Senior entrepreneurs launch science-backed millet brand
Overcomes challenges of traditional millet preparation such as soaking, fermenting, grinding, or slow cooking
image for illustrative purpose
Visakhapatnam: HETC Foods Private Limited announced the launch of its new-age food brand “Navdhan”, a range of scientifically processed sprouted millet powders here on Monday.
Navdhan aims to make millet consumption easy, scalable, and sustainable. Currently, the products are available in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and soon they will be made available across India stated in a press here. They are also available online through e-commerce portals, through the company website, as well as the retain network.
The real challenge is cooking difficulty & time it consumes. Traditional millet preparation often involves soaking, fermenting, grinding, or slow cooking. In today’s fast-paced lifestyles, this complexity discourages daily use compared to rice or wheat. The second major concern is digestibility concerns Improperly processed millets contain anti-nutrients (phytates, tannins) that can reduce mineral absorption and cause bloating or discomfort. Without awareness of sprouting or scientific processing, many consumers abandon millets after a poor experience. The Navdhan addresses these concerns.
Visakhapatnam-born and brought-up Sai Srinivas Vavilala and Srinivas Garimella, Co-Founders of HETC Foods Private Limited, serial entrepreneurs aged 55 plus, outlined the vision behind Navdhan and the science-driven approach adopted to reintroduce millets in a more nutritious, digestible, and convenient form for modern Indian households. Industrial-scale sprouting is the first-of-its-kind approach, they claimed. Srinivas Garimella told Bizz Buzz that experience-led entrepreneurship is emerging as a powerful force, proving that decades of industry knowledge, discipline, and problem-solving can create **deeper, more sustainable innovation**. Senior and serial entrepreneurs bring maturity, patience, and a long-term perspective that many early-stage ventures lack.
He said "by challenging the youth-centric startup stereotype, they inspire working professionals, retirees, and second-career founders to reimagine entrepreneurship as a lifelong pursuit. Their journeys also offer strong human-interest value—showing that in startups, **wisdom can be as valuable as speed**, and experience can be the foundation for meaningful, impact-driven businesses." Srinivas Vavilala, CEO of HETC Foods, said that to become successful startup entrepreneurs, age is no barrier. He said startups are no longer the exclusive domain of the young.
The founders of the outfit said that Navdhan represents the convergence of traditional food wisdom and modern engineering discipline. “Millets have always been part of India’s food heritage, but their full nutritional potential is often locked by anti-nutrients. At HETC Foods, we apply scientific rigor to sprouting, processing, and milling, ensuring better mineral absorption, improved digestibility, and consistent quality,” Srinivas Vavilala said.
Under the Navdhan brand, HETC Foods has developed a controlled sprouting process that carefully regulates water quality, soaking duration, sprouting conditions, hygiene, temperature, and milling. This process significantly reduces anti-nutrients such as phytates and tannins, thereby unlocking essential minerals and enhancing bioavailability.
