In a heartwarming endeavor to make a meaningful impact on the lives of street children, 17-year-old student entrepreneur Vir Thapar has launched the “Mitra Energy Bar” under his company, Incredible Ideas Pvt. Ltd.
While navigating the bustling urban streets of Pune, Vir Thapar couldn’t help but be moved by the acts of kindness exhibited by compassionate souls at traffic signals. These individuals, in a display of humanity, often extended their generosity by offering money, biscuits, and sometimes even their meals to the street children. However, Vir’s deepening awareness of the critical role of nutrition in these children’s lives sparked a compelling idea – a vision to provide nourishment in a sustainable and impactful way.
He realized that while these well-intentioned gestures were touching, they often fell short of meeting the vital nutritional needs of these young souls. It was from this realization that Vir embarked on a mission to create an energy bar that was both nutritious and delectable for anyone to consume. Moreover, he priced the product affordably, enabling people to carry it with them to share with those in need.
The journey began with intensive research on various ingredients, meetings with manufacturers, and numerous taste tests. After meticulous efforts, Vir introduced the Mitra Bar to the world. Each Mitra Bar is a product of painstaking craftsmanship, combining the goodness of almonds, the wholesomeness of foxtail, and the natural sweetness of dates. Vir conducted extensive sampling, and the feedback from friends and other respondents was unanimous – the bars were not only nutritious but also delicious.
In this entrepreneurial venture, Vir oversees research and development, manufacturing, market research, and business development. He is joined by Anaya, who leads sales and marketing efforts for the venture. The dynamic duo maintains a highly engaging Instagram channel, while offline, they collaborate with schools, clubs, gyms, and offices to distribute their product directly or through vending machines.
Vir passionately expressed, “An estimated 18 million children live on the streets in India, and with our energy bar, we aspire to make a small but impactful difference in their lives. Beyond merely providing a nutritious bar to these children, we have pledged to donate 50% of our profits to Door Step School, an NGO dedicated to providing education to street children.”
Whether you purchase a Mitra Bar for yourself or share it with someone in need, rest assured that your delectable snack is also a catalyst for positive change in the lives of those less fortunate.
At just 17 years old, Vir Thapar, currently pursuing his DP at Mahindra International School in Pune, is a passionate advocate for entrepreneurship. He recently completed a summer course on Entrepreneurship at the University of Southern California (USC) and launched his energy bar business with a mission to create lasting impact.
