Nutrition creator Revant Himatsingka, better known as Food Pharmer, has once again shown why he’s India’s most transparent entrepreneur. In his latest YouTube update, Revant revealed that his clean-label startup Only What’s Needed (OWN) made ₹1.7 crore in net revenue in August 2025, despite being stocked out for more than 20 days and selling only one product.
This open disclosure was part of OWN’s public board meeting, where the brand shares not just numbers but also challenges, customer complaints, and upcoming plans. The move is a first-of-its-kind in India’s food industry, setting a new benchmark for community-driven entrepreneurship.
Revant Himatsingka built his online following by exposing misleading food labels and advocating for honest, transparent nutrition.
With millions of followers on YouTube and Instagram, he launched OWN in July 2025 as India’s first “democratically built food platform.”
The brand’s concept is simple yet powerful: pricing, ingredients, and product decisions are crowd-verified and voted on by the community.
Only What’s Needed (OWN) brand started with whey protein and plans to expand into more categories chosen directly by its audience.
August brought a major milestone: ₹1.7 crore in net revenue, up from ₹1.36 crore in July. This growth came largely from word-of-mouth marketing and the trust of OWN’s loyal fan base, since the company spends nothing on ads.
What makes this figure more impressive is that OWN was out of stock for over 20 days, operating mainly through its own website with just one flagship product.
The demand reflects how much consumers value transparency in an industry often criticised for hidden ingredients and exaggerated claims.
Unlike most startups, OWN doesn’t hide its issues. Revant openly shared feedback from users and detailed how the team is fixing it:
- Mixability: Early batches had lumping issues, which were fixed in later versions.
- Packaging: Customers reported faulty zip locks; improved seals are now in place.
- Delivery delays: Stockouts and a single Mumbai warehouse slowed shipments, but new regional warehouses are being planned.
Revant also mentioned that Google search ads run by competitors targeting OWN keywords added extra hurdles. Still, he credited the community for helping OWN grow without traditional advertising.
The Road Ahead
OWN isn’t stopping at whey protein. Over 45,000 people have voted on future launches, including unflavored whey and plant protein. The fan-driven decision-making process ensures the products reflect real demand rather than market guesses.
Celebrity endorsements and creator shoutouts, from Badshah, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Namita Thapar, Fukra Insaan, Samay Raina, and Prashant Pitti (EaseMyTrip co-founder) have further boosted the brand’s credibility. Viral reviews, like Chirag Bajajatia’s video with 5.5 million views, also helped OWN capture attention nationwide.
The Food Pharmer x OWN story isn’t just about revenue, it’s about a new way of doing business. By holding public board meetings, sharing revenue breakdowns, and listening to customer complaints in real time, OWN is setting an example for what transparent, community-first brands can achieve.
For India’s food industry, this signals a shift: success doesn’t have to come from flashy ads or hidden margins. Sometimes, the best growth strategy is simple: be honest, involve your customers, and deliver what they truly want.
