Sannjeev Rao is a seasoned retail and consumer-business leader with more than 25 years of experience across fashion, retail, consumer brands and business transformation. He is the Co-Founder of Kathy’s Beverages Pvt. Ltd., the company behind Bobakat, an experience-led bubble tea and beverage brand founded in 2024 alongside Dr. Rupali Ambegaonkar.
Rao brings extensive expertise in business development, P&L management, retail strategy, market expansion, operational transformation and brand building. Over the course of his career, he has held leadership positions across organisations including Future Group, Aditya Birla Retail, Raymond and Being Human, building a strong track record in scaling businesses, strengthening brand equity and delivering profitable growth.
At Kathy’s Beverages, Rao is focused on building Bobakat into a scalable, youth-focused beverage retail brand. The company operates compact-format outlets across food courts and premium high streets, combining global beverage trends with local consumer preferences. In 2026, Kathy’s Beverages raised ₹6 crore in a Pre-Series A round to accelerate product innovation, team expansion, marketing and nationwide retail expansion.
Rao also serves as Director – International Trade Relations at the Indian Economic Trade Organization and is actively involved in advising and supporting emerging businesses.