How we got Mr. Ratan Tata to fund our business? | Fynd Out with Ragini

In this episode of the Sustainable Business Podcast, we sit down with the founders of Boheco (Bombay Hemp Company) — India’s trail-blazing agro-enterprise that’s re-imagining the future of agriculture, wellness and beauty through plant-based innovation, with hemp at its core.Founded in 2013, Boheco’s mission is to Educate. Cultivate. Elevate. Working across farmers, scientists, policymakers and industry leaders to build a vertically-integrated ecosystem around industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis. Their vision: to be the pioneering hemp brand in India that is environmentally sound, socially inclusive and economically equitable. In this episode you’ll hear how Boheco overcame immense regulatory, cultural and business challenges: from being India’s only hemp company in 2013 to securing investment, changing perceptions of hemp vs cannabis, and launching products that span hemp manufacturing process, nutrition, wellness, and skincare.Tune in to understand how Boheco is shaping a sustainable future for India and inspiring a wave of eco-friendly startups through science, innovation, and compassion.Time Stamps:(00:00) - Precap(00:48) - Introduction of Boheco Founders(01:38) - How did Boheco come into incorporation?(04:48) - What inspired the formation of Boheco?(05:22) - Difference between hemp and ganja(07:07) - Family’s reaction to starting a hemp business(09:04) - Getting their first ever investment from Mr. Ratan Tata(10:55) - Strategy behind getting Mr. Tata to fund Boheco(13:01) - First meeting with Mr. Tata(15:00) - Other leading investors of Boheco (16:55) - Boheco being the only hemp business in 2013(18:20) - Difficulties of being in a hemp business(21:36) - Journey of transferring the perception of cannabis from Dope to Hope(23:45) - Hemp being the best source of protein(24:47) - How is Hemp cultivation beneficial for farmers?(26:27) - Explaining the NDPS Act, 1985(28:15) - Difference between CBD and THC(29:43) - Similarities between Opium and Cannabis (30:38) - How is cannabis beneficial for Cancer Fighters?(34:13) - Cannabis medicines being a good pain killer for chronic pain(37:36) - First ever product developed by Boheco(40:55) - Moving to the health and wellness sector (43:15) - Why are nutritionists not talking about hemp as a protein? (45:03) - How Boheco navigated COVID?(46:08) - What is Coronasomnia?(47:03) - Investing in product research and evidencing Boheco products(48:33) - Mental health being a stigma and hemp helping make it better(49:14) - How to build a community?(50:11) - Why is Boheco not a mainstream company even now?(52:53) - Advice for starting a business which is not mainstream in India?(55:38) - Closing & Thank youCatch the entire series on our YouTube channel – new episodes every Friday!Links:Fynd Out with Ragini Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fyndoutwithragini/Fynd Out Clips Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fyndoutclips/Ragini Varma Official: https://www.instagram.com/raginnivarma/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FyndOutwithRaginiAbout Fynd – Fynd is a global commerce platform that helps brands, retailers, and businesses build, manage, and scale their digital presence. Headquartered in Mumbai and backed by Reliance, Fynd powers online stores, omnichannel retail, logistics, and AI-driven experiences for over 2,300 brands. From e-commerce websites to AR try-ons, automation, and data-driven insights, Fynd enables businesses to create seamless customer experiences across online and offline channels — building the world’s most loved commerce ecosystem.