Meet Pavan Melukote, a native South Bangalorean who still gets frazzled by the idea of the city expanding past inner ring road.
Growing up, he was that nerdy kid who opened up electronic machines at home for fun. From his TV to the washing machine at home (bless his parents), Pavan claimed his tinkering taught him to fix just about anything.
As he started adulting, he became an engineer by qualification and a problem solver by profession. Pavan worked with National Instruments R&D for six and a half years before taking the plunge into the food industry.
First, he tested waters in this new industry as the COO with Veganarke. It was a period of time that taught him a lot about the manufacturing area of the food business industry. That's when he decided he was going to start something up on his own. The product he had in mind was channeled with focused intent: to create a meal that was more nutritious than any other meal replacement product in the country and that took less than ten seconds to make.
Pray, why did he even think of something this specific?
Two years ago Pavan made a shake with protein powder, a banana, and ragi (finger millet). It was both delicious and filling. Then he read about Soylent in January 2018.
"I was impressed by their campaign and their record, when I decided to part ways with Veganarke, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. So, thank you, Rob Reinhart," says Pavan.
Since Pavan cooks a lot he understood the fundamentals of taste profiles. He went back in time to use the flavors he loved as a child to create Nutrimake.
The rest is history. Now let's talk all about Nutrimake in this interview with Pavan!
Is there such a thing as the 'right time' to jump into running your own business?
Pavan Melukote: Often we romanticize the answers to questions like these and say, just follow your dreams. Unfortunately, it ain’t true. We all have our own commitments and bases to cover before we set out on adventures that are definitely more rewarding, but also come with a lot of risks.
I say the right time is when you have figured out how to cover your bases and are confident to begin your entrepreneurial journey. For me, it was about having enough experience and financial backup to fall back on in case I needed to, especially since my family is financially dependent on me. Thanks to 6.5 years in IT, I had a good amount of savings accumulated to get me a launchpad.
I say the right time is when you have figured out how to cover your bases and are confident to begin your entrepreneurial journey. For me, it was about having enough experience and financial backup to fall back on in case I needed to, especially since my family is financially dependent on me. Thanks to 6.5 years in IT, I had a good amount of savings accumulated to get me a launchpad.
Apart from having personal confidence in starting your venture, it is important to have an understanding of what you want to do; a vision for your company. This might change but doesn’t mean you should shoot in the dark.
"The right time to jump is when you've figured out how to cover your bases and are confident to begin your entrepreneurial journey."
What's the coolest thing you learned when you were experimenting with Nutrimake ingredients?
Pavan Melukote: You can make cakes with Nutrimake :D
Nutrimake is a versatile product, because of the many natural ingredients we use, people have the flexibility to use it in many applications – including cakes, laddoos, and energy bars.
Some of the other examples of the cool things I learned is that Nutrimake stabilizes blood sugar in people suffering from hypoglycemic activity, that was so cool! It also makes recovery post-workout much better!
"I learned is that Nutrimake stabilizes blood sugar in people suffering from hypoglycemic activity, that was so cool!"
I was talking to you about how Nutrimake can serve several purposes at the same time. Can you talk about 3 unique needs that could be met with this product?
Pavan Melukote: Convenient Meals – Often, in our busy urban lives, we tend to skip breakfast and other meals or eat incomplete and unhealthy quick meals, Nutrimake fills this gap perfectly. It has all the nutrients your body needs and takes less than 30 seconds to prepare.
Complete Nutrition – We are only beginning to pay heed to Nutritionists’ advice and understand all the elements our body needs to function effectively. Nutrimake is probably one of the very very few meals that guarantee complete nutrition – every element of nutrition your body needs is available in each serving at adequate quantities.
Designed for Everyone – Nutrimake, unlike many other specialty diet foods, is made for pretty much everyone on the planet irrespective of the age, gender, and other barriers. Our customer base is scattered across the spectrum with people as young as 15 years of age to as old as 85 years of age, it is heartwarming to see that it is adding value and nutrition to the lives of all these people.
"Every element of nutrition your body needs is available in each serving at adequate quantities."
What's the longest trip you've taken on your two-wheeler delivering your own products? Do you hope to look back at these moments with some pleasure, knowing you can honestly say you gave every part of yourself to this product and its business?
Pavan Melukote: 127Kms on a single day! I did a route from JP Nagar- Koramangala - Varathur - Ramurthy Nagar - Indiranagar - Austin Town - Nagarabhavi - Hosakerehalli - Mylasandra- Kanakapura Road.
I absolutely look back at that, I still do deliveries by myself sometimes, and it is always pleasurable to talk to the customers face to face and get their feedback on the service. Apart from delivering a kickass product, offering great service is also something we pride ourselves with.
I absolutely look back at that, I still do deliveries by myself sometimes, and it is always pleasurable to talk to the customers face to face and get their feedback on the service. Apart from delivering a kickass product, offering great service is also something we pride ourselves with.
As a vegan running a plant-based business, tell us why you think plant-based industries are the future.
Pavan Melukote: Two parts to this answer.
(i) As a vegan, I want plant-based industries to be the future, for ethical reasons. We abuse and murder innocent beings for no reason. This should stop.
(ii) Plant-Based industries will be the future, thanks to advances in science and technology. It is more efficient to make and sell plant-based products the costs involved are a lot less. It is only a matter of time before the world develops affordable cultured meat and dairy products. Capitalism will ensure that any product whose cost is less and the returns are more will succeed. When we offer affordable products that do not rob customers of their love of the taste of specific products, yet we reduce the cruelty and carbon footprints of such products, I don’t believe there’s any reason for the customers not to embrace this. We are waiting for the revolution to happen and it will.
"I want plant-based industries to be the future, for ethical reasons. We abuse and murder innocent beings for no reason. It is only a matter of time before the world develops affordable cultured meat and dairy products"
What flavor of Nutrimake do you honestly think Donald Trump would like? Why?
Pavan Melukote: I think President Trump would love all the flavors because anyone who says otherwise is only spreading fake news. So bad, so bad. They are the enemies of the people.
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Now, this wraps up our interview part. But Messy Cooking Always Vegan went one step ahead and made a lovely Cinnamon Almond Teacake with Nutrimake as an experiment. The result? A truly wholesome cake that could actually be eaten for breakfast and will keep you fuller than any normal cake. You could make this cake way healthier too by omitting the oil and using applesauce and maybe just a bit of coconut cream. While the sugar and fat is what makes cake taste delcious, there isn't a reason not to pump up its nutritional value!
Nutrimake Cinnamon Almond Teacake
What You Need
1 packet of Nutrimake Alcanut Flavour ( although Nutrimake Classic flavor should also work)
1.5 cup flour
1/2th cup vegetable oil
1 cup almond mylk
2 tablespoons chia seeds
1 cup jaggery powder (or sugar)
Pinch of Salt
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1 tablespoon cinnamon powder
1.5 teaspoons vanilla
1.5 teaspoons baking soda
1.5 teaspoons baking powder
How To Make
In a large bowl combine almond mylk, jaggery powder, vanilla, salt, and chia seeds. Let the chia seeds sit in the bowl for 5 minutes. They kind of work like eggs do for baking.
Now add the packet of Nutrimake, the flour, the baking powder and soda, and the cinnamon. Stir into a thick but moving batter. Add the nuts and give it a stir.
Pre-heat oven to 170c. Add batter to a greased cake tin and bake for 25-30 minutes depending on your oven.
Let cool. Cut up and serve at tea-time or eat while you're rushing out the door for work!
More questions about Nutrimake?
