Ludhiana undergrad’s startup secures export licence

What began as a family-inspired idea in a Ludhiana kitchen has now taken flight on the global stage. Harkirat Singh, a 20-year-old undergraduate student, has secured an export licence for his ready-to-cook food venture BHUMAL, marking a milestone in Punjab’s growing startup ecosystem.

The achievement comes under the mentorship of the NIDHI-TBI (National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations – Technology Business Incubator) at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), which has been nurturing young innovators and bridging traditional knowledge with modern markets.

Harkirat’s signature product, the ‘Ready-to-Cook Tadka Masala’, is crafted from dehydrated and blended onions, garlic, ginger, turmeric, green chilies and tomatoes. Each 35-gm sachet is portioned to prepare ‘tadka’ for half a kilo of vegetables or curry — bringing authentic Punjabi flavours to busy professionals, nuclear families, and now, international consumers.

With the export licence secured, Harkirat is working closely with the NIDHI-TBI team to refine packaging and labelling for global markets. The focus is on extending shelf life, ensuring nutritional transparency and strengthening brand appeal while retaining the traditional identity that makes BHUMAL unique.

Ramandeep Singh, principal investigator of NIDHI-TBI and director of the School of Business Studies at PAU, lauded the young entrepreneur’s determination. “Such ventures are vital for positioning Punjab as a hub for food innovation and export-oriented agri-business,” he said.

The mentorship team, including Gurinder Singh (CEO) and Sameer Gautam (business manager), has encouraged Harkirat to register with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), a step that could open doors to value-added categories and global supply chains.

This journey — from a household recipe to a globally competitive agri-business — captures the spirit of Punjab’s new generation of entrepreneurs. It reflects not only Harkirat’s vision, but also the role of PAU’s NIDHI-TBI in fostering technology-based startups that blend tradition with innovation.

For Ludhiana, it is a proud moment: A reminder that the flavours of Punjab, nurtured in family kitchens, can now travel across borders, carrying with them the story of youthful ambition, mentorship and the promise of India’s food future.