Jaipur | Rajshree Upadhyaya | Dhruv Tomar established his place in the startup ecosystem by launching PaperPro in 2024, offering a practical and affordable solution for detecting food adulteration. Food adulteration has remained one of India’s biggest public health concerns for years, yet testing everyday food products has largely been confined to laboratories. Recognizing this gap, Dhruv Tomar launched PaperPro under M-Lens Research with the mission of making food safety simple, affordable, and accessible to everyone.
Instead of relying on expensive laboratory equipment or technical expertise, the startup developed paper-based milk adulteration testing cards, food adulteration testing kits, rapid testing strips, and portable food diagnostic solutions that enable users to check food quality within minutes. The inspiration behind the venture came from the growing number of reports highlighting poor food quality, particularly milk adulteration. Dhruv believed consumers should not have to depend solely on laboratories to know whether the food they consume is safe. This belief motivated him to develop a technology that could deliver fast and reliable results in a simple paper-based format. The company’s long-term vision extends beyond milk testing. It aims to develop affordable diagnostic solutions for paneer, ghee, honey, and other commonly consumed food products, helping create greater awareness about food safety at the grassroots level.
Sharks Appreciated the Social Impact and Innovative Approach
PaperPro gained nationwide attention after appearing on Shark Tank India Season 5. Dhruv Tomar pitched his vision of making rapid food testing available in every household and sought an investment of Rs. 1 crore for 5% equity. During the pitch, he demonstrated how the company’s food testing cards could simplify adulteration detection without requiring specialized infrastructure. While the Sharks appreciated the startup’s social impact and innovative approach, they also raised concerns about its business model, commercial scalability, scientific validation, and market readiness. After extensive discussions, PaperPro left the show without securing an investment. However, the appearance introduced the brand to millions of viewers across the country, significantly increasing its visibility despite not receiving funding. During the pitch, Dhruv revealed that the company had generated approximately Rs. 5.7 lakh in revenue during the previous financial year and around Rs. 8.1 lakh in the most recent quarter, indicating improving commercial traction. The startup also shared that most of its early business came through offline and business-to-business (B2B) channels, serving organizations that required quick food quality assessment solutions.
The Shark Tank platform helped spread awareness about accessible food diagnostics while strengthening PaperPro’s public recognition.
Focus on Advancing Portable Food Testing Technology
As of 2026, PaperPro continues its operations under M-Lens Research with a strong focus on advancing portable food testing technology. The company continues to promote its milk adulteration detection solutions while expanding its portfolio of rapid food testing products for wider commercial use. Although its Shark Tank journey did not result in an investment deal, the experience became an important milestone in the company’s growth story. Today, PaperPro reflects Dhruv Tomar’s commitment to using scientific innovation to solve real-world problems. The startup demonstrates how a simple yet effective idea can contribute to safer food practices while empowering consumers to play a more active role in verifying the quality of the food they consume.
