Passionate serial entrepreneur and restaurateur Maneesh K. Goyal discusses his journey, Indian food, the spices of India and his story of opening the modern Indian restaurant SONA.
The restaurant reimagines the wonders of Indian fare in a space that evokes a bygone era of a boisterous yet elegant India—all within the heart of New York City.
Learn more about SONA: https://www.sona-nyc.com/.
Maneesh K. Goyal is a serial entrepreneur and restaurateur. He founded event marketing company MKG in 2003, which went on to become one of the industry's most highly sought-after creative agencies, expanding to four offices and over 150 employees. In the Fall of 2019, MKG was wholly acquired by holding company Acceleration.
Since 2019, Maneesh channeled his love of both people and entertainment into the opening of SONA, a contemporary Indian restaurant in New York City’s Flatiron District. The following October, he expanded his footprint in hospitality by reopening one of New York’s most iconic cocktail dens—Temple Bar. In June 2022, Maneesh also founded homeware collection SONA Home.
Through his work with Pineapple Co., Maneesh is an active angel investor, advisor and board member, working with a variety of start-ups and mid-size companies including NYC&Co, New York City’s dedicated tourism company. A long-time advocate, he also proudly serves on the National Board of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. He grew up in Texas and went on to earn an undergraduate degree from Duke and a graduate degree in Public Health from Yale.
Moderated by Shilpa Maniar.