Daniyaal Josh, a student at the University of Houston, and Hussain Lahore, who studies at Lone Star University, are two friends from the Houston Dawoodi Bohra community who turned a childhood staple into a startup. Having been inspired by the cultural significance of honey in their lives, they were drawn to traditional beekeeping practices. In this piece, they share their experience of building a business.
Within the outskirts of the quaint hills of Hadhramaut, Yemen, bees gather nectar from the rare sidr (Ziziphus spina-christi) tree, a species which blooms just once a year. From that brief period of flowering, local beekeepers harvest honey that is as deep in flavor as it is rich in color, and known across the world for its medicinal properties. It takes more than 22,000 bees and two million flowers to produce a single jar of honey — a process as delicate as it is demanding.
That’s where this story begins, but far from where it ends.
Thousands of miles away, in Houston, two college students — Daniyaal Josh and Hussain Lahore — were trying to figure out how to build a business together. Friends for over a decade, they’d long joked about starting something of their own. In late 2024, with a local Dawoodi Bohra business fair approaching, they stopped joking.
“We had this opportunity before us,” Daniyaal says, “But we needed an idea.”
The Idea that Stuck
Growing up, honey had always been a household staple for these two students. Stirred into water when they were sick. A spoonful with kalonji (Nigella seeds) before breakfast. Referred to as healing in the Holy Quran (16:69).
“Looking back, it was everywhere in our lives,” Daniyaal says.
Starting a honey business was a natural option for them. Sourcing the honey, though, was just as important. “Yemen has always been an integral part of our culture, history and heritage.”
The boys’ research fell upon sidr honey. Traditionally used in Yemen and across the Middle East to treat ailments ranging from digestive issues to skin infections, sidr honey is known for its natural antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and even anti-cancer qualities. Studies have even compared its potency to that of manuka honey.
In Yemen, sidr honey is harvested using time-honored methods passed down through generations. Beekeepers tend small networks of hives in mountainous regions where sidr trees grow wild. These are not large-scale commercial operations — the harvest is limited to once a year and carried out without chemical feed, artificial bloom cycles, or synthetic filtration. Honey is extracted with care, filtered by hand, and bottled as-is.
“We were amazed by how traditional the process still is,” says Daniyaal. “Everything is done naturally. The beekeepers work with the land, not against it.”
Their research also revealed the honeybee’s crucial role in Yemen’s ecosystem. By pollinating sidr trees and native flora, bees help maintain biodiversity in regions where agriculture is increasingly fragile.
“Healthy bees mean healthy land,” Hussain adds. “And when harvesting is done sustainably, that cycle stays alive.”
Learning with Intention
Nothing about starting the business was smooth. Contacts were limited. Sourcing was trial and error. Coordinating remotely with beekeepers brought logistical challenges — from language barriers to pricing uncertainties. Despite the hurdles, this also introduced the two young students to the people behind the product.
“They weren’t big operations,” says Daniyaal. “Just individuals trying to do honest work — people from our own community in Yemen, holding their own in a challenging economy, harvesting something with their own hands.”
As the business grew, so did their understanding of its weight. The intentionality required — about what they sourced, how they packaged, and who they supported.
“We learned to respect every part of the supply chain,” Hussain says. “Not just for its business value, but because we could now name the people it affected.”
A Make or Break Deadline
The community business fair was coming up — a major gathering. This was the moment. However, there was still a catch — they still didn’t have their product.
“The lead up to the fair was draining, both physically and mentally. We desperately needed the honey but kept running into unforeseen issues," Hussain shared.
The first shipment was delayed. Days passed. Emails flew back and forth. "It was chaos," Daniyaal recalls. "We were tracking boxes, refreshing updates, doing homework, and figuring out how to save face if we did not have anything to sell."
Thankfully, the honey arrived just days before the event.
“That fair? It made us,” says Hussain. “The product had gathered steam and interest. People came up to our table, asked questions, tried the honey, and loved it.”
One customer told them he’d been buying honey from big-box stores for years but could immediately tell the difference in taste.
“Now he orders from us every month,” Daniyaal smiles.
School, Honey, Repeat
The business runs between the margins: evenings, weekends, and stretches between school deadlines.
“We try to reserve weekends for planning and fulfillment,” Hussain says. “Weekdays are packed, with both of us studying and working full-time jobs — unless someone randomly orders 15 bottles.”
Which happened. More than once.
“It’s tiring,” Daniyaal admits. “But when it’s something you believe in, it keeps you going.”
Opposites That Work
“We’re totally different,” Daniyaal says. “I overthink, analyze, double-check everything. Hussain’s the one who says, ‘Let’s just do it,’” he adds, laughing. “He pushes us to make brave decisions. Somehow, it works.”
Their differences keep the business balanced. “When you’re making decisions that involve money, time, and risk — having that yin-yang dynamic helps,” says Hussain.
Honesty Over Hype
“Shortcuts were never on the table,” Daniyaal states. “No false labels, no diluted product. We wanted to build something honest.”
They ensured every batch was lab-tested, bottled sustainably in glass jars, and labeled to order. “We don’t overprint anything,” he adds. “Every detail matters — and we want to stay intentional.”
Hussain adds, “When you run a business with integrity, you build trust that keeps customers coming back.”
They also make it a point to regularly contribute to local food pantries and are planning more ways to incorporate service into their business as it grows.
“One day we want to be in a position to give more, in bigger ways. That’s the end goal of all this.” Daniyaal says.
For Anyone Looking for a Sign to Start
Between classes, part-time jobs, and late-night calls, they didn’t wait for the “right time” — they created it. Starting young meant learning on the go, but it also meant dreaming big and shooting for the stars.
“If you’re scared, that’s normal,” says Hussain. “But do your research, know your limits, and take the leap. If you believe in what you’re offering, go for it.”
“It doesn’t have to be perfect,” Daniyaal adds. “You’ll figure it out. Just make sure what you’re doing is something that actually means something to you.”
