9 Years in Australia to Booming Indian Startup: Skippi Ice Pops Founder's Journey
Ravi Kabra spent 10 years in his father's FMCG business, then 7 years in Australia enjoying work-life balance. His father's cancer diagnosis brought him back in just 5 weeks. He founded Skippi Ice Pops, which was featured on Shark Tank India in December 2021.
9 Years in Australia to Booming Indian Startup: Skippi Ice Pops Founder's Journey
Ravi Kabra's journey from Hyderabad family business to Sydney corporate life to founding one of India's most recognized ice popsicle brands—and how his father's illness became the catalyst for entrepreneurial success.
Key Insights from This Story
- 10 years in father's FMCG business in India
- 7 years in Australia (2014-2020) in corporate job
- 5 weeks to pack and return when father diagnosed with cancer
- Skippi Ice Pops founded after return
- Shark Tank India feature in December 2021
- India's ecosystem transformed—GST, infrastructure, opportunities
Ravi's Background
Ravi Kabra was born and brought up in Hyderabad, India. His journey spans three distinct phases.
Career Timeline
| Period | Location | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 10 years | Hyderabad, India | Father's FMCG food & beverage business |
| 2014-2020 (7 years) | Sydney, Australia | Corporate job in FNB industry |
| 2020-Present | Hyderabad, India | Founder, Skippi Ice Pops |
Why Australia?
- Wanted a change in life after 10 years in family business
- Seeking better lifestyle and learning curve
- Explored Dubai and Australia—settled on Australia
- Wanted to understand how bigger companies build brands
- Family business had limitations on learning capacity
Life in Australia
Ravi's 7 years in Australia were transformative—both personally and professionally.
What He Loved About Australia
- Work-life balance: 9-5, Monday to Friday—no employer pressures you
- Family first: Family, safety, and life always come before work
- Basic amenities: No daily challenges like in India
- Time with family: Watched kids grow (son was 1 when they arrived, 8 when they left)
- Less stress: No pressure of being an entrepreneur
The Dream House
Just over a year before returning, Ravi and his wife built their dream house in Sydney:
- First house built by them (not inherited)
- Every furniture and fixture chosen together
- Wife made all interior decisions
- Great dreams and ambitions for the home
Career Philosophy
Ravi developed a clear philosophy about work:
The Painful Return
The return to India was unplanned and emotionally devastating.
⚠️ The Trigger
Ravi's father was diagnosed with cancer.
Initial plan was to bring parents to Australia—they were even looking at business opportunities for his father there.
But after the diagnosis:
The 5-Week Exit
The decision was made one morning. Within 5 weeks:
- Sold all furniture
- Took pictures of the house
- Packed everything
- By February 2020, they were back in India
The Emotional Toll
Selling the first piece of furniture—a cupboard from the dining area:
They had to sacrifice it for a bigger cause.
Note: They didn't sell the house—it's still there as an option if they ever want to return.
The Timeline
- February 2020: Returned to India
- March 2020: COVID struck—one-year break
- Mid-2021: Father passed away after fighting cancer for over a year
Despite the painful outcome, Ravi was grateful they could be with his father during his final year.
Kids' Adjustment
Ravi's children adapted surprisingly well to India.
The Kids' Ages
- Son: About 1 year old when they went to Australia, ~8 when they returned
- Daughter: About 6 years old when they went, ~13-14 when they returned
Why They Adjusted Well
- Not too late for them to adapt—right age window
- Flexible and hands-on at that age
- Ravi is a "pure desi"—mixed with culture quickly
- Only 7 years abroad (not 3-4 decades)
Key insight: "If my kids had found it difficult, it might have been very difficult for us to continue in India. But thankfully that was not the case."
School Selection
Finding the right school was priority #1:
- Australian education system is very different
- State syllabus or CBSE wouldn't work
- Chose international syllabus
- Otherwise kids would struggle and stress would fall on parents
Entrepreneur Journey
Ravi was clear: he would never work for another employer in India.
The Mindset
All the knowledge gained in 7 years working with FNB giants in Australia—it was time to put those skills to test.
The Skippi Ice Pops Idea
Ravi noticed ice popsicles were popular in Australia, US, and UK—but found nothing in India.
The research method:
- Called 7-8 friends across different parts of India
- Asked them to check stores for ice popsicle brands
- Had to follow up multiple times (friends were lazy!)
- Result: No brands found anywhere
The logic: India has 140 crore population, hot and humid climate—this should work!
Shark Tank India Success
- Launched Skippi Ice Pops
- Featured on Shark Tank India on Sony TV
- Telecast: December 2021
- Both Ravi and wife Anuja are co-founders
- Brand became very popular after the telecast
- People started recognizing them in the ecosystem
How India Has Transformed
Ravi has done business in India before (10 years) and now—the difference is massive.
Before (Pre-2014)
- Taxation nightmare: C form, H form, sales tax, VAT—confusing and lethargic
- Red carpet issues: Lots of compliance challenges
- Poor roadways: Shipping from point A to B was challenging
- Less technology
- Difficult to expand or focus on business growth
Now (Post-2020)
- GST: "Plain Manila"—simple and straightforward
- Infrastructure: Great roadways developed
- Technology: Many more IT job opportunities
- Work culture: Adapting to international standards
- Work-life balance: Maybe not equal, but approaching equality
Why India is the Place to Be
- 140 crore population—larger than entire European nations
- No need to look for markets outside India
- Every corner has a challenge = business opportunity
- People who start now will be more successful than those who come 5-10 years later
- Developed countries look "perfect"—hard to find opportunities there
Market Research Tips
Ravi shares practical advice for NRIs considering entrepreneurship in India.
Use Your Network
Call 7-8 friends across different parts of India. Ask them to check stores, talk to vendors. It's free research—just requires follow-up!
Hire Industry Consultants
There are many industry experts who can give you market overview. They're not very expensive. Get their perspective before committing.
Visit During Holidays
When traveling to India, meet vendors and manufacturers. Gauge the requirement and demand in the market firsthand.
Company Setup is Easy
India has evolved ecosystem of good Company Secretaries and Chartered Accountants. They do all groundwork and paperwork—you just sign and your company is running.
The Gut Feeling Factor
Ravi admits there's risk involved:
What Ravi Misses and Dislikes
What He Misses About Australia
- Stress-free life: Physical stress (cleaning, groceries) vs mental stress in India
- Clean air: Australia is less populated, fresh air was enjoyable
- Monday to Friday: Two days off every week was treasured
Physical vs Mental Stress
Ravi makes an important distinction:
What He Doesn't Like About India
- Pollution
- Traffic: "I hate driving in India—no pleasure driving bumper to bumper"
- "Chalta hai" attitude: People take things for granted, don't keep commitments
Current Work Reality
As an entrepreneur in India:
- Working 7 days a week without break
- Adding to stress levels
- Very different from the 9-5 Australia life
Advice for NRIs
The Lifestyle Opportunity
If you have basic revenue (employee or employer), India provides a healthy, happy lifestyle:
- Gated communities with swimming pools, badminton, great amenities
- Cost of living still competitive vs other countries
- Swiggy, Zomato: Food and groceries in 5 minutes
- No wasting time at grocery stores
- Can be employer or employee—both work
Investment Perspective
India is great for investment too:
- India is growing rapidly
- Better place to grow your money
- Invest in apartment, live for a few years
- If you don't like it, you can go back
- Keep your passports ready—India allows people to leave freely
The "Test Before Commit" Approach
Ravi suggests:
- Visit India for longer during holidays
- Try to live as a resident, not visitor
- Take furnished apartments
- Get a feel for the lifestyle
- Then make your decision
Key Takeaways
Ravi's Journey Summary
- 10 years family business taught him FMCG fundamentals
- 7 years Australia taught him how big brands are built
- Father's illness brought him back—painful but purposeful
- 5 weeks to pack entire life and return
- Skippi Ice Pops born from market gap observation
- Shark Tank India gave national recognition
- India transformed: GST, infrastructure, opportunities
- Next 5-10 years is all about India
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Social Life Comparison
Ravi is a social person who loves meeting people—here's how Australia and India compare.
Australia: Initial Loneliness
India: Quick Adjustment
The Emotional Connection Difference
Key insight about friendships: