1. STARTUP DEBUT Aeka Biochemicals Pvt. Ltd
Women’s outfit eyes
farm revolutionKerala’s first women-owned biotech firm sows the seeds of chemical-free farming
By Sheena Joseph
K
erala’s first women-
owned Biotech startup,
Aeka Biochemicals Pvt.
Ltd, is making a spirited
attempt to script a new agricultural
revolution with the introduction
of their ‘Sasya’ series of microbial
plant growth promoters for safe and
chemical-free farming. It is a series
of microbial consortia of selected
species of naturally occurring soil
microorganisms developed and
tailored towards the needs of different
scales and types of farming, say Aeka’s
Founders, Aardra Chandra Mauli and
Gayathri Thankachi.
The duo has created five different
products in the Sasya series. Three
of them -- Sasya Sutra, Sasya Mitra
and Sasya Raksha -- are designed to
nurture plant growth and kill pests in
small farms and gardens. Sasya Sutra
is used via seed and root treatment,
and other two can be used via foliar
application. The last two products in
the series, Sasya Poshak and Sasya
Poshak+, are designed for large farms
and plantations, and they can be used
via seed and root treatment as well as
foliar application. These products are
pocket-friendly, and the Aeka team
hopes that Kerala’s agricultural fields
will soon become chemical-free.
Aardra and Gayathri’s journey
towards the dream of Aeka began
during their student years at Sree
Chitra Thirunal College of Engineering.
When most women think of starting a
business, the idea of a cafe or boutique
figures on top of their list. Not many of
them have the ability to turn their love
for academics into a viable business
proposition. Aardra and Gayathri
did just that. They started a biotech
company since their educational

2. January 2016 I FUTURE WOMAN 27
background was that of biotechnology and biochemical
engineering. “The idea of starting a company was something
we had been extremely interested in from our second year
at college. In 2014, we decided to take the plunge, and
registered Aeka Biochemicals Pvt. Ltd. Aeka has been a
long-cherished dream of ours,” says Aardra.
“Lack of job opportunities and campus placements
in the field of biotechnology in Kerala, and the resulting
pressure on graduates to change streams, made us realise
that we need to be job creators rather than job seekers,”
adds Aardra. While others saw the absence of biotech
startups in Kerala as a problem, the Founders of Aeka saw
this as an advantage. They thought of it as an opportunity to
do something different and to try innovative ideas without
being judged. While most women find it difficult to garner
support for their business ideas, Aardra and Gayathri just
got lucky that their family and friends didn’t doubt their
integrity even once. Everyone threw their weight behind the
duo and provided guidance at every step.
But there were other challenges on the way. One major
issue that the Aeka founding team faced was the lack of a
single, comprehensive source of information regarding the
legal and regulatory processes that were to be pursued for
licenses to start a company. “But guides, mentors, and local
authorities proved to be supportive, and soon, we overcame
the initial hassles,” says Gayathri.
The company was bootstrapped with the savings
of Aardra and Gayathri. Help was round the corner: in
November 2014, Aeka was shortlisted and selected for a
soft loan from the Kerala State Entrepreneur Development
Mission scheme of the Kerala government and Kerala
Financial Corporation.
In January 2015, Aeka began the establishment
of a laboratory and small scale production facility at
Vazhuthacaud, Trivandrum. After six months, scientific work
commenced at the company’s newly-established laboratory.
And it was in October this year that the Sasya range of
products was introduced to the market.
Aardra and Gayathri believe in green solutions. Aeka’s
Vazhuthacaud facility is optimised to be an eco-friendly,
pollutant-free, and zero-effluent zone. The team had taken
a conscious decision to start in a small way by doing all
that is in their power to minimise waste and energy loss at
the facility. “We want to maximise our contribution to the
community while staying green in all of our efforts. Success
comes when you put in your best efforts and stay true to
your vision and values,” says Gayathri.
The company is promoting women empowerment as
well. Other than participating in the women empowerment
schemes of the Kerala government, the company is a
member of bodies such as the Federation of Indian Women
Entrepreneurs. “Being young women ourselves, we believe
that we can help our society reach greater heights by giving
women a helping hand,” says Aardra.
The duo believes that their personal bonding is the
x-factor of Aeka. “We have the same opinion about some
things, and opposite views on certain other things. This is
very productive, because it gives us two distinct and diverse
viewpoints which lead to new and innovative ideas,” says
an upbeat Gayathri. “We also have different skill-sets which
help us handle multiple aspects of nurturing a startup in the
best possible manner,” adds Aardra with a cheery smile.
The work atmosphere at Aeka is fun and vibrant. The
credit goes to the promising morale of the youth. Aeka
wants to establish itself as a company that addresses global
as well as local consumer needs. It is feasible because
organic farming and food security movements are gaining
momentum in India. In this scenario, the Sasya series holds
much significance and has a bright future. Aardra and
Gayathri hope that they can make a significant contribution
to the green cause, and rise to the challenge of bettering a
city, a state, a beautiful nation, and in time, our Earth.