Business Remedies | Rajshree Upadhyaya | If there is a purpose or passion to do something different in mind, it can be achieved in a short time and recognition can be established. This is exactly what two brothers, Hardik Joshi and Kashyap Joshi, the founders of HoneyVeda, have done. Their mission was to protect bees, conserve nature, and provide consumers with pure, unprocessed honey. Hardik Joshi’s journey into beekeeping began not as a well-planned business venture but as an unexpected personal calling.
While working at Tata Consultancy Services, he joined the “Purpose for Life” program, which introduced him to the world of bees. What began with weekend visits to a beekeeping center soon turned into a passion. The more time he spent caring for hives, the more he understood the quiet but vital role bees play in supporting agricultural ecosystems and sustaining rural livelihoods. By 2019, this interest had solidified into a firm conviction. Hardik left his corporate career and, along with his brother Kashyap Joshi, who had years of experience in pharmaceutical distribution, started HoneyVeda.
Focus on Diversity and Quality
From the beginning, both brothers rejected destructive comb-cutting techniques that harmed bee populations. Instead, they developed gentle extraction methods that safeguarded colonies and trained over 200 farmers and tribal communities in these sustainable practices. They identified a gap in the market for authentic honey that retains its natural flavor and medicinal properties and created a diverse range of products including Himalayan Forest, Ajwain, Fennel, Eucalyptus, Lychee, Mustard, and curated gift packs. This emphasis on diversity and quality established HoneyVeda as more than just a product-it became a message of ecological responsibility and rural empowerment.
The company’s financial growth reflects its steady approach. In FY 2020-21, HoneyVeda earned revenues of Rs. 35 lakh, which increased to Rs. 51 lakh the following year and Rs. 53 lakh in FY 2022-23. A large share of earnings came from B2B honey sales, while bee-related products and retail contributed less. Margins remained around 20 percent, and estimated net profit was Rs. 40 lakh, giving the brothers confidence to expand further.
Rebranding with Kakoai Entertainment
When they appeared on Shark Tank India Season 2, they brought with them jars of honey and a purpose-driven story. They asked for Rs. 75 lakh in exchange for 7.5 percent equity, valuing the business at Rs. 10 crore. This proposal blended their mission of sustainability with solid financial metrics, but the sharks’ responses were mixed. Aman Gupta showed no interest in the honey market, Namita Thapar questioned the clarity of their vision, and Peyush Bansal felt it was too early to invest in the company. However, Anupam Mittal and Vineeta Singh saw a blend of authenticity, social impact, and growth potential. They offered Rs. 50 lakh for 20 percent equity.
After the show, HoneyVeda used this opportunity to refine its strategy. Under the mentorship of Anupam and Vineeta, the company placed greater emphasis on B2B partnerships while also maintaining its D2C presence through platforms like Amazon. This shift helped them reach larger, more stable buyers and expand their network of farmers and pollination projects. Collaborating with Kakoai Entertainment, led by Yusuf Rangoonwala, HoneyVeda rebranded itself, updating packaging, marketing approach, and digital storytelling. The company also began publishing educational content to help consumers identify fake honey and understand the ecological importance of bees.
Unwavering Values Gave Them Recognition in a Copycat Market
Operationally, HoneyVeda’s scope expanded to more than 7,500 acres of pollination area, nurturing over 20 million bees across six Indian states and partnering with multiple farmer-producer organizations. Although customer reviews ranged from praise for product quality to criticism of packaging and certain flavor innovations, the brand remained committed to addressing feedback and maintaining transparency. HoneyVeda’s story is one of transformation-from a private weekend hobby to a nationally recognized mission-driven enterprise. It is a journey defined by environmental conservation, rural empowerment, and disciplined growth. For Hardik and Kashyap, every jar is not just a product but a promise: to protect bees, uplift communities, and provide the pure, golden sweetness of honey in harmony with nature. The Shark Tank deal may have increased their capital, but it was their unwavering values that truly set HoneyVeda apart in a market flooded with imitations. In an era when consumers are increasingly seeking authenticity, HoneyVeda stands as a reminder that when purpose is combined with persistence, even the smallest creature can become a carrier of great change.
Written & Edited By:
Rajshree Upadhyaya
