• oRegion has raised Rs 55.5 lakh, including Rs 25 lakh from the Startup India Seed Fund and Rs 5.5 lakh from an HDFC grant, to expand its operations.
  • The startup has established distribution channels across direct-to-consumer services, Amazon, Jiomart, Tata1mg, and brick-and-mortar retail stores in major metropolitan areas.

A Vidarbha-based startup, oRegion, is making waves in the natural foods sector by promoting unprocessed, preservative-free products while empowering local farmers.

Founded by chemical engineers Mayank Jadhao and Rajat Nikhade, oRegion stands for “Original Regional Foods” and aims to provide consumers with fully traceable, unadulterated food products.

The startup directly partners with zero-budget natural farmers, tribal communities, and self-help groups (SHGs) to build a sustainable farm-to-table supply chain.

According to the founders, this model enhances consumer trust, bolsters rural economies, generates employment, and preserves traditional farming practices.

oRegion’s journey began with a struggling farmer, Sachidanand Talvekar, whose wife operated a cold-pressed oil unit. Despite producing high-quality products, they lacked market access. oRegion stepped in to bridge this gap, developing a procurement system that revived Talvekar’s business and linked him with consumers seeking chemical-free foods.

Beyond individual farmers, oRegion aims to tackle broader agricultural challenges in Vidarbha, including reliance on traditional cash crops, water scarcity, and limited market exposure. In less than a year, the startup has expanded its distribution through direct-to-consumer services, Amazon, Jiomart, Tata1mg, and brick-and-mortar retail stores in major metropolitan areas.

oRegion projects reaching Rs 1 crore in monthly revenue within the next one to two years, estimating a potential Rs 300 crore market opportunity for premium natural food products.

To date, it has raised Rs 55.5 lakh, including Rs 25 lakh from the Startup India Seed Fund and Rs 5.5 lakh from an HDFC grant. Now, the startup seeks additional funding to scale globally and encourage more farmers to adopt sustainable practices.

One of oRegion’s standout products is cold-pressed flaxseed oil, benefiting from Vidarbha’s optimal conditions for flaxseed cultivation. The oil, rich in omega-3 and antioxidants, has gained endorsements from leading nutritionists and fitness experts, reinforcing the brand’s reputation for purity.

Supported by figures like Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and featured in ThePlate, a Bangalore-based food news agency, oRegion is positioning itself as more than just a brand—it’s driving a movement to reconnect consumers with India’s agricultural heritage while promoting sustainable farming methods.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah