Go DESi: Handmade Snacks, Traditional & 100% Natural
Year: 2018
Founders: Vinay Kothari, Raksha Kothari
Funding: $10.6 million (Series B)
Investors: Aavishkaar Capital, DSG Consumer Partners, Rukam Capital, Roots Ventures, 7Square Ventures, among others
Introduction
Go DESi, founded in 2018 and based in Bengaluru, is a D2C food company that takes urban consumers closer to India’s diverse rural cuisine heritage. The brand gets inspiration from authentic recipes and creates handmade snacks using 100% natural ingredients. With a strong focus on sustainability and community, Go DESi sources its products directly from rural micro-enterprises, ensuring fair income opportunities and authentic flavors in every pack.
Tackling Agricultural Challenges
Modern food consumption is dominated by processed snacks full of preservatives and artificial additives, leaving little room for authenticity or health. Meanwhile, rural food artisans lack the market access and resources to scale their traditional recipes. Go DESi tackles both challenges by connecting rural producers with urban markets, offering healthy, preservative-free snacks while uplifting micro-enterprises in India’s villages.
Key Offerings
- DESi POPz: Lollipops made with real local fruits like mango and tamarind, bringing a fun and tangy twist that feels a bit nostalgic.
- DESi Meetha: Traditional Indian treats like jaggery ladoos and peanut chikkis crafted by hand with recipes passed down through generations.
- DESi Bytes: Fruit snacks dried under the sun, like Chatpata Amla and Spicy Lemon Bytes mixing bold flavors with a healthier snack option.
- All-Natural & Handmade: Every product is natural with no added preservatives staying true to the rich traditions of Indian cooking.
- Modern Packaging: The design fits today’s retail needs while keeping the authentic charm of artisanal and cultural roots alive.
Real Impact
Go DESi has created sustainable livelihoods for hundreds of rural women and artisan communities by enabling them to turn age-old recipes into marketable products. The startup has redefined how urban consumers engage with Indian snacks—offering healthier, nostalgic options while ensuring that profits reach the grassroots. Their model has brought rural kitchens into the mainstream economy, helping preserve traditional food practices.
Success Story
Go DESi’s partnerships with women-led SHGs (Self-Help Groups) in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have empowered micro-entrepreneurs with consistent work and dignified income. Their DESi POPz, now sold in major retail stores and online platforms, are a testament to how local wisdom, when marketed right, can go natural—without losing its soul.
Lessons for Agri-Startups
- Build on Tradition: Traditional recipes and practices can become powerful, scalable business ideas.
- Empower Local Producers: Rural micro-enterprises offer unmatched authenticity—support them with market access.
- Focus on Health & Simplicity: Natural, clean-label products resonate with today’s conscious consumers.
- Design for the Modern Market: Packaging and storytelling matter—merge rural authenticity with urban appeal.
- Purpose-Driven Scaling: Growth can go hand-in-hand with social impact when business models are community-first.
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Go DESi is a shining example of how agribusiness can celebrate culture, empower rural India, and deliver value to conscious consumers. 👉 Subscribe to Focus Agritech’s newsletter for expert tips and funding news to grow your farm or startup smarter.
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