Kanishk Tuteja of Flying Sparrow Hospitality on Building Experience-Led Restaurant Brands and Community-Driven Dining

StartupTalky presents Recap'25, a series of exclusive interviews where we connect with founders and industry leaders to reflect on their journey in 2025 and discuss their vision for the future.

In this edition of Recap’25, StartupTalky speaks with Kanishk Tuteja, Founder of Flying Sparrow Hospitality, a homegrown hospitality group known for creating emotion-driven, experience-first dining destinations. From the nostalgia-infused charm of Nukkad to the premium café-bar culture of 1 Oak, immersive dining at Kipos, and the comfort-led elegance of Nest by 1 Oak, Flying Sparrow Hospitality has built a diverse portfolio rooted in storytelling, ambience, and guest connection.

Kanishk shares how his philosophy of blending food, music, interiors, and community has shaped each brand’s identity, the shifts in guest expectations and nightlife culture in 2025, and how curated experiences, technology, and operational discipline are driving sustainable growth. He also reflects on the challenges of scaling in a competitive hospitality landscape and outlines how Flying Sparrow Hospitality is evolving to stay relevant and memorable in the years ahead.

StartupTalky: Briefly take us through the journey of Flying Sparrow Hospitality and the core idea or philosophy it was built on. How has that vision evolved over time?

Kanishk Tuteja: The journey of Flying Sparrow Hospitality, founded by Kanishk Tuteja, is built on the belief that restaurants should deliver experiences, not just food. Kanishk entered hospitality driven by passion and a strong understanding of customer emotions.

His brand Nukkad draws inspiration from Indian street-corner culture and nostalgia, using Bollywood-themed interiors, comfort food, and music to create a strong emotional connect. Each outlet maintains its individuality while staying true to the brand’s essence.

With 1 Oak, he moved into the premium café-bar segment, focusing on quality food, crafted beverages, and a vibrant social atmosphere for an urban audience.

The launch of Kipos reflected a shift towards immersive, experience-led dining, while Nest by 1 Oak blends premium quality with warmth and everyday comfort.

Across all brands, Kanishk Tuteja’s philosophy remains consistent — storytelling, quality, and memorable guest experiences drive long-term success.

StartupTalky: 2025 has been an active year for the hospitality industry. What were the key changes or milestones for your business this year?

Kanishk Tuteja: 2025 has been a year of strengthening and refinement for our business. We focused on improving operational efficiency, menu innovation, and service consistency across all our brands — Nukkad, 1 Oak, Kipos, and Nest by 1 Oak. Experience based dining played a bigger role through curated events and live music, while backend processes and technology were upgraded to support scalability. Overall, the year was about building strong foundations for sustainable, long-term growth.

StartupTalky: Customer preferences in dining and nightlife continue to evolve. What shifts in guest behaviour or expectations did you notice in 2025?

Kanishk Tuteja: In 2025, we noticed guests becoming far more experience-driven and value-conscious. Customers now look beyond food and drinks, focusing on ambience, music, service, and the overall vibe of a place. There was a clear preference for story-led and visually engaging spaces that feel memorable and share-worthy. Additionally, flexibility in dining — from relaxed daytime cafés to lively evening experiences — became important, with patrons expecting consistency, comfort, and personalization across every visit.

StartupTalky: Events, experiences, and community engagement play a big role today. Which initiatives or formats worked best for you this year, and why?

Kanishk Tuteja: In 2025, curated experiences delivered the strongest engagement for us. Live music nights, DJ-led evenings, and theme-based events worked especially well, as they encouraged repeat visits and built a strong community vibe around our brands. At Nukkad, nostalgia-driven music and cultural evenings resonated deeply, while 1 Oak and Kipos saw high traction from curated nightlife and experiential dining formats. Collaborations with local artists and musicians also helped us connect authentically with our audience, turning our spaces into social hubs rather than just dining destinations.

StartupTalky: What were the biggest operational or business challenges you faced in 2025, such as staffing, costs, footfall volatility, or competition, and how did you address them?

Kanishk Tuteja: In 2025, some of our key challenges included rising input costs, staffing stability, and fluctuating footfall, especially across different dayparts. We addressed these by tightening cost controls, optimizing menus, and reducing wastage without compromising quality. On the people's side, we focused on better training, clearer SOPs, and stronger team engagement to improve retention. To manage footfall volatility, we leaned into targeted events, smarter promotions, and brand-led experiences, ensuring steady guest interest despite intense competition in the market.

StartupTalky: How do you currently use technology, digital tools, or data to improve guest experience and business performance?

Kanishk Tuteja: Technology plays a key role in improving both guest experience and business performance across our brands. We use POS and inventory management systems to track sales, control costs, and reduce wastage in real time. Reservation and CRM tools help us manage guest flow, understand preferences, and personalize experiences. On the marketing side, digital campaigns and social media analytics guide our content and promotions, while structured guest feedback and review monitoring allow us to respond quickly and improve service. Overall, data helps us make faster, more informed decisions and maintain consistency across outlets.

StartupTalky: Looking ahead to the coming year, what opportunities do you see for growth in the hospitality space, and how are you thinking about evolving your brand further?

Kanishk Tuteja: Looking ahead, we see strong opportunities in experience-led dining, premium casual formats, and community-focused spaces. Guests are seeking concepts that are flexible across dayparts and offer a strong emotional connection. We plan to evolve our brands by refining menus, enhancing beverage programs, and introducing more curated events and collaborations. At the same time, we are focusing on scalable systems, technology integration, and team development to support sustainable growth. Expansion will remain thoughtful, ensuring each new outlet stays true to the brand’s identity while adapting to local audiences.

 Explore more Recap'25 interviews here.