Servus & Namaste: My Journey from Consulting to Chai

For the last fifteen years, I worked as a business consultant helping Austrian companies understand and navigate the Indian market. My clients were/are small and medium-sized manufacturing companies, exporting globally. I loved showing them the vast potential of India: a young, ambitious nation, hungry for progress, eager to build, create, and collaborate.

But as much as I appreciate their technological excellence, I was equally frustrated by their pace of decision-making. Projects took months, sometimes years, to move from idea to execution. My assignments were short—often gig-based—and although intellectually stimulating, they rarely felt meaningful. I longed to create something of my own. Something tangible. Something where I could take fast decisions and build real, living bridges between Europe and India.

A Family Heritage I Once Escaped

Hospitality runs in my blood. My family has been running a restaurant for 125 years. As a child, I literally grew up in the restaurant. But back then, I wanted nothing to do with it. I ran away—first to study engineering and later to work in India as a software engineer. 

My time in India changed my life. I discovered not only a fascinating country, but also a version of myself that I hadn’t known existed. Ever since, the country has been a source of endless excitement—personally and professionally. 

An Unexpected Opportunity

Fast forward to last year: a friend of mine owned a small food stall at the Lendplatz in Graz, Austria. It had a perfect location for bars and cafes, but her business has not picked up well. She asked me if I wanted to take it over. 

I refused immediately. I didn’t have a trade license. I didn’t have the money. I didn’t even have a concept. I laughed it off and told her, “I’m a consultant, not a cook.” 

But something about that little stall stayed in my mind. One month later, I found myself signing the contract. Two months later, together with my wife Jyotsna we reopened the stall with a new concept, a new name, and a new purpose. 

That’s how Indigo was born.

Building Bridges Through Food

From day one, we knew we didn’t want to open a cliché Indian restaurant with heavy curries, elephant statues, and Bollywood music. India is so much more than that. It is modern, dynamic, colorful, and creative. I wanted to create a place that reflects that energy—something Austrians could connect with. 

Our idea was simple: to serve high-quality, vegetarian Indian street food with a contemporary twist. We developed our signature product, the Bombay Masala Wrap—a fresh Tandoori roti filled with spiced grilled cheese, chutneys, and that unmistakable Indian tang. It’s fast, affordable, and full of flavor—just like the streets of Mumbai.

Soon, it became a local hit. People loved the freshness, the authenticity. 

Servus & Namaste

Our motto at Indigo is Servus & Namaste.

“Servus” is how people greet each other in Austria. It originally meant “May I be your servant?” It carries the same humble spirit that lies at the heart of Indian hospitality. “Namaste” conveys the same message, but from the soul. Together, these two words capture the essence of Indigo.

Every time we serve a customer, we are reminded of the values we grew up with—values that define India at its best: service, hospitality, love, honesty, trust, simplicity, and frugality. 

We don’t try to impress; we try to connect. We don’t offer dozens of dishes; we focus on doing a few things really well. Every chai we pour and every wrap we roll carries the same intention—to make people feel welcome, respected, and nourished.

A Message to the Indian Diaspora

To my friends in the Indian diaspora: wherever you live, work, or build your life, remember—you are an ambassador of India. You represent not only a culture but a set of values that the world desperately needs. 

In an age of convenience and consumption, we can remind others what truly matters: care, gratitude, simplicity, and the joy of serving others.

Being Indian is not about flags and festivals—it’s about how we treat people. It’s about smiling even when business is tough. It’s about finding dignity in every kind of work. It’s about creating value, not just capturing it.

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Wolfgang Bergthaler is an entrepreneur and business consultant based in Graz, Austria, whose motto is “building better bridges”. He believes that Indians and Europeans must learn from one another to create value, foster prosperity, and build a better world.