In 2020, while most of the world battled uncertainty, a young founder named Vibha Harish was wrestling with a different kind of dilemma: how to bring clean, effective supplements to Indian consumers without compromising on quality or control.
Back then, Cosmix was just a fledgling brand operating out of a modest 550 sq ft room. The space doubled as a warehouse, packaging unit, and lab. Every order barely 10 units a day, was hand-packed. Formulations were self-tested, and decisions were guided more by instinct than playbooks.
“Most third-party manufacturers wanted a commitment of 10,000 units and our formulation. That was a massive risk,” recalls Vibha. “We just weren’t ready to hand over control.”
That hesitation would become the cornerstone of Cosmix’s evolution.
Choosing the Harder Road: Manufacturing In-House
Many early-stage startups opt for outsourcing to scale faster. But Cosmix, co-founded by Vibha Harish and Soorya Jagadish both engineering graduates, took the unconventional route. With Vibha’s background in manufacturing, they decided to build their own end-to-end production ecosystem.
Two years ago, that leap of faith materialized into a 14,000 sq ft factory built from scratch. Today, that facility meets ISO and HACCP standards and is the backbone of the brand’s current capacity: an impressive 2,500 units a day.
“Building in-house meant learning everything. From operating machines to understanding regulatory compliance, it was our first exposure to real-world manufacturing. But the control it gave us was worth every challenge,” says Vibha.
That control has enabled Cosmix to maintain ingredient integrity, closely monitor quality, and pivot quickly based on customer feedback, something contract manufacturers rarely allow.
Ugly Scoops, Beautiful Values
Perhaps nothing embodies Cosmix’s philosophy better than the now-famous “ugly scoop.”
As Cosmix scaled into protein products, Vibha was determined to ditch single-use plastics. The result? India’s first biodegradable scoop in a protein pack, made from compostable granules derived from plant-based materials.
They’re not glossy. They’re not pastel Pinterest dreams. But they work—and they decompose without a trace.
“I tried to make them cute,” Vibha admits with a laugh. “Different colors, fun patterns, but it was distracting from the goal. We prioritized functionality over aesthetics. It wasn’t an easy call, but it was the right one.”
That scoop isn’t just a symbol of eco-innovation; it’s a reflection of Cosmix’s no-nonsense promise, clean supplements made responsibly, transparently, and with long-term impact in mind.
The Power of Small Batches and Rapid Iteration
Owning their production also gave Cosmix a competitive edge in experimentation.
Free from rigid minimum order quantities (MOQs) imposed by external vendors, Cosmix began testing small batches and limited-edition formulations. This agile approach helped the brand remain responsive to evolving consumer needs, whether it was in protein texture, flavor, or even packaging format.
“Customer feedback gets implemented faster when you own your process,” says Vibha. “It’s why we’ve been able to evolve so quickly.”
A Factory Run by Women
While product innovation may have made headlines, it’s the team behind the machines that makes Cosmix exceptional.
Over the past four years, more than 40 women have worked at Cosmix’s factory, learning not just packaging and operations, but also machine handling, digital skills, and inventory management.
“It’s one of my proudest achievements,” Vibha shares. “We didn’t just create jobs, we created a knowledge-sharing ecosystem. These women are building skills they can carry anywhere.”
It’s a quiet revolution in a sector often overlooked in India’s startup landscape: industrial employment that empowers women beyond traditional roles.
The Road Ahead: No Compromises, No Shortcuts
Today, Cosmix’s plant-based supplements are shipped across the country, with a growing base of loyal customers who trust the brand not just for its products, but for its principles.
The journey from a cramped room to a custom-built, regulation-grade factory wasn’t just a manufacturing upgrade, it was a values-first decision that shaped every part of the business.
As the clean nutrition space in India continues to grow, Cosmix is positioning itself not just as a product company but as a standard-setter. With full-stack control, a climate-conscious mindset, and a people-first approach, it’s quietly rewriting what scale can look like for a D2C wellness brand in India.
And while the scoops might not win design awards, they represent something more enduring: a commitment to doing business the hard way, because it’s the right way.
About Cosmix
Founded in 2020 by Vibha Harish and Soorya Jagadish, Cosmix is an India-based clean nutrition brand that offers plant-based supplements designed to support wellness with transparency and integrity. The company manufactures all its products in-house at an ISO and HACCP-certified facility, focusing on sustainable innovation and inclusive employment practices.
Also Read: Earthful: Sisters Leading India’s Plant-Based Wellness Rise
