From lockdown startup to multi-million pound brand: WBS alum Shreya Mittal on building CAVA

BSc alum Shreya Mittal co-founded CAVA, a premium Indian athleisure brand, while still a student at WBS. Recently named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list, she shares how her degree shaped the business and what’s next.

Shreya and her sister Ria spotted a gap in the Indian market for premium athleisure and loungewear, launching their brand CAVA in 2020 amid the COVID-19 lockdowns. Built around comfort, durability and their own ADPT™ fabric blend, CAVA targets Gen Z and millennial customers with style-first apparel designed to move with them. The brand has gone on to raise $4.5 million in a Series A round led by Sharrp Ventures in January 2026, following a $1.14 million seed round in 2024.

We spoke to Shreya about starting a business mid-lockdown, what she learned at WBS, and where CAVA is headed next.

What challenges or opportunities did you face setting up a business in lockdown?

“Starting CAVA in August 2020 meant navigating disrupted supply chains and manufacturers operating at minimal capacity. But our family background in garment manufacturing and exports gave us factory access, vendor relationships, and industry knowledge from day one, turning a potential barrier into a head start. The other tailwind was cultural: lockdown pushed an entire generation toward health and wellness, and athleisure was one of the few industries genuinely booming. We leaned into social media early, which gave us strong traction on Instagram without needing a physical retail presence. The timing, though daunting, turned out to be exactly right.”

How did you identify the gap in the market?

“The Indian athleisure market had two extremes — legacy international brands that were premium but unaffordable for young professionals, and budget options that were purely functional with no style or aspiration. Nothing existed for the fashion-conscious, health-aware young Indian consumer. CAVA was built to sit in that gap: genuinely fashionable, feeling premium, but actually accessible.”

What role does sustainability play in shaping CAVA’s products and brand identity?

“We take sustainability seriously enough not to use it as a marketing slogan. CAVA doesn’t brand itself as a sustainable company — what we commit to is being ethical, from manufacturing to marketing. That means recycled polyester, natural dyes, biodegradable packaging, and fair labour practices. But the piece I’m most proud of is our lifecycle approach — every product is designed to be transitional, built to last up to 100 wears and 70-80 washes, and we actively show our community how to style the same piece multiple ways.”

Pictured left to right: Shreya and her sister Ria.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and what made you choose WBS?

“I’m originally from India. I chose Warwick because it’s one of the world’s most renowned business schools with exceptional faculty, but honestly, what sealed it was the campus itself — I visited my elder brother (who also studied at WBS) during his undergrad and fell in love with it immediately. I knew I wanted a campus university experience. The cultural values of UK education also aligned really well with how I’d been brought up in India, so the fit felt right on every level.”

How did you balance studying with managing a business?

“Practically, it came down to time management and being intentional about every hour. It wasn’t easy — my peers were in a completely different headspace, and rightfully so. What kept me going was a genuine passion for what I was building, combined with an equal desire to actually learn. I never saw education and CAVA as competing priorities — they fed each other. The environment around me helped enormously too — supportive peers, professors who took my entrepreneurial ambitions seriously, and parents who backed me every step of the way.”

Are there any skills or knowledge you gained from your time at WBS that have been particularly valuable?

“I did Business Management with Entrepreneurship, and two modules stood out. Strategic Games, rooted in game theory, taught me negotiation and rational decision-making — skills I use constantly with suppliers and partners. Finance in New Ventures was equally formative, teaching me how to think about fundraising and exit strategy from an early stage. I also picked up this module called law for entrepreneurs that I found particularly useful in understanding how the field works and how to get around any contracts I may have to sign — my seminar tutor for that, Leela, was a great teacher!”

What are some of your most memorable experiences from your time at WBS?

“Living on campus with friends, spending time at various cafes, going to bars and clubs, and taking multiple trips — those moments really shaped me. Years two and three in Leamington Spa were particularly lovely. But if I’m honest, the everyday texture of university life is what I miss most.”

What advice would you give to current students?

“Take group projects seriously — they seem like a hassle at the time, but working with different people is something you’ll do for the rest of your life, and mastering it early puts you ahead. Also, be intentional about module selection. You’ll only truly invest in something that genuinely interests you, so spend time choosing well. And if you have a business idea sitting in the back of your mind — start. The resources, people, and environment at WBS are exactly the right conditions to explore it.”

What are your future career goals or aspirations?

“CAVA is heading in an incredibly exciting direction. We’re opening offline stores now, expanding into new categories — different genders, age profiles — and going deeper into the athleisure concept itself. I want to build a community around fitness and confidence, hosting events and creating spaces where people feel their youngest and best selves.”

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