A founder approached us with the idea for a popped protein chips brand—positioned as a healthier alternative in a highly competitive FMCG snack category. The vision was clear: a product that met specific nutritional benchmarks, delivered on taste, and could stand alongside leading brands in quality and perception.

However, the founder had two clear constraints:

• He did not want to set up an in-house manufacturing unit
• The brand needed to launch lean, without heavy cash burn until fundraising

We stepped in as an end-to-end execution partner, owning everything from product formulation to supply chain setup and launch readiness.

Our focus was not just to build a product—but to ensure it could be manufactured, sourced, packaged, priced, and launched sustainably.

We began with product and formulation development, working closely with the founder to define nutritional requirements while ensuring taste parity with top competitors. This phase involved extensive ingredient research to balance protein content, flavour, texture, and cost—without compromising on ingredient availability or scalability.

Once the formulation direction was finalised, we moved into vendor and manufacturing exploration. We conducted multiple rounds of sampling and testing with different chip manufacturers, evaluating each on:

• Taste consistency
• Production quality
• Ingredient sourcing
• Operational reliability
• Scalability

This helped us narrow down a factory that met both product and commercial requirements.

Parallelly, we built the supply chain ecosystem around the product. This included sourcing ingredient vendors, evaluating availability and costs, and ensuring supply continuity. For packaging, we identified vendors who could deliver sustainable, shelf-stable packaging aligned with the brand's ideology. Multiple packaging options were tested for durability, shelf life, and product protection.

All product samples were sent for lab testing, after which final adjustments were made to formulation and packaging. We then moved into commercial structuring, finalising pack sizes, pricing, margins, and combo offerings—ensuring the product was competitive while remaining viable at low volumes.

With the product ready, we supported the founder in finalising brand-aligned packaging design, ensuring it reflected both the health positioning and mass-market appeal needed in the FMCG space.

Given the founder's decision to avoid heavy marketing spend before fundraising, we designed a low-budget, capital-efficient GTM strategy. The focus was on:

• Controlled market entry
• Learning-led distribution
• Avoiding early-stage cash burn
• Building proof points for future investor conversations

The GTM plan prioritised select channels and phased rollout, ensuring the brand could enter the market thoughtfully while preparing for scale post-investment.