About the Founder:
I am Harsh Kumar, a B.Sc. (Honours) graduate from the Department of Computer Science and Data Analytics at the Indian Institute of Technology Patna. My journey into food safety began with a deep concern for the widespread use of pesticides in agriculture and the lack of accessible detection methods for consumers. This personal motivation, fueled by an FSSAI article and the limitations of conventional lab testing I witnessed at ICAR, inspired me to develop an innovative, user-friendly solution. My background in data analytics and computer science equips me to leverage technology to address this crucial public health issue.
Vision:
Our vision is to empower every consumer globally with a simple, reliable tool to ensure the safety and quality of their food. We aim to foster a healthier society by promoting informed food choices and, in turn, encouraging more responsible and sustainable agricultural practices worldwide.
Mission:
Our mission is to develop and disseminate cost-effective, portable, and non-destructive devices for the qualitative detection of harmful chemical residues in fresh produce. We are committed to continuous innovation, focusing on accuracy, user-friendliness, and accessibility to make food safety a tangible reality for all.
Employees:
Currently, our team consists of 4 direct employees, including myself. As a nascent startup, we operate lean, leveraging external expertise for specific tasks as needed. We do not currently have indirect employees in a formal capacity.
Farmers Associated:
At this initial stage, we do not have direct associations with specific farmers. Our validation and training at ICAR RCER Patna involved testing on various types of produce, including those from local agricultural sources. We envision future collaborations with farmers, potentially through pilot programs or as our device gains widespread adoption, to help them ensure the quality of their produce before it reaches the market. Indirectly, every farmer adopting safer practices due to increased consumer demand for chemical-free produce will be positively impacted by our solution.
Areas of Operation:
Our current primary area of operation and focus is Patna, Bihar, India. This is where our foundational research and initial prototype validation, including the significant work at ICAR RCER Patna, have taken place. Our strategy for market entry will initially target urban and semi-urban centers within India. However, our recent Gold Medal win at the IPITEx Bangkok International Innovation Summit 2025 demonstrates our global potential, and we are exploring international expansion opportunities, beginning with strategic entry into markets like Belgium.
Product/Service Portfolio:
Our core offering is the FoodSafety Device, a handheld product designed for the qualitative detection of pesticide and harmful chemical residues on fruits and vegetables. In the future, our service portfolio may expand to include data analytics platforms for tracking and visualizing food safety trends and potential partnerships for larger-scale food quality monitoring solutions for businesses and governmental bodies.