Entrepreneur | Social Worker | Motivational Founder of Namo "The Legacy of India" | Net Zero FellowComing from Kovilpatti, a Tier 3 city in Tamil Nadu, I appreciated every opportunity that came my way. When I was studying in Chennai, I had the chance to visit the trade fair held at the Chennai Trade Centre. My keen interest in digital arts drew me to the booths related to the packaging industry. After graduation, I returned to my hometown and discovered that none of the local peanut candy brands manufactured in Kovilpatti met international packaging and quality standards. I saw this as an opportunity to launch my own brand. I and my friends manufactured Kovilpatti's famous traditional Kadalaimittai (peanut candy) and marketed it under the brand Namo Candy. I was determined to provide distinctive packaging without compromising the quality of the native product. Namo Candy was the first peanut candy brand to use zip-lock stand-up pouches and eliminate the use of chalk powder. The brand quickly gained traction and export potential. A venture capitalist with a strong marketing background from Coimbatore made a proposition to invest in our company. Since startup ecosystems were not familiar in those days, I had no knowledge about venture capital. I turned down the offer and continued the business in a traditional way.We also worked as contract manufacturers for a few well-known companies, but discontinued later as it wasn't aligned with my vision of building a brand. Later on, with the knowledge gained, my friends successfully established their own Kovilpatti Kadalaimittai manufacturing companies and are now profitable.The Government of India is taking various initiatives to preserve and promote Indian native foods. A number of traditional food items native to a specific place have been identified and accredited with GeoTag. State governments also provide subsidies, encouraging small-scale manufacturers to incorporate new technologies into their production. However, there is no brand with a proper channel to make traditional Indian food products reach domestic and international markets. To overcome these barriers, we are developing a brand called Namo, "The Legacy of India," that will ensure the availability of high-quality traditional Indian foods in both domestic and international markets by procuring directly from unorganised native Indian food manufacturers.