Malai
Dining · 4+ locations · NYC, Philadelphia, Washington DC
Malai reads like a hometown Brooklyn ice cream shop, and in the ways that matter most, it still is: founder Pooja Bavishi runs it day to day. Behind the scenes, a small group of outside investors has helped fund its growth into Philadelphia and Washington, DC.
The Big Picture
Pooja Bavishi started Malai as a market stall in 2015 and still owns and runs it, with shops in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. About 20 small investors and 35 lenders have put in roughly $1.4 million since 2023, but she has stayed its only officer and director. Advertised hourly pay beats typical food-service wages locally, and no labor or environmental case is reported.
The Dirty Details
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Explore all diningCompany data last updated September 2026
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