June 8, 2024
Empowering Health: The Journey of Veda and Sudha Gogineni in Combating Hidden Hunger
IITKGP Foundation
Veda Gogineni graduated from IIT Kharagpur in 2012 with a dual degree (B.Tech and M.Tech) in Biotechnology. After her graduation, she gained valuable experience working at Deutsche Bank and Meesho. In 2021, Veda co-founded Earthful, a plant-based nutrition startup, alongside her sister, Sai Sudha Gogineni. Sudha, who also graduated from IIT Kharagpur with a dual degree in Chemical Engineering, had previously worked at companies such as Uber (India) and UrbanTouch before joining Veda in their entrepreneurial venture.
Earthful's mission is to combat hidden hunger in India by providing science-backed, plant-based nutrition to address deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals. The need for Earthful’s mission is underscored by the fact that 57.2% of women of reproductive age in India suffer from anemia, primarily due to iron deficiency (LSE Blogs) (Tata Trusts Smiles). This high prevalence of anemia highlights the critical need for effective nutritional interventions. By offering clean, plant-based nutrition, Earthful aims to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable populations, particularly women, who are disproportionately affected by micronutrient deficiencies.
In an interview with bizzbuzznews.com, the sisters shared insights into their upbringing and journey to IIT Kharagpur. “Our father, a first-generation businessman in his family, had a modest upbringing. He pursued Civil Engineering and, despite having the opportunity to secure a job after graduation, he took a leap of faith and started his own business early in his career. Through sheer determination and hard work, he has established a thriving business in the infrastructure sector. Our mother, a graduate in Agricultural Sciences, was a bright student but chose to give up her career to take care of her two young children. She encouraged both of us to prepare for the IIT JEE exam and was a constant source of support behind all our successes. Without the inspiration from both our parents, we wouldn’t have come this far.”