Meeta Sharma Gupta completed her BTech from IIT Delhi and later pursued a PhD at Harvard University, building a strong foundation in engineering and research. After her academic journey, she worked with IBM, gaining global corporate experience. During this phase, she frequently travelled between India and the United States for professional assignments, strengthening her international exposure in technology and engineering.

Let’s take a closer look at her journey to understand how it led her to become an entrepreneur. 

Return to India and Parenting Experience

In 2012, Meeta returned from the United States to Delhi, choosing to be closer to her family. At the time, she was raising young children. As a parent, she looked for toys that were safe and could support cognitive development, similar to those her older child had used while growing up abroad. 

Identifying a Gap in the Toy Market

While searching for toys in India, she found limited options that were both safe and development-focused. Many products were made of plastic, and some included small parts unsuitable for infants and toddlers. To meet her needs, she began bringing toys from abroad during her work trips, which made the gap in availability more evident. 

Founding the Venture

This experience led her to explore creating better alternatives in India. Without formal training in toy design, she set out to build a brand focused on safety, learning, and affordability. In 2016, she founded a company dedicated to developing toys that support children’s cognitive and motor skill development through play.

Sustainable Materials and Child Safety

The company designs age-appropriate toys using sustainable materials, such as neem wood, mango wood, and birch plywood. Products for babies include neem wood rattles with cloth-based colours that can also function as teethers. For toddlers, neem wood push walkers support motor skill development, while larger items like rocking horses use durable birch plywood. All products are finished with certified non-toxic paints to ensure safety.

Educational Toys and Story-Based Learning

One of the key products is the 5-in-1 Activity Triangle, designed to teach counting, colour recognition, letter identification, time recognition, and fine motor skills. It also includes a blackboard for drawing and writing activities.

The company also creates story-based games inspired by traditional tales. One example is a game based on the Jataka tale of the thirsty crow, where children use wooden crows and beads to represent water and engage with the story through physical play.

Safety Standards and Quality Testing

The materials used meet American, European, and Indian safety standards. The company also operates an in-house testing facility that checks for safety parameters such as choking hazards and tensile strength.

Manufacturing and Artisan Network

The company collaborates with more than 100 artisans across India through various craft clusters. Its products are sold in India, the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore, with over 8,000 monthly orders. 

Parenting Community and Learning Platform

Beyond products, the company has built a parenting-focused platform that shares blogs, articles, and sessions on child development and play-based learning. It also promotes screen-free activities and encourages parents to engage more actively with children through play.

Conclusion

Meeta Sharma Gupta transformed a personal parenting challenge into a mission to support early childhood learning, educational play, and sustainable toy design. Her journey highlights the importance of safe materials, creativity, and hands-on learning in child development.

The post From Engineering Career and IBM Experience to Building a Sustainable Toy Company, The Inspiring Journey of Meeta Sharma Gupta appeared first on Travel Blog | Travel Inspiration, Tips and News | Travel Diary.