We are publishing an interview of Ms. Nidhi Bansal, Founder, CEO, Medhya Herbals – A Singapore and Ambala based wellness startup which is aiming to be a nutrition powerhouse with food and snack options that are all natural, sugar free, chemicals free, and inspired from Ayurveda.
About the founders
Medhya Herbals is a nutrition and wellness company founded on the rich and holistic principles of Ayurveda by the father-daughter duo, Dr. Pawan Bansal and Nidhi Bansal. Dr. Pawan Bansal is Ayurveda Acharya and has more than 40 years of experience in healing and curing lifestyle health disorders with Ayurveda. Nidhi Bansal is MBA from INSEAD and IIT Delhi graduate with more than a decade of work experience across the globe in operations, business strategy and execution, and in sales and marketing.
What is the problem you are trying to solve? Can you share with us any insights that led you to believe that this is a big enough problem?
Medhya in Ayurveda refers to formulations and elixirs that promote an active and intelligent mind. While pursuing modern lifestyle we come across multiple toxins inside our body through harmful environment and highly adulterated food (pesticides, additives, excess of sugar, salt, preservatives and what not). Medhya is providing healthy food and lifestyle options to millennials such that our bodies are better equipped to fight off the effects of toxins that we regularly come across and also we get pure nourishment from whole foods and whole herbs. Medhya’s super nutritious bites take inspiration from traditional Indian recipes and Ayurveda forms the core of our very existence.
What is the uniqueness about your Startup?
In Ayurveda physical, mental, and spiritual well being is defined as a perfect state of harmony and dynamic integration of our internal and external systems. Balance is what we strive to achieve in our day-to-day lives to get the best out of ourselves on personal and professional fronts.Medhya brings that balance in its healthy foods by combining natural and whole herbs in a proportion with complementary wholesome nutritious foods resulting in synergistic effect for higher bioavailability of nutrients.
We are a team of experts with multiple years of experience in handling health and nourishment. A mother of two young kids, I am always on the look of food options that I can offer to my children without any fear. Medhya Bites are the healthiest choice when it comes to food options that offer pure nourishment without any chemicals and without any added sugar.
What is the revenue model? What is the logic behind it? Explain your thought process.
Medhya is a product based company and hence our super nutritious bites and healthy foods are the prime revenue generator. Our business model revolves around providing products and information to people for maintaining a state of great health and an active mind and body. Hence, with Medhya bites we not only offer wholesome and natural food choices but also enable people to pursue a lifestyle that is holistic and fulfilling.
Who are the consumers that you are targeting? How is this going to affect them?
As Medhya Bites are meant to provide wholesome nutrition on the go, our customer segment is fairly wide and comprises of anybody who is not able to fulfil their nutritional needs through food intake. Starting for age group 2 years and above, Medhya provides a great healthy bite option for growing children, fitness professionals, working professionals, travelers, women, and elderly. Medhya Bites cover the essential micronutrients in natural form; for example, Moringa Choco Bites provides more than 20% of daily Iron and Magnesium. Almond Fig Bites provides more than 20% of daily Calcium and Magnesium. Amalaki Bites is rich source of antioxidants and Vitamins C, and E. And Brahmi Bites is rich source of Omega 3s and Antioxidants.
What is the big picture of your startup? Will it lead to something bigger? If so, how?
Medhya aims to be a nutrition powerhouse with food and snack options that are all natural, sugar free, chemicals free, and inspired from Ayurveda. We started off with a limited portfolio and in online only space. Having received great feedback on our nutrition bites, we are now looking to expand our portfolio and reach out to both online and offline channels.
What is the success story of your startup in your own words?
Medhya had modest beginning in Singapore in May 2016, where we did soft launch to test our product prototypes. We received great feedback on functionality and taste from Singapore and also collected feedback to prepare us for a commercial launch. Being new to F&B industry, there have been multiple areas of learning and error on nearly every front – packaging, channel choice and introduction, ingredients, shipping and logistics handling, and choice of partners. It has not been an easy journey but exciting for sure.
Medhya launched in online space in India in October 2016 with its range of super nutritious bites and dried foods. We have now successfully participated in multiple fitness events and have delivered thousands of Medhya Bites. Having received solid response, we are now looking to expand our outreach as well as our portfolio.
Thanks Nidhi. Best of luck!