Akriti Agarwal

Meet Akriti Agarwal, C.E.O., Thirsty Beers and Thirsty City127, a young, vibrantly enthusiastic, woman entrepreneur who is fearlessly and boldly charting her own success story. Agarwal has always dared to be different, an Economics and Math graduate with a MBA in International Marketing & HR, she plunged headlong into hospitality with no formal training in the business – first venturing into PR, then into creating brand campaigns for a digital platform and now is the driving force, along with Vir Kotak {Founder & Director}, of Thirsty Enterprises and BLiquid Trading Pvt. Ltd.

Vir Kotak has founded and funded the beverage and lifestyle company while Akriti Agarwal is the business head {CEO} and also controls brand vision and strategy along with Vir.

Akriti, is among the new generation of women from across the world who overcome challenges, work hard, have faith in their abilities and pursue their passion relentlessly to achieve the success they so undoubtedly deserve.

Vir Kotak

Vir Kotak is the quintessential “Renaissance Man” – multifaceted, dynamic and entrepreneurial. A man not confined by geographical borders Vir Kotak traverses between homes in both Singapore & Delhi and has extended his reach to the idyllic Andaman & Nicobar Islands where he is creating an exclusive luxury experiential resort and dive centre.

A far cry from luxury hospitality was his creation and implementation of Delhi’s international Cargo Terminal (DICT) at Sonepat, the largest private multi-modal inland port, servicing an annual volume of 150,000 TEUs/annum.The success of DICT followed his extensive experience in the business, having been the Managing Director of Visakha Container Terminal (VCT) at Visakhapatnam. He also has undeniable leadership skills in team building and in raising funds (Rs.2000 Crore $300 ml for VCT). His expertise at fund raising was evident also when he raised over Rs.2100 Crores/ $300 mln of Equity and Debt for the J.M.Baxi Group between 2003 and 2018. Kotak’s other successes include the setting up of terminals, freight stations and cold storage units at Sonepat, Kandla, JNPT, Paradip and Visakhapatnam.

Not one to limit his scope, Vir has successfully ventured into Paper and Polymer Logistics, Be Real Adventures, a multi-disciplinary, multi-company Lifestyle platform setting out on daring adventuresto create, to expand, to challenge, to live and to be. Bliq a company that imports and distributes beer and most recently he spearheaded the creation of Thirsty Beers a young taste-forward craft beer brand, burning the midnight oil and keeping the lights on in the brewery, researching and studying, experimenting and innovating.

Vir’s interests and creativity is not confine to his business ventures alone, an artist, art aficionado and collector he has held multiple solo and group showings of sculpture, photography and drawings in Mumbai and Delhi. ‘The Collection at No. 8 showcases works across all media genres. His acknowledged expertise has had him address the India Art Fair, and Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Course. 

An altruistic and philanthropic man Vir has consistently contributed toward society, the less privileged and the environment.  He led the restoration of a 115 year old lighthouse in Visakhapatnam, was deeply involved with a project to upgrade infrastructure of a public school and played an active role in creating programs for on ocean conservation, beach clean-up, reef regeneration and environment policy advocacy under the Vidya Bhagwan Kotak Foundation.