CNBC(@CNBC):From childhood, Pooja Bavishi dreamed of “being in the business of providing joy” by selling desserts, she says. She just got a late start on pursuing that dream. Bavishi, 42, is the founder and CEO of Brooklyn, New York-based ice cream company Malai, which she founded in 2015. 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 — distinguishes itself in a crowded market with flavors inspired by the spices and seasonings Bavishi grew up enjoying with her parents who immigrated to the U.S. from India. See how she built her business into what it is today:

2026.05.16 11:00

From childhood, Pooja Bavishi dreamed of “being in the business of providing joy” by selling desserts, she says. She just got a late start on pursuing that dream. Bavishi, 42, is the founder and CEO of Brooklyn, New York-based ice cream company Malai, which she founded in 2015. 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 — distinguishes itself in a crowded market with flavors inspired by the spices and seasonings Bavishi grew up enjoying with her parents who immigrated to the U.S. from India. See how she built her business into what it is today: