Rs 56 lakh in 9 months: Bengaluru couple quits IT jobs, serves 55,000 meals

Bengaluru couple Diya Krishnakumar and Adithya Natarajan launched Wellfed after struggling to find affordable home-style meals. The subscription startup has delivered over 55,000 meals and earned Rs 56 lakh in nine months.(Image: Instagram/Wellfed)New Delhi,Nov 14, 2026 08:00 ISTA common problem faced by working professionals led Bengaluru-based couple Diya Krishnakumar and Adithya Natarajan to start a food business. After long hours at work, the couple often found it difficult to prepare meals at home. Ordering food was an easy option, but they wanted meals that were healthy, affordable and similar to everyday home-cooked food.Unable to find a meal subscription service that met their needs, they decided to start one themselves. In September 2024, they left their jobs in the IT sector and launched Wellfed, a healthy meal subscription startup in Bengaluru.The couple started the business with Rs 15 lakh, most of which came from their personal savings. Between January and September 2026, Wellfed recorded revenue of Rs 56 lakh. The company has also served more than 1,500 customers and delivered over 55,000 meals.AN EVERYDAY PROBLEM LEADS TO A BUSINESS IDEADiya and Adithya studied computer science in Bengaluru and began their careers at the same IT company. After working in the corporate sector for more than three years, they found it difficult to manage their eating habits alongside their jobs. Adithya said that their work schedules often left them with little time to cook. Some days, they depended on takeaway food, while on other days, preparing dinner at home became difficult.Diya also felt that cooking took more time than online recipes suggested. "A 20-minute recipe online takes twice as long when you start making it in your kitchen," she told Startup Pedia.The couple began looking at meal subscription services that could provide lunch and dinner. However, they found that many services offered elaborate dishes and different cuisines rather than simple Indian meals.They wanted regular food such as dal, vegetables, roti and protein-rich preparations. When they could not find a service that offered these meals at an affordable price, they decided to build their own.STARTING WELLFED WITH RS 15 LAKHThe couple launched Wellfed in September 2024 with an investment of Rs 15 lakh. Their first team had six members, including the founders, a nutritionist, a cook, a steward and a delivery person.The nutritionist helped plan the meals and calculate their nutritional content. The team initially sent food to friends and family to collect feedback before serving a wider customer base.The response encouraged them to continue with their approach of providing familiar Indian meals.Wellfed's menu includes dishes such as dal, aloo gobhi, jowar roti, adraki chicken and chole chaat. It also offers protein sources such as paneer, tofu, soya and chicken.The menu includes wraps, biryanis and Indo-Chinese dishes for customers seeking other options.An early boost came when a Bengaluru-based nutritionist shared a reel about the startup on social media. This helped Wellfed bring in its first 100 customers.The founders also chose reusable lunch containers with steel lining instead of regular disposable packaging. The containers were sourced from a manufacturer in Maharashtra.REVENUE REACHES RS 56 LAKH IN 9 MONTHSWellfed generated around Rs 45 lakh in revenue during its first year of operations. Between January and September 2026, the company earned Rs 56 lakh, exceeding its first-year revenue in nine months.The startup has faced operational difficulties as well. In early 2026, LPG shortages affected its kitchen operations. The founders had to make changes to the menu, which slowed the company's growth during that period.Wellfed currently offers three subscription plans. Its three-day trial plan costs Rs 289 per meal. The two-week subscription costs Rs 279 per meal, while the monthly plan is priced at Rs 269 per meal.The plans include lunch and dinner, free delivery and guidance from a nutritionist. Customers on longer subscriptions can also carry forward unused meals.The founders now want to increase Wellfed's delivery coverage across Bengaluru and improve its kitchen capacity. They also plan to reach customers outside the city's IT and startup areas.The company is considering more dietary options, protein-rich additions and new meals. Hyderabad is among the markets being considered for future expansion.Wellfed began as an attempt by two working professionals to solve a problem in their daily lives. By offering familiar Indian food through a subscription model, Diya and Adithya have turned that problem into a business that has served more than 55,000 meals.- Ends