Startup Originals Team
In a unique blend of science and entrepreneurship, microbiologists Saloni Godbole Tewari and Milind Niphadkar co-founded Occamy BioScience in 2018 to deliver microbial-based, affordable nutraceutical solutions for livestock. Based in Maharashtra, the startup achieved an annual turnover of around ₹50 lakh in FY25 while impacting over 15,000 farmers, a testament to how scientific innovation and market need can align.
Founding Story: From Microbiology to Livestock Solutions
Occamy BioScience was born out of a serious challenge: ruminants in India represent a large livestock segment often underserved in terms of nutrition and health. The founders chose animal husbandry as their entry domain because it is “unorganised, high-potential and in need of scalable solutions,” according to Dr Niphadkar.
Saloni Godbole Tewari holds an MSc in Microbiology from the University of Mumbai and comes from an entrepreneurial family, bridging science and business. Dr Milind Niphadkar brings 17 years of R&D experience in pharma and holds a PhD from ACTREC (Mumbai) and a post-doc from CCMB Hyderabad.
Products & Business Model: Microbial Nutraceuticals for Livestock
Occamy’s product line is built around the concept of microbial proteins, probiotics, amino acids, minerals and vitamins customised for ruminants. Their key offerings include:
- Rakshak: immunity-booster for cows/buffaloes producing up to 8 litres/day; includes selenium, vitamin E, calcium and probiotics.
- Bovi Booster: designed for cows/buffaloes producing 8-20 litres/day; aims to improve milk quality, reduce somatic cell count and antibiotic residues.
- Jodi No 1: high-protein supplement for bulls and bison to build muscle strength, stamina and improve semen quality.
- BuckBooster: for goats aged above 4 months, weight-gain, immunity and digestion support.
They emphasise localised, scalable solutions:
“With Occamy BioScience, you’ll find cost-effective vegan microbial protein, enzymes, limiting amino acids, and innovative microbial feed solutions that help dairy businesses produce safer, healthier milk…”, Dr Niphadkar.
Impact & Figures: Growth, Turnover and Social Reach
The startup has achieved the following:
- Annual turnover of its nutraceutical division: approx ₹50 lakh in FY2024-25.
- From an initial turnover of about ₹5 lakh in its first year, they’ve grown significantly.
- Supported more than 15,000 farmers with improved returns and lower input costs.
- Employees: around 20 people; ambition to generate at least one job in each of India’s 766 districts aligned with One Health and SDG goals.
They also conducted baseline studies: blood samples from cows revealed low immunity markers; after 30 days of their supplement feeding, the biomarkers improved.
Challenges & Future Vision
Occamy identifies key challenges:
- Distribution remains skewed toward urban areas; reaching rural farmers at scale is harder due to logistics, awareness and cost constraints.
- The company is raising funds to scale up operations, build the team, launch new product lines and expand internationally.
Their future roadmap includes extending their microbial-nutraceutical approach beyond cattle and goats to other livestock categories like poultry, pets (cats & dogs) and perhaps more niche animals.
Key Takeaways for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
- Start with underserved domains: Occamy zeroed in on ruminants, a large yet neglected market, giving them room to innovate and scale.
- Leverage domain expertise: Founders combined deep scientific credentials with business acumen for credibility and impact.
- Build for impact and revenue: While the ₹50 lakh turnover may seem modest, the scale in terms of social impact (farmers, One Health) shows how startups can blend profit with purpose.
- Adopt a differentiated product strategy: Customised supplements for different animals and productivity levels helped them stand out.
- Plan for scale and distribution early: The challenge of rural reach underscores the importance of logistics, partnerships and distribution in agri-business.
