In a country where vegetarian diets dominate and sustainability is on the rise, Wakao Foods is emerging as the go-to plant-based meat startup in India. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Goa, Wakao is turning the humble jackfruit into a scalable, tasty, and healthy meat alternative — minus the guilt.
Shark Tank Spark & Scaling Fast
Wakao shot to fame during Shark Tank India Season 2, where founders Sairaj Dhond and Shraddha Bhansali asked for ₹1.5 crore for 5% equity. They walked away with ₹1.5 crore for 10% from investors Vineeta Singh and Namita Thapar.
Since then, this plant-based meat startup in India has exploded:
- Revenue jumped 600% to ₹18 crore
- Products available in 1,500+ stores (Nature’s Basket, Foodhall)
- Tie-ups with HORECA giants like Subway & Burger Singh
What’s Cooking? Jackfruit.
Wakao’s USP lies in being India’s first shelf-stable jackfruit meat brand with a 12-month shelf life. Their key products include:
- Jackfruit Jerky (₹199 for 50g)
- Pulled Jack (₹249 for 200g, 5 flavors)
- Ready-to-Cook Jackfruit Burgers (₹299 for 2 patties)
All products are made without synthetic ingredients, and come 40% cheaper than imported plant-based meats.
Business Model & Financials
Revenue Streams:
- D2C (40%) via website & subscription boxes
- Retail (35%) through modern trade
- HORECA (25%) across 200+ restaurants
FY24 Financials:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual Revenue | ₹18 Cr |
| Gross Margin | 60% |
| Operating Margin | 25% |
| Net Margin | 16% |
| Capacity | 10 tons/month |
This asset-light, farm-direct sourcing model is paying off for the brand.
Patents, Partnerships, & Pricing Power
Patents and Partnerships: How This Plant-Based Meat Startup in India Cuts Costs
Wakao Foods is a rapidly growing plant-based meat startup in India that combines food tech innovation with smart operations. At the heart of its product strength are two proprietary patents — one for its jackfruit texturization method that mimics the texture of real meat, and another for a natural preservative blend that offers a 12-month shelf life without using synthetic additives.
But what truly sets this plant-based meat startup in India apart is its integrated backend strategy. Wakao has partnered with ITC for co-packing, allowing it to scale production without owning heavy infrastructure. This asset-light model enhances flexibility and reduces fixed costs.
Wakao also runs solar-powered manufacturing facilities, cutting down energy expenses and aligning with its sustainability mission. More importantly, the brand works directly with jackfruit farmers, removing middlemen and reducing raw material costs significantly.
As a result, this plant-based meat startup in India enjoys:
- 30% lower input costs from farm-direct sourcing
- 20% energy savings through renewable power
- 15% reduction in overall production costs via co-packing synergies
This efficient blend of patents, partnerships, and purpose makes Wakao a standout plant-based meat startup in India, combining innovation, sustainability, and scale.
Their per unit economics are tight:
- CAC: ₹300 (B2C), ₹150 (B2B)
- LTV: ₹4,500 (B2C), ₹25,000 (B2B)
Customer Love & Brand Storytelling
As a plant-based meat startup in India, Wakao’s branding is top-notch.
They run:
- Demo kitchens with 50+ celebrity chefs
- Campaigns with vegan athletes
- Loyalty perks like “farm visits”
- A recipe app with 500+ UGC recipes
They’re not just selling jackfruit meat. They’re building a movement.
Future of Plant-Based Meat in India: Wakao’s Roadmap
Wakao is just getting started:
By 2024:
- Launching jackfruit bacon & sausages
- Exporting to UK via Ocado
- Adding blockchain traceability to track farm-to-fork
By 2025:
- Revenue: ₹40 crore
- Retail: 3,000+ stores
- Gross Margin: 65%
Why Wakao Foods Is the Plant-Based Meat Startup in India to Watch
- Saves 15,000L water/ton vs. animal meat
- Reduces 50 kg CO₂ per kg of product
- Offers jackfruit meat at ₹50/100g vs ₹180 for Beyond Meat
This plant-based meat startup in India combines clean ingredients, strong margins, and real purpose. And with a clear growth roadmap, patented tech, and investor backing — Wakao isn’t just a startup, it’s the future of Indian protein.
Want to order or partner with Wakao?
🌐 Visit www.wakaofoods.com
📩 For investments: invest@wakaofoods.com
🤝 For franchise: coo@wakaofoods.com
Also Read: Agriculture Startups in India
