\u201cMy first job wasn\u2019t my dream, but it was survival,\u201d Sudharshan recalls, his voice tinged with the weight of those early struggles.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Years later, in 2019, Sudharshan married Pravallika V., a fellow engineer with an MBA and a shared passion for innovation. <\/p>\n Their union marked the beginning of a partnership that would soon reshape India\u2019s D2C F&B market. But the road to The Pickls<\/a>, their Bangalore-based food startup, was paved with trials, triumphs, and a bold \u20b925 lakh leap of faith.<\/p>\n From Corporate to Culinary: A Bold Pivot<\/p>\n After working for over a decade in the Indian IT sector, in late 2020, Sudharshan moved to the UAE for better career opportunities, while Pravallika remained in Bangalore.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing apart in the first year of marriage wasn\u2019t easy, especially during the COVID pandemic,\u201d says Pravallika V., now the co-founder & COO of The Pickls.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n However, they endured the distance.<\/p>\n By 2023, Sudharshan was thriving in the UAE, earning over \u20b960 lakh annually, while Pravallika held her own in Bangalore\u2019s IT scene. Yet, the couple\u2019s hearts yearned for more than corporate success.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe survived the distance and the pandemic, as we wanted to build something together,\u201d Pravallika continues, as her eyes light up with determination.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In mid-2023, a family emergency brought Sudharshan back to India. His father\u2019s heart surgery was a turning point. Leaving behind lucrative job offers in Europe, he chose family and entrepreneurship.\u00a0<\/p>\n The couple first launched\u00a0Frontial Technologies<\/a>, an IT consulting firm, which flourished with funding and success. But their true calling lay elsewhere\u2014in the vibrant, spicy world of Andhra homemade pickles.<\/p>\n \u201cWe realised we could combine and leverage our tech & marketing expertise to share Andhra\u2019s authentic flavours with the world,\u201d recalls Sudharshan M. K., the co-founder & CEO of The Pickls, during an exclusive interview with\u00a0Startup Pedia<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n With \u20b925 lakh of their hard-earned savings, they founded\u00a0The Pickls in December 2023, a D2C food startup offering homemade pickles, millets, and superfood powders.<\/p>\n Creating a Community-driven Brand:<\/p>\n As a startup, The Pickls wasn\u2019t just about food; it was about connection. The couple envisioned a brand that empowered local women in Andhra Pradesh, who handcrafted each jar of pickles with age-old recipes and ingredients.<\/p>\n \u201cAt The Pickls, we stay true to what matters the most: real ingredients, honest recipes, and the taste of home,\u201d says Dileep Kollu, the startup\u2019s Director of Operations and a minority equity partner in the company.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Every product\u2014be it tangy mango pickles, fiery non-veg prawn pickles, or nutrient-packed moringa powders\u2014uses no preservatives or artificial colours, embodying \u201cclean-label goodness.\u201d <\/p>\n The startup also supports Karnataka farmers by sourcing organic millet directly, ensuring fair compensation and sustainable agriculture.<\/p>\n \u201cBeyond our products, we\u2019re building a community. We\u2019re empowering village folks, especially the women, and revitalizing good farming practices,\u201d Sudharshan explains to Startup Pedia. <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n This social impact sets The Pickls apart in the competitive Indian startup ecosystem<\/a>, where purpose-driven brands resonate deeply.<\/p>\n Read More: Started with \u20b91 Cr, These Brothers Now Run a \u20b910 Cr\/Month Home & Kitchen Empire, Raises $2.2M Seed Round<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong>Navigating the Challenges in the D2C Arena:<\/p>\n Launching a pickles startup in India\u2019s crowded D2C F&B market was no small feat. <\/p>\n The couple faced fierce competition from established players and logistical nightmares\u2014late deliveries, damaged goods, and even fraudulent refund claims.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the beginning, we had to bear a lot of losses resulting from logistical issues,\u201d Sudharshan admits.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n To attract customers, they offered steep discounts, dipping into their personal funds to keep the business afloat.<\/p>\n Another hurdle was navigating e-commerce marketplaces like Amazon and Flipkart.<\/p>\n \u201cInitially, we did try the e-commerce marketplaces, but their commissions were crippling. We realised our D2C model gave us better control and connection with the customers,\u201d Pravallika reveals. <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n This pivot proved wise, allowing The Pickls to focus on authenticity and direct engagement through its website and WhatsApp<\/a>, even as working capital remained a constant challenge.<\/p>\n \u201cIn today\u2019s Indian startup ecosystem, tech companies get funding easily, but D2C startups like ours have to fend for themselves,\u201d Sudharshan notes, highlighting the funding gap for homegrown brands.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Yet, their resilience paid off. By May 2024,\u00a0The Pickls was launched, serving customers across India and beyond.<\/p>\n Read More:\u00a0This engineering dropout reached out to ISRO scientists and started a space tech startup that builds satellites \u2013 now valued at Rs 100 Cr<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The Taste of Success: Growth and Impact<\/p>\n From a modest 50 products\u2014veg and non-veg pickles, superfood powders like idli and curry leaves\u2014the startup expanded to over 75 SKUs by late 2024, adding organic and ready-to-cook millet products like upma, khichdi, and pasta.\u00a0<\/p>\n Prices are accessible, with veg pickles starting at \u20b9199 for 250 grams, non-veg at \u20b9459, and millets from \u20b980 to \u20b9149. Similarly, all its superfood powders of 250-gram packs have one price point, i.e., \u20b9199.<\/p>\n \u201cOur customers love the taste and the fact that our pickles don\u2019t stain fingers or cause acidity,\u201d Pravallika says with pride.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In just one year,\u00a0The Pickls has served over 8,000 customers across India, the USA, the UK, the UAE, Canada, and African nations, with plans to enter Malaysia and Singapore.<\/p>\n A small offline store in Bangalore\u2019s KR Puram draws local fans, while an upcoming experience store will let customers taste and smell the products firsthand. <\/p>\n The revenue hit \u20b912 lakh in FY 2024-25, with a target of \u20b930 lakh this year. <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not profitable yet, but sustainability is our goal. The real taste of success is in perseverance,\u201d Sudharshan asserts.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Read More: Three Friends From Amritsar Thought Of A Startup Idea While Sipping On Tea \u2013 Now Their Outstation Taxi Service Clocked Rs 15 Cr In FY24<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The Road to the Future:<\/p>\n\n
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![\"CEO](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ceo-of-the-pickls-sudharshan-mk-with-his-team-at-an-exhibition-2025-07-08-16-57-57.jpeg\")
\u00a0Ceo of The Pickls Sudharshan M. K. with his Team<\/p>\n\n
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![\"Organic](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/organic-foxtail-millet-2025-07-09-11-02-24.jpg\")
Organic Foxtail Millet by The Pickls<\/p>\n\n
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![\"Drumstick](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/drumstick-leaves-savory-powder-2025-07-08-17-02-42.jpg\")
Drumstick Savory Powder, a Product by The Pickls<\/p>\n
![\"WhatsApp](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/whatsapp-image-2025-06-13-at-63003-am-2025-07-09-10-39-32.jpeg\")
Sudharshan M. K. and Pravallika.V with their child<\/p>\n