This Woman Started Her Own Webzine at the Age of 25

​At 25, Mandovi Menon is the Editor of Homegrown, which she co-founded with friends Varun Patra and Varsha Patra. Even if you're relatively new to the Indie scene, you'll know this publication for its unfiltered and thought-provoking view of the world and everything that concerns the youth of the country, from features on anti-Modi campaigns to the best places to devour pork belly. They don't shy away from picking up taboo topics either, like Zana Briski's photos of Kolkata's brothels or Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil's opinion on gay rights. "There are lots of websites that are giving readers viral content. Give them a well-researched, thought-provoking piece, and they will be hooked," Mandovi explains. That should explain Homegrown's 5,00,000 unique visitors—in just under two years since inception!

Homegrown also doubles a creative agency. "We're all about collaborations," Mandovi elaborates, "we focus on bringing young, burgeoning talent to the spotlight by striking the perfect balance between content and campaigns." With brands like Nike, Puma, Levi's and Budweiser already a part of their portfolio, it's pretty clear that brands love how Homegrown echos the voice of this generation...and the cool edge they bring in.