Ludhiana, 28 April, 2025 (Yes Punjab News)
The School of Business Studies (SBS) at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), had the privilege of hosting a dynamic and ambitious 20-year-old entrepreneur, Mr Harkirat Singh.
Currently in the second year of his undergraduate studies in Ludhiana, Harkirat visited the SBS as a part of the prestigious NIDHI-TBI (National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations – Technology Business Incubator) program, a flagship initiative supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.
Hailing from a family that values tradition and innovation, Harkirat’s entrepreneurial journey is deeply rooted in his family’s culinary legacy. Inspired by the traditional recipes of his grandmother and mother, he has embarked on a mission to transform the age-old art of making tadka masala into a modern, scalable agribusiness venture.
Harkirat chose to forgo his earlier dream of settling abroad and instead focused on contributing to Punjab’s food innovation ecosystem. Encouraged by his father to stay in India, he explored the vast potential of the agribusiness sector.
His venture revolves around the processing and drying of essential tadka ingredients such as onions, garlic, ginger, turmeric, green chilies, and tomatoes. These ingredients are then blended and packed into convenient 35-gram sachets—each perfectly measured to prepare tadka for 500 grams of vegetables or curry.
The idea is simple yet powerful: to offer a traditional, homemade taste in a modern, ready-to-cook format that caters to the needs of working professionals, bachelors, nuclear families, and those with hectic lifestyles who often resort to unhealthy fast food.
Dr Ramandeep Singh, Principal Investigator of NIDHI-TBI (DST, GoI) and Director, SBS, lauded Harkirat’s vision and innovative approach.
He emphasized the importance of such ideas in promoting healthy eating habits while preserving culinary traditions. The SBS remains committed to supporting aspiring innovators like Harkirat Singh in their journey from idea to impact, he said.
Further enriching the interaction, Mr Gurinder Singh, CEO, and Mr Sameer Gautam, Business Manager, NIDHI-TBI, offered valuable mentorship on key aspects of business development.
They shared insights on effective packaging solutions, marketing strategies, label design, and logo development—all crucial components for building a strong brand identity and market presence in the food sector.
The visit served as a motivational and learning experience, not just for Harkirat but also for the academic and incubation community at PAU.
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