Jhunjhunwala backs Food Pharmer founder’s shift to startup

Padma Shri Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, speaking at TechSparks 2026, highlighted Revant Himatsingka’s transition from activist to startup founder as an example of India’s engineering talent potentially building physical products rather than relying on imports. Jhunjhunwala’s remarks come weeks after Himatsingka launched Only What’s Needed, a packaged food startup promising cleaner labels than established brands he previously criticized.

The comments reflect a broader debate Jhunjhunwala has long championed: India’s technical education system, while producing world-class engineers, still prioritizes theory over hands-on product development. His mention of Himatsingka’s pivot could indicate a view that such transitions might help address import reliance, though this remains part of an ongoing discussion.

While his new venture operates within foodtech, Jhunjhunwala’s public remarks may reflect curiosity or encouragement for founders exploring similar paths. Whether Only What’s Needed can scale beyond its activist origins remains to be seen.

Sources: yourstory.com