Success Story: Quit CA Job, Started Business with Mother, Now Earning Rs.50 Lakh Per Year
Sahil Jain, a chartered accountant working for a multinational company in Mumbai, felt trapped in a monotonous corporate job. He would leave the office promptly at 6 PM, finding even an extra minute unbearable. He recalls a time when he finished his work by 3 PM but was forced to stay until 6 PM at his senior’s insistence, which frustrated him. After a year and a half, he realized that corporate life didn’t suit him, and he decided to pursue his passion for building his own brand. Inspired by his mother Meena, a nutritionist, Sahil began experimenting with healthy food products, creating nutritious recipes like laddu bars, vegetable chips, and millet-based snacks.
Together, Sahil and his mother launched Mighty Millets, a thriving business that now has partnerships with over 50 hotels, including prestigious brands like the Taj Group and JW Marriott, across Pune, Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai. Last year, they generated Rs 50 lakh in revenue and are aiming to double their sales in the 2024-2025 financial year. They shared their inspiring journey of transforming their food startup from its early stages into a successful venture.
Meena, Sahil’s mother, is an expert in creating tasty, healthy recipes. As a nutritionist, she has helped clients in India and abroad achieve their wellness goals. Sahil, with his love for food and entrepreneurial mindset, saw the opportunity to combine their skills and create something unique in the food industry.
The idea for Mighty Millets didn’t come overnight; it was the result of thoughtful planning and experimentation. On weekends, Sahil and Meena would cook together, testing various dishes with friends. They experimented with everything from popular snacks like vada pav to local specialties like Hyderabadi toast, but found most recipes to be unhealthy. Meena, wanting to avoid promoting junk food, remembered that her clients had often suggested she commercialize her healthy recipes.
With Meena’s guidance, Sahil shifted their focus to healthy food options. They started with a limited range of products, including laddu bars. In 2018, Mighty Millets was officially launched, and today they offer over 50 varieties of preservative-free products, including nutrition bars, granolas, millet-based cookies, sevai, noodles, pasta, pancake mixes, and vegetable chips.
Meena’s expertise in nutrition and quality control, coupled with Sahil’s business acumen, provided a strong foundation for the success of Mighty Millets. However, starting the business wasn’t easy. Sahil recalls that aside from their knowledge of nutrition and finance, everything else was new to them. The first year was slow, and the COVID-19 pandemic added further challenges. It took about a year and a half to establish the business, and they only began seeing significant growth after two years. Recently, Sahil started taking a salary, as they had reinvested their earnings until then. He stresses the importance of patience in business, noting that it requires sacrifices and hard work. Moreover, food startups must navigate complex regulations, with careful attention required for product development and manufacturing.
Sahil acknowledges the high stakes involved, noting that even a single mistake could damage their reputation. To ensure quality, Meena enforces strict quality control measures at every stage, from cleaning raw materials to the final products. He also highlights that selling packaged snacks requires extensive documentation, certifications, and lab tests, along with a license from the FSSAI.
Starting from their home kitchen, they partnered with three contract manufacturers to scale production in specialized facilities. As the business grew, they expanded their product range and secured B2B partnerships with top hotels in major cities like Pune, Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai. The partnership between Sahil and Meena not only fuels their entrepreneurial journey but also reflects a strong bond of mutual respect and shared values. Their story is a testament to the rewards of building something meaningful together and the fulfillment that comes from creating a successful business from scratch.
Meena feels incredibly happy to be running a business with her son, expressing how much she used to worry about him when he was away for work. “I have always been very protective of him. Now, it’s a pleasure working with my son; we get to spend quality time together,” she shares.
Sahil, who oversees production and operations, reflects on the initial challenges they faced due to differing ideas while working closely together. “We worked day and night in the same space. So, when production shifted to contract manufacturers, things became much smoother, and now we have clear responsibilities,” he explains.
He adds, “It’s rewarding and a completely different experience to create something of our own. Today, when I’m at my company, I no longer stare at the clock,” he smiles, highlighting the joy and fulfillment they both find in their entrepreneurial journey.