#10. Pushing Past Fear Makes Cottage Food Business Possible with Meghala Divakaran

Meghala Divakaran is a former Program Manager in a high-tech company and is now a cottage food baker! Her journey has been an interesting one. She started her own company, Vegan Superfoods, a cottage food business that offers vegan, nut-free, gluten-safe energy bars and cookies to fulfill a personal need (that ultimately changed into a business proposition) to have access to quality sources of protein to fuel her running efforts as a vegetarian runner. What started as a hobby, soon turned into an unbridled passion and a meaningful purpose that has brought her immense joy and satisfaction. Along this journey, her running buddies at Vibha - a nonprofit organization that supports the education of underprivileged children in the US and India - played a critical role. They encouraged, motivated, and literally pushed her to convert her passion into a business so that more people could have access to her bars and cookies. It has been a long process from getting the paperwork in order to get the cottage food license but she persevered and today she feels privileged to have the best business in the world offering food and nourishment that she loves and totally believes in direct from her home to fellow runners and health & fitness enthusiasts. Plus she has the ability to donate to important causes she believes in through this business. Connect with Meghala: Website - www.vegansuperfoods.net  Email - [email protected] Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VeganSuperfoods1 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/meghdiva/ Mentioned on the show: Vibha Running Club - https://ac.vibha.org/bayarea Chocho protein powder is a special breed of lupin that has been cultivated by the inhabitants of the Andean highlands in South America for millennia. Sacha Inchi Powder is a rich natural protein source that is grain-free, paleo-friendly, and easily digestible. Sacha inchi is considered a complete protein because it contains all nine essential amino acids that aid in workout recovery and support muscle growth.  Facebook groups: Cottage Food Law Group (Public) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/172462640307643/?ref=share&mibextid=S66gvF Creating Your California Cottage Food Business (Private) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/Creatingyourcaliforniacottagefoodbusiness/?ref=share&mibextid=S66gvF We Are Home Business Bakers (Private) -https://www.facebook.com/groups/WeAreHomeBusinessBakers/permalink/1488231368324072/?mibextid=W9rl1R Sugar Cookie Marketing (Private) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/SugarCookieMarketing/?ref=share&mibextid=S66gvF Podcasts:  The Forrager - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-forrager-podcast-for-cottage-food-businesses/id1500125186 Food Business Success With Sari Kimbell - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/food-business-success-with-sari-kimbell/id1527464922 #MeghalaDivakaran #VeganSuperfoods #CottageFoodBusiness #podcast #pocketsofknowledge This podcast is intended to educate, inspire, and empower you on your journey. This is not intended to treat any medical condition. If you are suffering from any medical conditions, please seek help from a qualified health professional. ——— Enjoy this Podcast? Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your friends so that they can be educated, informed, inspired & empowered! Thanks for listening! For more updates and episodes, visit the website www.pocketsofknowledge.com. You may also tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or Stitcher. If you enjoyed today’s episode of the Pockets of Knowledge Podcast, then hit subscribe and share it with your friends! ———