Jaipur | Rajshree Upadhyaya
By launching the fast-growing Indian convenience food brand Curryit, Richa Sharma and Nischal Kandula carved a niche for themselves in the food industry. The idea for the startup emerged when the two were working together at YES Bank and often discussed the everyday challenges involved in Indian cooking. They observed a common problem in urban households – people still preferred homemade food, but traditional Indian cooking required time, effort, and culinary expertise, something many modern consumers lacked.
Keeping this in mind, Curryit was eventually launched in 2020 under Homechef India Ventures Private Limited, a Delhi-based food startup. Both founders are alumni of IIM Udaipur. They spent several years researching regional Indian recipes and exploring how authentic Indian flavors could be recreated in a faster and easier way without compromising on quality or taste.
The company entered the rapidly growing convenience food market with a clear focus on authenticity and clean-label cooking. Instead of offering highly processed instant meals, Curryit introduced ready-to-cook curry pastes, instant wet masalas, biryani mixes, dal bases, soups, and everyday cooking pastes inspired by regional Indian cuisines. The founders positioned the brand around preservative-free cooking solutions that allow customers to prepare meals in nearly 15 minutes without chopping vegetables or handling complex spice combinations.
Their packaging technology and autoclave process helped keep products fresh for longer durations while avoiding artificial preservatives and dehydrated ingredients.
Expanded Product Portfolio To More Than 40 SKUs
Building consumer trust initially was not easy, as Indian customers are deeply connected to traditional cooking methods. Richa Sharma and Nischal Kandula understood that packaged curry products would only succeed if they delivered a homemade taste. To strengthen that trust, the founders traveled across India, learning recipes directly from home kitchens and chefs before finalizing their product formulations.
Curryit gradually expanded through online marketplaces, quick-commerce platforms, and direct-to-consumer channels, primarily targeting working professionals and young families seeking convenience without compromising on authentic flavors.
As the startup scaled, the company expanded its portfolio to over 40 SKUs, including Indian gravies, biryani mixes, dals, and cooking essentials. Products such as Butter Masala, Chettinad Curry, Hyderabadi Biryani Paste, and Ginger Garlic Paste became part of the brand’s growing lineup.
The founders also placed strong emphasis on content-driven branding and digital storytelling, which helped Curryit stand out from larger FMCG competitors in the ready-to-cook category. Reports about the company suggested that quick commerce contributed significantly to its revenue growth, reflecting how rapidly urban food habits in India were evolving.
Expanding Presence In Packaged Food And Quick Commerce Markets
Curryit gained nationwide attention after appearing on Shark Tank India Season 5. During their pitch, Richa Sharma and Nischal Kandula highlighted the rising demand for healthy and convenient food while explaining how the company aimed to simplify Indian cooking for modern consumers.
The founders initially sought Rs. 60 lakh for 1 percent equity, valuing the company at Rs. 60 crore. After negotiations, they secured a deal from Minimalist co-founder Mohit Yadav, who invested Rs. 1.5 crore at a revised valuation of nearly Rs. 45 crore.
The episode significantly boosted the startup’s visibility and helped increase consumer awareness across India. The company continues to operate actively and is expanding its presence in India’s packaged food and quick-commerce markets. Curryit has also announced plans to strengthen its international expansion into markets such as the Middle East, Canada, Singapore, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Its active product sales, continuous distribution growth, and ongoing market expansion confirm that the business remains operational and is actively growing its brand in 2026.
