Sai Kiran Dhami | The Entrepreneurs of India Magazine

Sai Kiran Dhami spent over two decades inside large corporate systems, rising steadily until he reached the C level. The role came with scale, authority, and long years of structure, yet something felt unfinished. He carried a constant urge to build something personal, something that did not end at a designation. That restlessness stayed even after becoming a COO. Business ownership felt like the next honest step, a place where limits were self defined. That spark turned into Bubbling River Private Limited, a beverage company rooted in packaged drinking water in India. The name Bubbling River came from a simple line of thought. Dhami wanted the brand to speak without explanation. Water had to feel pure, clean, and safe, not only as a product but as a daily habit. Bubbling River stood for hygiene, health, and a quiet sense of freshness. It also carried energy, the same spark that pushed him out of corporate life. “Our purpose is to provide pure, clean, and healthy water to everyone,” he says, keeping the idea direct and unpolished.

Years spent managing billion dollar infrastructure projects shaped how he runs the company. Team remains central. He believes a responsible group with shared intent can carry a business through pressure. Planning and execution matter deeply to him, watched closely, reviewed daily, and treated with seriousness. Customer centric thinking stays close to the ground. Quality has no shortcuts in his view, and customer pain points guide decisions more than spreadsheets ever could. These lessons moved easily from construction and power into beverages.

Shifting industries did not trouble him much. His career already crossed oil and gas, telecom, consultancy, and power. The real test came from stepping out of service life into ownership. Family concerns, financial pressure, and resistance from outside voices appeared early. He speaks openly about absorbing setbacks patiently, learning to live with uncertainty, and staying consistent even when progress felt slow. Bubbling River operates across B2B and B2C segments. In B2B, the company manufactures packaged drinking water for national level brands and manages long term supply relationships. Many early clients still work with the firm and have expanded volumes over time.

Customer delight scores remain strong. In B2C, the company launched its own bottled water brand VALORA in Aug’2025, beginning in the Delhi NCR market. Sales crossed targets month after month. New additions like VALORA Soda and VALORA Premium Alkaline Water are already in motion.

VALORA stands out through design, product quality, and service reliability. Packaging feels distinct. Water quality matches the core belief of the company. Delivery timelines receive close attention, reducing delays that often frustrate buyers. These details help VALORA compete in a crowded packaged drinking water market without shouting for attention.

Automation plays a strong role inside the plant. Fully automated lines reduce human touch and lower chances of error. Software tools assist warehousing, finance, sales, and HR. Dhami believes quality does not raise cost. He feels poor quality creates leakage, while disciplined work flow keeps prices affordable even for cost sensitive customers. Government support through the Standup India program and collateral free funding under CGTMSE helped the company grow during its early phase. Recognition as Entrepreneur of the Year in the small business category brought personal reassurance. “It means a lot and tells me I am on the right path,”

He says, Startups demand full attention, long nights, and emotional stamina. Problems appear only after the journey begins. Ten years from now, when people see the VALORA logo, Dhami wants one word to surface. Trust.