Gurgaon Friends Trio Starts A D2C Dairy Brand To Offer Authentic A2 Bilona Ghee; Their ‘Gopalak Farms’ Clocks ₹36 Lakhs In Just Six Months

In Gurgaon, where the Indian startup ecosystem pulses with ambition, three childhood friends have quietly carved out a niche in one of the country's most traditional sectors.

Rishabh Jain, Ddipesh Kataria, and Mitali Thakur—the co-founders of Gopalak Farms—have transformed their shared passion for pure desi food products into a thriving dairy brand.

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Specialising in authentic A2 bilona ghee, the startup has clocked an impressive ₹36 lakhs in revenue in just six months since its commercial launch.

This is no overnight success story; rather, it's a testament to unwavering resilience, meticulous research, and a deep commitment to preserving India's rich civilisational heritage in traditional dairy practices.

The co-founders of Gopalak Farms have been on a bold mission to disrupt longstanding inefficiencies plaguing the country's adulterated, industrialised dairy products industry.

The Back Story of the Trio:

The trio's journey began not in the fields of rural India, but in the classrooms of an elite school in Sonipat, Haryana.

As childhood friends who first bonded in eighth grade, Rishabh, Ddipesh, and Mitali pursued diverse paths after school.

Rishabh and Ddipesh studied political science at Amity University in Gurgaon, while Mitali headed to Chandigarh for her higher studies.

After graduation, Rishabh joined his family business, Ddipesh delved into the world of law, and Mitali built a career in banking in her hometown of Manali, Himachal Pradesh.

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Their First Startup Together: Failure and the Lessons Learnt

Their first foray into entrepreneurship came in February 2022 with a simple idea: pre-made coffee sold from mobile carts across Delhi-NCR.

Scaling from one cart to 20 in six months showcased their hustle. But rapid growth exposed cracks—supply chain woes, inventory chaos, and divided attention from Rishabh's family business commitments.

By October 2022, they shut it down, incurring a financial loss of ₹8 lakh.

“That failed endeavor taught us invaluable lessons about the importance of having undivided commitment and robust operations from day one. It was a steep price, but those insights reignited our entrepreneurial fire,” recalls Rishabh Jain during an exclusive interview with Startup Pedia.

After a brief hiatus, the friends—now wiser and fully focused—reunited by mid-2024. This time, they poured their energy into identifying market gaps, armed with fresh research and a determination to avoid past pitfalls.

Identifying Gaps in India's Dairy Sector:

India's dairy products industry, a cornerstone of the F&B market, is projected to reach US$68 billion by 2030, but is rife with challenges.

Most dairy brands act as mere aggregators, sourcing from scattered farms without owning processing facilities. This leads to adulteration risks, inconsistent quality, and fragmented supply chains.

“After thorough research, we pinpointed significant inefficiencies in the supply chain of most dairy brands. They lack control over quality, purity, and traceability—turning premium products like A2 Gir cow ghee into a commoditised race to the bottom,” explains Ddipesh Kataria.

The trio saw an opportunity in the premium wellness farm food segment. Traditional production processes were being sidelined for cost-cutting, eroding nutritional integrity.

Inspired, they zeroed in on A2 bilona ghee, a product rooted in Vedic traditions, to bridge this gap.

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The Birth of Gopalak Farms: a Vertically Integrated Farm-to-Table Model

Leveraging Ddipesh's family's 20-acre certified organic farm in Alwar, Rajasthan, the co-founders adopted a vertically integrated model.

In August 2024, they built a community of farmers, sourcing milk from desi cow breeds like Gir—prized for their A2 cow milk but threatened by modern practices.

Pooling ₹20 lakhs from personal savings, they registered first as a partnership in December 2024 and launched an eight-month pilot programme.

This tested their ambitious vision: producing ethically sourced, sustainable dairy while preserving India's indigenous cow breeds.

By September 2025, they incorporated as Wild Organicals Private Limited, the parent of Gopalak Farms, and went full commercial.

The name "Gopalak"—Sanskrit for "one who protects and nurtures cows"—embodies their ethos of farm-to-table integrity and sustainable farming.

“We made the commitment to disengage from other pursuits. It was a bold step, but our shared history as friends made the transition seamless,” says Mitali Thakur, who left her banking career.

Gopalak Farms in Detail: Crafting Premium Products with Traditional Methods

At the core of Gopalak Farms is its flagship product: the authentic A2 bilona ghee, crafted via the 5,000-year-old Vedic bilona method.

Milk from hormone-free, grass-fed Gir cows is curdled into dahi, then hand-churned in small batches of 25-30 litres to yield just one litre of ghee.

Then, slow-simmered over wood fires, it retains probiotics, Omega-3s, and a nutty aroma—far superior to industrial alternatives.

"At Gopalak Farms, we produce ghee in small batches to preserve the nutritional integrity of A2 cow milk. This traditional Vedic bilona method sets us apart in a market flooded with shortcuts," Rishabh Jain explains.

Gir cow A2 bilona ghee retails at ₹2,349 for a litre, while buffalo A2 bilona ghee—richer and creamier—costs ₹1,599 for the same size.

The product lineup extends beyond ghee!

Unprocessed honeys include wild forest honey from Spiti Valley (₹499 for 500g) and tulsi honey from Madhya Pradesh (₹599 for 500g).

Cold-pressed and wood-pressed edible oils—groundnut oil at ₹459/litre, black mustard oil at ₹319, yellow mustard oil at ₹429, and sesame oil at ₹699—complement Gopalak Farms' pure organic jaggery and artisanal pickles, all ethically sourced with fair wages ensured for farmers and laborers across the supply chain.

These pure desi food products mainly target health-conscious individuals over 30—urban professionals seeking wellness alternatives free from adulteration.

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Navigating Challenges in a Highly Competitive Market:

As a bootstrapped startup in a highly competitive dairy brand landscape, Gopalak Farms faced many hurdles.

Consumer education was key: convincing buyers why premium pricing justified superior quality. Farm operations in rural Alwar demanded adapting to seasonal yields and hygiene standards.

Marketing on a lean budget relied on social media content, open-to-all farm tours, and word-of-mouth referrals.

“Operating a farm-to-table model tested our resilience daily. From coordinating labourers and farmers to ensuring consistent supply, we innovated at every turn to scale without compromising our quality and values,” Ddipesh comments.

And, finally, the founders’ efforts are paying off!

Serving over 4,500 satisfied customers pan-India via its D2C website, the startup boasts an impressive 90% repeat customer rate.

Rising brand recognition has propelled Gopalak Farms toward its ambitious ₹50 lakhs revenue target for FY 2025-26, with an impressive ₹36 lakhs already generated in just under six months since its full commercial launch.

"Our target market is health-conscious individuals who value and cherish pure desi food products. We guarantee pan-India delivery in just 3 days, backed by a lean team and loyal repeat customers," shares Mitali Thakur with Startup Pedia.

Looking at the Horizon: an Ambitious Vision for Growth and Expansion

With no external investor funding yet, Gopalak Farms reinvests revenues to grow.

“A couple of years down the line, we might be open to exploring strategic investments to scale marketing and exports. But for now, our bootstrapped model keeps us agile,” says Rishabh, pointing to Gopalak Farms’s bootstrapped model.

The co-founders’ bond has deepened—Ddipesh and Mitali recently tied the knot—fueling their unity.

Future plans include A2 paneer, milk, and exports to the Middle East and North America, where demand for authentic Indian farm-based products is surging.

“At Gopalak Farms, our ultimate calling is to serve both our community and our cows. This early success in the startup ecosystem is just the beginning. We're committed to disrupting the status quo with organic, sustainable, and traditional excellence,” Ddipesh Kataria concludes.

In a sector plagued by inefficiency and disruption, Gopalak Farms exemplifies how a trio from Gurgaon—rooted in India's new-age entrepreneurial spirit—can innovate while honouring Vedic heritage and clean-label ethos. 

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