When life knocked her down, Poonam Sharma didn’t just rise—she built an empire.

Once a homemaker struggling with financial distress, public humiliation, and even partial paralysis, Poonam Sharma is now the proud founder of a thriving millet-based food business. With over 100 products under her label and customers across the globe, her story is a shining example of how courage, purpose, and resilience can rewrite destinies.

The Turning Point: A Crisis at Home

It all began with a sudden and severe financial crisis. Poonam’s husband lost his job, and the family spiraled into debt. Their children were expelled from school for unpaid fees, and they had to rely on relatives for basic support. The social stigma that followed was even harder to bear. She recalls being humiliated by neighbors and acquaintances, often made to feel “less than” simply because of her financial condition.

Around the same time, Poonam also suffered from a spinal issue that left her partially paralyzed for months. Doctors advised her complete bed rest, but even in pain, her thoughts were consumed by one thing: how to lift her family out of the darkness.

From Needle and Thread to Nutritional Gold

Her first step was stitching. Poonam began tailoring clothes to earn whatever she could from home. She then took small cooking orders—laddoos, pickles, papads—things she could make with limited resources. But it wasn’t enough.

The big breakthrough came when she discovered millets.

A forgotten grain in most urban kitchens, millets were once the staple of Indian diets—nutrient-dense, climate-resilient, and diabetic-friendly. Poonam realized that not only were they a healthier alternative, but they could also become the foundation of a business model that resonated with India’s growing demand for clean, traditional foods.

She began experimenting in her kitchen—creating millet-based cookies, rotis, flours, snacks, and even breakfast mixes. The response from her neighborhood was overwhelming. People were drawn to both the nostalgia and the health benefits of her products.

Building the Brand

With no formal training in business or food tech, Poonam taught herself everything—marketing, labeling, compliance, packaging, shelf life, and sourcing. She participated in local food exhibitions and self-help group stalls, slowly building a name for herself.

Her millet brand—now offering over 100 SKUs—includes:

  • Jowar and Bajra cookies

  • Ragi noodles and pasta

  • Millet laddoos and snack mixes

  • Gluten-free flours and baby food

  • Ready-to-cook upma, khichdi, and dosa mixes

Word spread, and soon her products were being shipped internationally through digital platforms and organic food distributors. Her enterprise became self-sustaining, providing employment to local women and promoting ancient grains in the modern market.

Recognition and Growth

Today, Poonam’s brand is widely recognized not just for its quality, but also for its heart. She has been featured in women entrepreneurship forums, received accolades from government bodies promoting millet farming, and has become an advocate for traditional food systems and female empowerment.

What’s more, she’s now able to fund her children’s education and proudly walks into schools and offices that once turned her away.

Challenges Along the Way

Poonam’s journey was anything but easy. From learning food safety protocols to managing logistics and inventory, every step involved overcoming a steep learning curve. Initially, banks turned her down for loans due to lack of collateral. She also faced skepticism for choosing an “unsexy” product like millets.

But her faith in the power of good food and hard work kept her going.

The Larger Mission

For Poonam, this isn’t just a business. It’s a way to:

  • Empower other women like her to believe in their abilities

  • Bring back traditional grains into Indian kitchens

  • Make nutritious food accessible without chemicals or preservatives

She now conducts millet awareness workshops, supports local farmers by sourcing directly, and trains rural women in millet processing to help them start small ventures.

Conclusion

Poonam Sharma’s story is not just about business—it’s about rising from rock bottom and turning pain into power. Her millet-based food empire stands as a testament to the strength of Indian women entrepreneurs and the silent revolutions happening in kitchens across the country.

She once said in an interview, “I had two options—complain or create. I chose to create.” And in doing so, she has fed not just families, but also the spirit of hope, health, and healing.