Every entrepreneur dreams of building something extraordinary, but very few are willing to leave the comfort of a stable career to chase that dream. Manas Madhu was one of those few. Armed with an MBA from SIBM Pune and a promising corporate career, he had everything that society considers "success", a good education, a secure job, and a predictable future. Yet deep inside, he knew he wanted to create something of his own. What he didn't know was that the answer wasn't hidden in a business textbook or a boardroom. It was waiting in the kitchens of his hometown in Kerala.
Growing up in Alappuzha, Kerala, banana chips were more than just a snack, they were a tradition. Every time Manas travelled outside the state for his studies or work, his parents packed homemade Kerala banana chips in his luggage. Friends loved them, but finding authentic Kerala-style banana chips outside the state was almost impossible. The market was highly unorganized, dominated by local bakeries and small shops, with no premium national brand representing this iconic snack. That observation stayed with him for years.
His breakthrough came after reading an article about value addition in agriculture. It sparked a simple but powerful question: Why couldn't Kerala's traditional banana chips become a global packaged food brand? While many entrepreneurs chased the latest technology trends, Manas decided to build a business around a product that had existed for generations. In 2018, despite the risks, he resigned from his corporate job and founded Beyond Jak, which was later rebranded as Beyond Snacks.
Building the company was far from easy. Convincing people that premium banana chips could become a national brand wasn't simple. Instead of compromising on authenticity, Manas focused on preserving the original Kerala recipe while modernizing everything else. The company sourced Nendran bananas directly from farmers across South India, introduced automated processing without human touch, and ensured every packet delivered consistent quality. Along with the classic salted version, Beyond Snacks introduced innovative flavours like Peri Peri, Sour Cream & Onion, Salt & Black Pepper, and several others, giving a traditional snack a contemporary appeal.
Even with a great product, scaling the business required visibility. That opportunity arrived when Shark Tank India announced its first season. Having watched the American version for years, Manas immediately knew this was the platform he had been waiting for. After multiple rounds of selection, he stepped onto the Shark Tank stage carrying something no one expected, a packet of Kerala banana chips. His confidence, clarity and product impressed the Sharks, making history as the first entrepreneur to secure a deal on Shark Tank India. Aman Gupta and Ashneer Grover invested Rs 50 lakh for 2.5% equity, giving Beyond Snacks not just funding, but nationwide recognition.
The Shark Tank appearance became a turning point. Sales surged almost overnight as millions of viewers discovered the brand. Aman Gupta helped strengthen the company's branding, while Ashneer Grover supported its distribution strategy. Within just six months, Beyond Snacks had reportedly tripled its scale, and the product quickly became a bestseller across platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, JioMart, BigBasket and leading retail chains. The company expanded to more than 3,500 retail outlets across major Indian cities while also entering international markets such as the United States, UAE, Qatar, Nepal and Mauritius.
Rather than treating success as the destination, Manas viewed it as the beginning. Beyond Snacks introduced affordable Rs 22 packs to reach a wider audience, launched family packs and combo packs, and continued experimenting with new flavours while staying true to Kerala's authentic taste. What started with a single traditional product gradually evolved into a modern packaged food brand with repeat customers across India and overseas.
The numbers reflect this remarkable journey. The company achieved Rs 53 crore in total revenue in FY25, including Rs 52 crore from product sales, representing a 55% year-on-year growth over FY24. From a corporate employee with an entrepreneurial dream to the founder of one of India's fastest-growing snack brands, Manas Madhu proved that world-class businesses don't always begin with revolutionary inventions. Sometimes they begin by looking at an everyday product through a completely different lens.
His story is a reminder that opportunities don't always come from creating something new, they often come from rediscovering what already exists. While the world searched for the next big innovation, Manas chose a humble packet of Kerala banana chips and transformed it into a global brand. His journey proves that when tradition meets vision, and courage meets execution, even the simplest idea can build a business worth crores.
