are the employees about the brand and how the brand voice is communicated in every action that is performed be it in operational efficiency or the scope to scale a venture which requires promise in every action.

Additionally, a strong and passionate founding team that understands both business operations and consumer expectations is essential for sustainable growth.

Your ventures celebrate traditional Indian cuisine. How do you balance authenticity with innovation in your culinary offerings?

Teja Chekuri: The cooking from my homeland — the deep, rich and delicious palate of Telugu cuisine — has always been something I respected and admired deeply. It’s personal, important, and preserving it has always been a passion of mine.

In an age where so many are tracing their cultural roots through food, there’s an opportunity to showcase Telugu cuisine in an authentic yet modern manner through our portfolio of brands.

To me, this is an underappreciated cuisine that hasn’t been explored enough and should be recognized for the nuances it brings.

What sets us apart is our relentless focus on authenticity. At our Indian outlets, we procure all spices directly from the native regions of Andhra Pradesh — an intentional decision that ensures each dish evokes the authentic flavor of the locality.

This is what, I believe, defines the Godavari experience: traditional flavours, thoughtfully elevated and put together with authentic recipes that are true to its roots.

At the Godavari Group, we remain rooted in classic South Indian recipes, while introducing dishes like Bamma Gari Rasam and Ganguly Gobi Vepudu — both nostalgic and novel. We also try and keep the presentation traditional adding a touch of nostalgia to the dish.

At Ironhill, while craft beer is at the core, we explore seasonal infusions, experiment with inventive pairings, and Telugu-inspired surprises like Mamsam vepudu, Gongura Chicken Roast, Ulavacharu Chicken biryani — each crafted to create a memorable and evolving experience for our patrons.

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to enter the F&B industry?

Teja Chekuri: Every outlet no matter which part of the Food & Beverage industry makes sure that every customer leaves the outlet with a full stomach and a grin on their face.

It’s that experience that creates a lasting brand identity. It’s not only about serving a dish — it’s about creating a memory in the mind of the customer.

Equally crucial is the capacity to adapt. They must to be able to be open to new ideas in the F&B space — be it new menu trends, theme nights, beverage trends or experiential dining.

In this dynamic landscape, adaptability and customer-centricity will be the cornerstones of sustainable success.

Teja Chekuri’s insights illuminate the path to entrepreneurial success, emphasizing resilience, adaptability, and a global mindset.

His journey with Full Stack Ventures serves as an inspiration for future innovators, encouraging them to embrace challenges and pursue their visions with passion and purpose.

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