When Sai Krishna Popuri couldn’t find healthy, tasty millet products for his diabetic father, he decided to make them himself. What began as a personal mission for his family's health has now grown into Health Sutra, a millet-based food brand that clocks an impressive Rs 2.5 crore in annual revenue.

This is the story of how an IITian ditched a secure corporate job to revive ancient grains and revolutionise India's approach to eating right.

The Personal Trigger That Sparked a Mission

Sai Krishna, an engineering graduate from IIT Kharagpur, was well on the path of corporate success when his father's diabetes diagnosis changed everything. As the family sought healthier food options, especially traditional grains like jowar, bajra, and ragi, Sai found the market to be shockingly underdeveloped. The available millet products were either bland, unappealing, or highly processed.

So, he began experimenting in his own kitchen. His goal: create millet-based products that didn’t compromise on taste or nutrition.

The Birth of Health Sutra

In 2013, with zero background in food manufacturing but a sharp eye for innovation and quality, Sai Krishna founded Health Sutra in Hyderabad. The company focused on making millets mainstream again, starting with everyday staples like:

  • Jowar and Ragi Flakes

  • Ready-to-cook Dosa and Idli mixes

  • Millet-based snacks

  • Ragi malt and energy drinks

His philosophy was clear: if millets are going to be accepted by modern consumers, they must taste as good as or better than wheat and rice products.

The Millet Movement Gains Momentum

What truly set Health Sutra apart was its focus on processing innovation. Unlike many competitors, the startup retained high fibre and nutritional content in its products while keeping the textures appealing to Indian palates.

Health Sutra started gaining popularity in South India through local supermarkets and health stores. The brand also began collaborating with:

  • Nutritionists and diabetic clinics

  • Schools and fitness centres

  • Farmers growing native varieties of millets

Over time, the product line expanded, and so did demand.

Rs 2.5 Crore in Revenue and Growing

Today, Health Sutra is a well-known name in the millet revolution sweeping India. With a team of over 50 people and multiple partnerships with farmer producer organisations (FPOs), the company now serves both urban and semi-urban markets.

Their annual revenue has touched Rs 2.5 crore, and they’re scaling up fast with plans to:

  • Launch millet-based baby food

  • Expand pan-India via e-commerce platforms

  • Export to health-conscious markets in the US and UAE

Educating India About Forgotten Grains

Sai Krishna believes awareness is as crucial as access. That’s why Health Sutra regularly organises millet workshops and tasting events in schools, apartments, and online communities.

He is particularly passionate about changing the perception of millets from “poor man’s grain” to “smart man’s superfood.”

Challenges Along the Way

Of course, the journey wasn’t easy. From convincing distributors to handle unfamiliar grain products, to educating urban consumers, and managing a supply chain with small-scale millet farmers, Sai had to overcome multiple challenges.

But with every success story from a diabetic family or a child who switched to ragi-based cereal, he was reassured that the mission was bigger than the obstacles.

Conclusion

Sai Krishna Popuri’s story is one of passion, purpose, and perseverance. He’s not just building a brand; he’s spearheading a movement to bring millets back to Indian plates in ways that are relevant, tasty, and sustainable.

From a concerned son to a food tech pioneer, Sai has proved that when personal problems spark public solutions, real impact follows.