35 Under 35 recipient Harsh Tekriwal, Founder & MD of Monolithisch India Limited, is a leading manufacturer of high-performance ramming mass and refractory materials.
Since incorporating the company in 2018, he has overseen its evolution into one of India’s top state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Purulia. Originally designed for an annual output of 132,000 MT, what is fascinating is that as of July 2025, he has driven the capacity increase to 156,000 MT per annum, with further expansion already in progress in line with the company’s long-term growth roadmap.
In terms of what inspired him, he reveals that he has always been inclined towards entrepreneurship, having come from a business-oriented family. He also noticed a significant gap in India’s supply of quality refractory solutions. He adds,
“Motivated by the opportunity to build domestic capabilities, I founded Monolithisch with a focus on product integrity and customer-centric development. We began operations modestly, concentrating on niche, high-performance products, then gradually scaled up through strategic R&D and client partnerships.”
Competitive Edge of Monolithisch India Limited
What makes Monolithisch India Limited stand apart is that every batch of ramming mass is tailored to the exact thermal, mechanical, and chemical profile of the customer’s furnace or kiln. Harsh makes sure that there are no off-the-shelf compromises. Moreover, they control everything from quality and costs to the raw mineral extraction and in‑house processing and blending. Compared to other players in the market, Harsh asserts,
“With robust governance and quality systems, we offer unmatched reliability, an advantage in an industry that often lacks standardization.”
The Journey
Even though Harsh’s venture is a leading manufacturer of high-performance ramming mass and refractory materials, the journey has not been a cakewalk. Some of the most common challenges they faced include trust-building, capital constraints, and talent acquisition.
The COVID‑19 pandemic added to these issues by disrupting raw‑material supplies and driving cost volatility. In response, Tekriwal invested in end‑to‑end automation and in‑house beneficiation of minerals, strengthened quality‑control protocols with digital dashboards, and maintained a lean, flat organization that could pivot quickly to new supply‑chain realities.
Even though the journey has tested him through thick and thin, Harsh takes pride in the client trust they have built. Harsh further highlights,
“Today, we serve over 80% of integrated steel plants in India. A pivotal milestone was our listing on the NSE SME platform on 19 June 2025, debuting at ₹231.55, a remarkable ~62% above the issue price of ₹143. This reflects not just market validation but strong investor confidence.”
A New Dawn
Within the next few years down the line, Harsh plans to double its production capacity, enhance its R&D processes, explore exports, and deepen tech integration with AI-driven process optimisation due to its current relevance and advancement. They also look forward to leveraging the company’s SME listing to secure the capital and credibility required for these initiatives.
While signing off, Harsh talks about the major takeaways from his journey. He believes that persistence beats perfection. Finally, he says,
“Keep iterating, keep learning, and surround yourself with a capable team. Start with what you have and where you are; momentum builds opportunity.”
