Entrepreneur in Residence

About Hector Beverages Pvt. Ltd.

Established in 2010 in India, Hector Beverages rose to prominence with its signature brand, the Paper Boat, a ready-to-drink beverage that encapsulates the essence of traditional Indian flavors. The inception of Hector Beverages was driven by the founders vision to bridge the market void for traditional Indian drinks and to present the world with a taste of India's rich cultural beverages

Location

Headquartered in Whitefield, Bengaluru

Current Standings

Over the past decade, Hector Beverages has expanded its product line to include fruit juices, coconut water, and iconic Indian beverages such as Aam panna and Jal-jeera and foods & dry fruits which includes products such as Chikki, Aam Papad, range of raw, roasted, and flavored dry fruits that includes mix of nuts, berries & seeds. The brand is synonymous with distinctive flavors and premium ingredients. Furthermore, the firm's commitment to quality and innovation is evidenced by its extensive infrastructure of nine dedicated factories (and counting) for Paper Boat products, providing direct employment to approximately 900 individuals and indirect employment to another 2000.

Organizational Culture

At its core, Hector Beverages thrives on a culture rooted in innovation, creativity, and collaboration. The company's flat organizational structure promotes open dialogue, empowering employees to lead their projects passionately. Hector Beverages is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business need. The organization is dedicated to fostering high-performing teams. Moreover, the culture of celebrating both minor and major achievements, nurture a motivated and committed workforce, driving exponential growth

Role Overview

The EIR – Sparkling role is a zero-to-one builder position within Paper Boat. You will be responsible for developing and scaling products in the sparkling beverage category from ideation to market launch and expansion.

This role involves ownership across product development, go-to-market strategy, and commercial viability. It is suited for individuals comfortable operating in ambiguity and taking end-to-end responsibility.

Key Responsibilities

New Product Development

• Identify and validate product opportunities in the sparkling category
• Work with R&D on formulation, including flavour, carbonation, and functional elements
• Manage packaging development and pilot launches
• Track product performance and iterate based on insights

Category Building and Go-To-Market

• Define category positioning and consumer value proposition
• Identify target segments and consumption occasions
• Design and execute go-to-market strategies across channels such as modern trade, HoReCa, and D2C
• Build pricing models, unit economics, and channel margin structures

Vendor and Market Engagement

• Identify and manage manufacturers, vendors, and external partners
• Build relationships with global and domestic stakeholders
• Attend industry events to track trends and innovations
• Spend time in-market to gather consumer insights

Business and Strategy

• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Supply Chain teams
• Approach problems with an entrepreneurial mindset
• Influence cross-functional stakeholders without direct authority

Candidate Profile

• Graduate from IIT or IIM with 0–2 years of experience
• Comfortable working in unstructured and ambiguous environments
• Strong problem-solving and first-principles thinking ability
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Experience in FMCG, D2C, or product development is preferred
• Prior experience launching a product, initiative, or project end-to-end
• Exposure to food technology, beverage formulation, or consumer research is an advantage
• Understanding of beverage market dynamics is a plus

What This Role Is Not

• Not a pure marketing or branding role
• Not limited to supply chain or operations
• Not a single-function role
• Not a structured role with predefined problems or KPIs
• Not a desk-based job; significant field and market exposure is expected

Additional Context

This role operates within a category that is still being built. There is no predefined playbook, structure, or problem statement. The expectation is to independently identify opportunities and execute solutions across functions on an ongoing basis. Candidates who are energized by ambiguity and ownership are more likely to succeed in this role.