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42-year-old former urban planner chased her dessert-making dreams—her ice cream business brings in $2.8 million a year

Cnbc · · 1068 words · By Tom Huddleston Jr; Tasia Jensen
open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/13/malai-founder-how-i-built-ice-cream-business.htm…

fact_checkFact-Check Results

19 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

schedule Pending 9
check_circle Corroborated 3
info Single Source 3
verified Verified By Reference 2
help Insufficient Evidence 2
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“Bavishi, 42, is the founder and CEO of Brooklyn, New York-based ice cream company Malai, which she founded in 2015.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web sources confirm Pooja Bavishi is the Founder and CEO of Malai, a Brooklyn-based ice cream company. While the specific age (42) is not explicitly listed in the snippets, the role and company location are corroborated across three different sources.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — OUR FOUNDER & CEO. Pooja Bavishi.Over the years she has helped to define the Malai photography aesthetic and identity. Morgan has over 10 years of experience working with food, travel, interior, and l…
https://www.malai.co/our-story
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Meet Pooja Bavishi, Founder and CEO of Malai, a trailblazer who is sure to pique your interest and... your sweet tooth. Malai is an artisanal ice cream company, with flavors inspired by the nostalgic,…
https://www.southasiantrailblazers.com/podcast/poojabavishi
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Pooja Bavish. Location: Brooklyn, NY. Pooja Bavishi is the founder and CEO of Malai, an acclaimed New York–based ice cream company specializing in innovative flavors infused with traditional South Asi…
https://www.foodandwine.com/pooja-bavishi-11743132
verified
“The business — which operates four brick-and-mortar locations across New York, Philadelphia and Washington D.C., plus a growing wholesale and e-commerce business”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of generic definitions of 'brick and mortar' and unrelated Wikipedia entries about Thailand and Michelin guides. There is no specific evidence provided to confirm the number or locations of Malai's shops.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — As of the 2025 editions of Michelin Guides covering regions in the United States, a total of 434 restaurants were awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition. The Michelin Guides have been published b…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Michelin_Bib_Gourmand_…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The History of Thailand begins with the earliest Bronze and Iron Age sites such as Ban Chiang around 1500 BCE. The region of present-day Thailand was inhabited by indigenous Austroasiatic-speaking gro…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Thailand
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of all Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives episodes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Diners,_Drive-Ins_and_…
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“The company brought in $2.8 million in total sales in 2025, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The claim is supported by a single cross-reference to CNBC Make It. Other search results for 'Malai' refer to buffalo milk, a different restaurant in Dallas, or a Tamil film, providing no corroboration for the $2.8 million sales figure.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Makhan Malai (Hindi: मक्खन मलाई) or Malai Makkhan also called Malaiyo Hindi pronunciation: [mʌləɪʎɔː] or Nimish is a sweet snack made from milk cream during the winters. This dessert is prepared in ma…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makhan_malai
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Malai Malai is a 2009 Indian Tamil-language masala film written and directed by A. Venkatesh. The film stars Arun Vijay, Prabhu, Vedhika, and Kasthuri in lead roles, while Prakash Raj, Santhanam, Ganj…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malai_Malai
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai (transl. Seven Seas Seven Hills) is a 2024 Indian Tamil-language romantic psychological thriller film written and directed by Ram and produced by Suresh Kamatchi under V House …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yezhu_Kadal_Yezhu_Malai
+ 4 more evidence sources
verified
“Malai, which was profitable in 2024 and 2025, opened its fourth location, a shop in Manhattan's West Village, on Saturday.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The provided evidence contains unrelated information about the Fortune 500, print-on-demand guides, and butter chicken. No evidence supports the profitability of Malai or the opening of a West Village location.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — As of the 2025 editions of Michelin Guides covering regions in the United States, a total of 434 restaurants were awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition. The Michelin Guides have been published b…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Michelin_Bib_Gourmand_…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Butter chicken or murgh makhani is a curry made from chicken cooked in a spiced tomato and butter-based (makhani) gravy. The gravy is known for its creamy, rich texture. It is similar to chicken tikka…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butter_chicken
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of all Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives episodes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Diners,_Drive-Ins_and_…
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“Bavishi has a degree in urban planning from The London School of Economics”
CORROBORATED
Three independent web sources explicitly state that Pooja Bavishi holds an M.S. in Urban Planning from the London School of Economics.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — She holds a BA in Public Policy and Cultural Studies from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an MS in Urban Planning from the London School of Economics, and an MBA from New York Univers…
https://www.thekitchn.com/authors/pooja-bavishi
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Meet Pooja Bavishi, Founder and CEO of Malai, a trailblazer who is sure to pique your interest and... your sweet tooth.She holds a B.A. from UNC Chapel Hill, an M.S. from the London School of Economic…
https://www.southasiantrailblazers.com/podcast/poojabavishi
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — "I have had a pretty non-linear journey, though," she says, explaining how she completed an M.S from London School of Economics, an MBA from NYU and spent time working in urban planning before she cou…
https://www.indiafoodnetwork.in/foodstory/trends/why-new-yor…
info
“previously worked as a civil rights project coordinator for the Equal Rights Center, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit.”
SINGLE SOURCE
One source (NRI Today) mentions her career in civil rights and urban planning. Other sources mention her education and CEO role but do not specifically detail the 'civil rights project coordinator' role at the Equal Rights Center.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Before founding Malai, Pooja Bavishi built a career in urban planning and civil rights—fields far removed from the culinary world. Yet, her entrepreneurial spirit and deep-rooted passion for food coul…
https://nri.today/pooja-bavishi/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Meet Pooja Bavishi, Founder and CEO of Malai, a trailblazer who is sure to pique your interest and... your sweet tooth. Malai is an artisanal ice cream company, with flavors inspired by the nostalgic,…
https://www.southasiantrailblazers.com/podcast/poojabavishi
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Pooja Bavishi is the Founder and CEO of Malai, an acclaimed ice cream company that… · Experience: Malai · Education: New York University - Leonard N. Stern School of Business · Location: New York · 50…
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pooja-bavishi-malai
check_circle
“she was working toward an MBA at New York University”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm she holds an MBA from New York University (NYU).
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Puja (Sanskrit: पूजा, romanized: pūjā) is a worship ritual performed by Hindus to offer devotional homage and prayer to one or more deities, to host and honour a guest, or to spiritually celebrate an …
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puja_(Hinduism)
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Aug 31, 2024 · Discover the meaning and importance of pooja, a sacred Hindu ritual that involves offering prayers and gifts to the divine. Explore the different types of pooja, including daily prayers…
https://yogadura.com/what-is-a-pooja/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Feb 28, 2026 · Pooja is a ritual worship involving offerings and prayers to deities, particularly to Ranganatha during Tondaradippodi's era, emphasizing its significance in honoring gods through cerem…
https://www.wisdomlib.org/concept/pooja
info
“When Bavishi officially launched Malai in the summer of 2015”
SINGLE SOURCE
While one source mentions Malai being on the menu 'this summer' and another mentions a book by the founder, there is no specific corroboration across multiple sources that the official launch occurred specifically in the summer of 2015.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — MALAI | Official Trailer | Ullu Original | Coming Soon | Shyna Khatri | Full Of Fantasy |Credit: Ullu App Official Channel Thankyou for your Love And Support...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcHBDouwZ_E
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Malai by Pooja Bavishi - A celebration of South Asian flavors by Pooja Bavishi, the founder of acclaimed Malai ice cream. Learn to create frozen desserts at ...
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Malai/Pooja-Bavishi/9…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Malai was the perfect respite as the heat index reached 99 by mid-afternoon on a cloudless, humid Friday last month—also coincidentally deemed National Ice Cream Month among other observations.
https://www.star-revue.com/malai-ice-cream-is-on-the-menu-th…
help
“One intrigued customer turned out to be a food writer for The New York Times, which led to Malai's first major press mention in an August 2015 article.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results to corroborate the New York Times mention in August 2015.
help
“She used "a very small amount" of funding from a "friends and family" investment round in 2017”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results regarding a 'friends and family' investment round in 2017.
schedule
“Opening and stocking Malai's brick-and-mortar shop in Brooklyn's Carroll Gardens neighborhood required Bavishi to take on roughly $200,000 in credit card debt”
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“As of 2026, "about 80%" of Malai's revenue comes from its brick-and-mortar locations”
PENDING
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“Bavishi raised additional capital, including a seed fundraising round in 2023 and a bridge round in 2025.”
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“The company has raised $1.8 million in total outside funding”
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“She remains the company's majority owner”
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“The company reached profitability by 2024”
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“That same year, the company's wholesale and e-commerce businesses — which include selling to grocery stores and through online retailers like Goldbelly — nearly doubled in revenue”
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“a global ice cream market that's valued at roughly $160 billion annually as of February, according to Morningstar.”
PENDING
schedule
“Jeni's brought in more than $125 million in annual revenue as of 2023, according to Fortune magazine.”
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info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.