Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sourabh Kharait, founder and CEO of MAGNAK- IGH Naturals, located in Rocklin, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We make electrolyte-based hydration products for athletes and patients suffering from dehydration and its after-effects. We are also creating customized medical food for patients suffering from malnutrition in chronic diseased states (of the kidney and liver).
Our first formula, MAGNAK is a magnesium-rich electrolyte mix with a balanced ratio of other electrolytes dedicated to endurance athletes. The formulation helps prevent muscle cramps and improves their performance so they can hit more personal records.
Our second product, HuMOLYTE, is for patients suffering from dehydration as a result of being exposed to chemotherapy, antibiotic use, or those who have long-term diarrhea from an underlying diseased state. The prebiotic, 2'-fucosyllactose, isolated initially from human milk (also called human milk oligosaccharide), improves the gut epithelial cell barrier membrane allowing the delivery of water and nutrients and improving hydration in these patients.
There are other products currently in development that will enhance the delivery of nutrients (such as amino acids) in specific diseased states. Our patented scientific method is called Nutrient Co-transfer Technology which allows us to exploit the properties of one nutrient to enhance the function of other nutrients in the solution. All our formulas have secured significant intellectual property.
Tell us about yourself
I am a Nephrologist by training- a Medical Doctor who treats diseases of the kidney. Most of my time is spent taking care of patients on dialysis, those who have had a kidney transplant, or those who are critically sick in the ICU.
I am also an avid hiker and suffered from painful muscle cramps during my hiking in the mountains. After I tried numerous electrolytes mixes and sports drinks on the market, I realized that neither of them had the right amount of magnesium in their mix. The ratios of potassium, sodium, and the amount of sugar also did not appeal to me. So, I formulated MAGNAK, and tested them on some leading (world-record-breaking) endurance athletes. After I was convinced it worked well, I decided to commercialize it.
I believe there is a lot of need for personalized, high-performing nutrition and hydration solutions for athletes who constantly suffer from muscle cramps. Magnesium deficiency is also fairly prevalent in society. It has not been addressed appropriately as food does not deliver enough of it, even for healthy adults. Similarly, patients who are dehydrated (e.g., with chemotherapy) do not have optimal protocols or solutions that can help with their rehydration at home. Their doctors hence have to prescribe more expensive treatments such as IV fluids at Infusion centers driving healthcare costs up. HuMOLYTE offers at-home hydration for patients on chemotherapy and those who are recovering from sickness while helping support their gut health with a prebiotic. The reviews I have received from athletes and patients are what keep me going every day.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I often get reviews from customers as to how our solutions have helped them achieve a new PR. Or how a patient has stayed at home and felt better with hydration after using our products while saving a large portion of their copay. As a doctor, this is even more gratifying that we are able to help patients and individuals reach their personal goals while providing cost-effective and expertly curated hydration and nutritional solutions.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Scaling the business appropriately. That is the hardest element. Most individuals have good ideas that can translate into good products. But you need more to create a business successfully. You need infrastructure, capital, knowledge of compliance guidelines, company structure, and marketing experience. All of it, is something you need to learn as you are trying to formulate a product and build a business.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Be absolutely sure about the product or service that you are about to create, and once convinced, don't look back. Do all your research about product and market fit, cost of goods, and talk to a lot of people who have done this before. And finally, try using science to your advantage- numbers don't lie; science, if done right, can create incredible opportunities-so to look at what data is telling you.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I highly recommend that Start-up Founders attend some kind of accelerator or an incubator program. There are many available and can serve as an excellent foundation upon which you can build that business that you would need in order to sell your products or services.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://drinkmagnak.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drinkmagnak/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinkmagnak/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/igh-naturals/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.