“Entrepreneurship wasn’t something I planned, but I was always drawn to it. Growing up in Hyderabad, my father’s entrepreneurial spirit inspired me a lot. He worked with the Indian Railways but also explored business ventures, which made me realise that being an entrepreneur means following what you believe in. 

I did my B.Sc in Agriculture and later a Post-Graduate degree in Agri-Business Management.

During college, my friend Keerthi and I would often talk about starting something of our own. Our love for food and healthy eating always brought us back to the idea of promoting millets. Growing up, ragi and jowar were a part of our daily meals, but we noticed how they slowly disappeared from urban kitchens. We thought—why not make it more accessible and exciting for families, especially kids? 

After working for seven years in an agriculture startup, I finally decided to take the leap in 2020. Keerthi was equally excited, and we started Millet Mantra. The turning point was when we joined the Indian Institute of Millet Research in Hyderabad in 2019. Their training and a grant gave us the push we needed to get started. 

We began just as the pandemic hit, which made things harder. Getting our products into stores was a struggle, but we didn’t give up. Slowly, things started moving. Today, when people tell us their kids love our millet snacks, it feels like we’re doing something right. 

Balancing work and motherhood has been challenging for me, especially with a 4-year-old and a 4-month-old. There are days when I feel overwhelmed, but my husband, parents, in-laws have been my biggest support system. Without them, this journey wouldn’t have been possible. 

One thing this journey has taught us is that nothing happens overnight. We’ve learnt that having a financial cushion is crucial because things don’t always go as planned. For any woman thinking of starting something—just take that first step. Things may get difficult, but you’ll figure it out along the way. And the joy of creating something meaningful makes it all worth it.”

— Poojitha, Co-founder, Millet Mantra

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