The journey of Hemptyful from idea to success in the hemp-based food market is a great example of how sustainable innovation can solve both environmental and nutritional issues. Founders Revanth Kaza and Kaustubh Mahadik aim to use hemp to address global protein and omega-3 needs while supporting eco-friendly farming practices.
The story of Hemptyful began when Kaza discovered the untapped potential of hemp seeds during a trip to Uttarakhand. He has a background in nutrition and holds experience at some major FMCGs. He saw hemp’s potential as a sustainable solution to global food challenges. Partnering with Mahadik, he aimed to create a business that not only produced high-quality hemp products but also raised awareness in India about the plant’s many benefits.
The initial years of Hemptyful were devoted to research and development. It was in collaboration with NIFTEM. Hemptyful launched its first hemp-based products range in 2021 after overcoming regulatory challenges such as gaining FSSAI approval. Marketplaces like Amazon initially refused to list their products. Advertising platforms like Google and Facebook misclassified their ads. They associated hemp with drugs.
Kaza and Mahadik persisted despite the challenges. The breakthrough came when legal team of Amazon approved the products. Hemptyful became the first hemp-based food brand on the platform. Their persistence paid off and it led to a growing loyal customer base as well as high repeat orders. Today, Hemptyful leads the hemp market on Amazon and aims to reach 100,000 customers within a year.
The startup invested in a state-of-the-art, 2,500-square-foot manufacturing facility dedicated to hemp seed processing. The facility allows faster R&D and supports the production of a diverse range of products such as cold-pressed hemp seed oil and heart-healthy protein bars. Hemptyful’s soon-to-be-launched protein powders, featuring hemp as a key ingredient, promise to disrupt the protein supplement market.
