Welcome to the fifth episode of Magazine St. Kitchen x Swiggy presents Speak Greasy with Gauri Devidayal Season 4. This episode features Rashmi Daga, the founder of FreshMenu, one of India’s leading food-tech companies. Rashmi’s journey from the corporate world to entrepreneurship is an inspiring tale of resilience, innovation, and navigating challenges in the fast-paced F&B industry.

In this candid conversation, Rashmi shares the unique shift from her career in IT at IBM to the art industry and then to the ever-evolving world of food tech. Having moved to Bangalore, Rashmi thrived in its vibrant startup ecosystem, relishing the challenges and opportunities for growth. Her transition into entrepreneurship was a gradual process, influenced by her ability to adapt and tackle ambiguity head-on. Rashmi discusses the mindset needed to venture into the F&B business, emphasising the importance of madness, resilience, and optimism in building a successful brand.

Rashmi also opens up about her early experiences, including her upbringing in a Marwadi household, where academic success was paramount. She credits her time at IIM Ahmedabad for providing her with the financial freedom and strategic mindset that helped shape her entrepreneurial path. From bootstrapping her first startup, AFDAY, to eventually founding FreshMenu, she reflects on the lessons learnt from each step, including the tough decision to shut down her first business when it didn’t work out.

FreshMenu’s innovative approach to on-demand food delivery—starting with a daily changing menu of global cuisines—has transformed the way Indians think about convenience and quality in food. Rashmi talks about the importance of understanding customer needs, particularly when it comes to creating balanced, flavourful meals that cater to busy office-goers. She shares how FreshMenu’s cloud kitchen model was born out of necessity, allowing for scalability and flexibility at a lower capital expenditure than traditional restaurants.

Throughout the episode, Rashmi addresses key challenges that come with building a food-tech business, including scaling kitchen operations, hiring the right talent, and managing customer expectations. She discusses the role of technology in FreshMenu’s success, focusing on how it has facilitated convenience and ease for both customers and staff. Rashmi also touches on the importance of creating a supportive work environment and managing self-doubt as an entrepreneur.

In this episode, you’ll also hear Rashmi’s thoughts on being a woman entrepreneur and the unique challenges she’s faced in securing funding, growing a brand, and managing work-life balance as a mother. From raising a family to building a business, Rashmi’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, faith in oneself, and the value of having a strong support system.

Tune in to this episode for insights into building a scalable food-tech business, overcoming obstacles, and finding the balance between ambition and self-care. Rashmi’s story is one of courage, grit, and a relentless drive to succeed in the dynamic world of food and tech.

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