Foodtech Pathshala
You bring the idea. You do the work. We help you navigate the journey. 4 phases 13 weeks and 1 business- YOURS.
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Thursday, 01 Oct 2026 — 12:00 AM IST
🔒 Join link will be available to enrolled students 60 minutes before the session
Refining the business idea, identifying the problem being solved, defining the target customer, understanding the food industry ecosystem and assessing whether the idea has genuine business potential.
Market research, identifying consumer needs, competitor mapping, market gaps, trends, customer personas and understanding where your business fits in the market.
Turning an idea into a food product, product concept development, formulation basics, ingredient selection, product specifications and understanding the product development journey.
Raw material sourcing, supplier selection, contract manufacturing vs own manufacturing, production planning, machinery basics and understanding manufacturing requirements.
FSSAI basics, food safety systems, quality control, documentation, hygiene, product testing, licensing and understanding the regulatory requirements applicable to your business.
Choosing the right packaging, packaging functionality, food labelling requirements, claims, shelf-life considerations and common packaging and labelling mistakes.
Understanding product costing, raw material and production costs, packaging costs, overheads, margins, pricing strategy, distributor/retailer margins and basic unit economics.
Brand positioning, USP, naming, storytelling, visual identity, packaging as a marketing tool and creating a brand that connects with the target consumer.
Choosing the right route to market, D2C, B2B, retail, marketplaces, distributors, institutional sales, launch strategy and deciding where and how your product should be sold.
Building awareness, digital marketing fundamentals, social media, content, sampling, customer acquisition, retention and strategies to acquire your first customers.
Building a sales pipeline, approaching buyers, distributors and retailers, B2B sales, negotiation, distributor management and building long-term business relationships.
Working capital, cash flow, inventory, operational planning, basic financial management, team requirements, outsourcing and preparing the business for sustainable growth.
Bringing everything together, identifying gaps, reviewing the business model, defining priorities and creating a practical roadmap for the next 90 days. Includes an open industry Q&A and guidance session.
Co-Founder • Food Tech Pathshala • B Chem Engg, MBA
A serial food-technology entrepreneur and MSME mentor with 20+ years across India and the USA. He founded Exelon Foodbio Advisors and co-founded FoodTech Pathshala. A chemical engineer (ICT/UDCT) with a US MS & MBA and CFA & FRM charters, he mentors food, beverage and agri startups and serves as Vice President of AFST(I).
Experience
20+
Highlights
Trained 10k+
Worked with
Real results from our alumni.
Paawak had a clear idea for a healthy snack brand but was unsure about manufacturing, costing and compliance. Through the programme, we worked through each stage of their business idea, interacted with industry experts and visited a food manufacturing facility. By the end of the programme, they had a clearer product concept, manufacturing approach and launch roadmap.
Brand Building, Networking, Revenue handholdingThey were already making products from home but had never looked at the venture as a structured business. START SMART helped them understand costing, pricing, packaging, compliance and sales channels. The programme gave the confidence to identify where the business was strong and where we needed to improve.
From Home Kitchen to BusinessKaran had developed a good product but struggled to understand why customers weren't converting. Through sessions on consumer behaviour, branding, pricing and go-to-market strategy, he reassessed his positioning and customer segment.
The Product Wasn't the ProblemNeha was considering investing heavily in her own manufacturing setup. Through the programme, she learned how to evaluate manufacturing options, understand capacity requirements and compare in-house production with third-party manufacturing. This helped her approach the decision more strategically instead of investing purely on instinct.
Make informed decisions before committing your capital."I came in with a food business idea but had no idea what steps to take first. START SMART helped me understand the journey in a much more structured way and gave me clarity on what I needed to work on."
"The factory visits and industry interactions were probably the most valuable part for me. Seeing how an actual food business operates helped me connect the theory with reality."
"I had already started my business but was struggling with several basic areas like costing, pricing and distribution. The programme helped me identify those gaps and approach them more systematically."
"I really liked the fact that FTP doesn't try to do the work for you. They give you the knowledge, connect you with the right people and help you figure out your next step. That made the programme feel like genuine handholding."
"The biggest takeaway for me was clarity. Over the course of the programme, I was able to look at my product, customer, pricing and launch strategy much more objectively."
"START SMART gave me exposure to aspects of the food business that I had never considered before—from manufacturing and compliance to packaging, sales and industry networking. It gave me a much broader perspective.”"
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Foodtech Pathshala
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