Dr. Pooja Dubey Pandey, with a Master’s and PhD in Biotechnology, has been passionate about the subject from the very beginning—drawn to its immense potential to solve real-world problems. Though she never envisioned becoming an entrepreneur during her student years, her deep-rooted drive to tackle pressing issues like malnutrition and pollution continued to grow.
While working with Tata, she witnessed the rising tide of health problems—especially among children and cancer patients—closely tied to poor nutrition and environmental damage. That experience sparked a realization: her scientific knowledge shouldn’t remain confined to research papers. It needed to reach the people—and make a difference.
A Leap of Faith: Starting BETi from the Basement
Once she quit her first job, Dr. Pandey headed back to her home with a vision and a desire to make a difference. She considered ideas such as plant tissue culture and pollution decontamination but found them too expensive to begin. That's when she learned about the potential of mushrooms.
Realizing mushroom spawn production called for robust biotech capabilities and provided a remedy to pollution and malnutrition both, she turned her basement house into a state-of-the-art laboratory. Taking a little cash assistance from her father-in-law and a significant amount of personal dedication, she started making mushroom spawn from ground up.
The venture's name BETi was inspired by a heartwarming experience with her daughter. When her daughter was asked whether she would like a sister or brother, she replied assertively that she would like another daughter. Inspired by this experience, Dr. Pandey chose to name her venture BETi, which stands for Biotech Era Transforming India—with "Era" also being her daughter's name. The name symbolizes her vision: to transform India using biotechnology with women at the forefront of transformation.
Using Agri-Waste to Grow Health and Wealth
In the process of developing mushroom spawn, Dr. Pandey came face to face with yet another major issue—management of agricultural waste. India alone produces more than 700 million metric tons of agri-waste annually, the majority of which is set on fire, leading to extreme pollution. She discovered that oyster mushrooms could be cultured on typical agri-waste such as paddy straw (parali), thus it also being an environmentally and economically friendly solution for farmers.
To complement this, she started imparting hands-on training to rural youth and farmers who had fewer finances or education. She made them capable of initiating their own mushroom growing units through basic technology and functional knowledge. In this manner, not only did she empower farmers to treat waste but also provided them with a new source of income.
Creating Mushroom-Based Superfoods for Better Nutrition
Dr. Pandey found that another problem was that farmers who cultivated mushrooms could not sell them. Mushrooms are perishable and have a short shelf life when fresh, and there was little awareness of varieties other than button mushrooms. To overcome this, she started processing mushrooms into more sustainable and consumer-friendly products.
She came up with dehydrated mushrooms, which are placed in sunlight to enhance Vitamin D levels and subsequently packaged without any preservatives. These can be stored for more than a year and utilized in daily meals such as soups, biryanis, and noodles. In order to enhance mushroom consumption further, she came up with mushroom powders so that individuals could enhance the nutritional value of any food with merely a spoonful.
BETi also introduced an innovative product—mushroom masala seasoning that comprises mushroom powder, moringa, aromatic spices, and healthy oils. Not only does it improve the flavor but also enables Vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin, to be absorbed directly by the tongue. All these innovative products are now getting popular and spreading to more kitchens in the country.
Turning Waste into Biodegradable Products
Even after mushroom cultivation, more waste remains. But BETi didn’t stop there. Dr. Pandey found a way to use post-harvest mushroom waste and parali to create biodegradable articles and eco-friendly packaging solutions. These products are now being showcased at exhibitions and sold through BETi’s website (www.biotechera.com). This circular model ensures that no waste is left behind and every part of the agricultural cycle is put to good use. People are coming to learn at BETi from other countries like Israel, US, Nepal Africa through offline and online modes.
Multiple Revenue Streams Fueling a Sustainable Future
BETi’s income sources are as diverse as its products. The business earns revenue through the sale of mushroom spawn, training programs, dehydrated mushroom products, mushroom powders, seasonings, and biodegradable items. There is now growing demand across India for summer-friendly mushroom varieties like milky mushrooms and pink oysters. The company also sells to both individual consumers and corporate clients through a B2B model, making it a well-rounded and resilient business.
Challenges of Being a Woman Agripreneur
Dr. Pandey candidly shares that being a woman scientist entrepreneur in agriculture is no cakewalk. Though she is a trained biotechnologist, business acumen was never included in her course curriculum. Entering the world of entrepreneurship involved learning everything from ground zero—licensing, compliance, sales, and finance.
She encountered additional obstacles because of her gender. Credit and trust were difficult to secure, and she was frequently not afforded priority or credibility in formal settings. Juggling home, motherhood, and business simultaneously required utmost discipline. Still, through time, patience, and determination, she established her pace and today proudly runs a thriving business.
Message to Aspiring Women in Agriculture
Dr. Pandey feels that women are inherently sustainable by nature—they recycle, reuse, and conserve resources in their everyday lives. She urges women to take that natural instinct outside the home and into the field. She asks them not to wait, even if they don't feel ready. With time and steady effort, success is a certainty.
Her advice is clear: “Use your knowledge and experience. Agriculture and sustainability are the future. The world is changing, and women can be at the center of this change. Step into the field and don’t stop until you’ve made your mark.”
Dr. Pooja Dubey Pandey's journey with BETi Innovative Pvt. Ltd. is a light at the end of the tunnel for sustainable Indian agriculture. Using biotech-induced mushroom cultivation, agri-waste upcycling, and nutrition-dense food innovations, she is demonstrating how science and kindness can get together to find solutions to genuine problems. It is not about entrepreneurship; it is about changing lives—beginning with a single basement lab and spreading like a wave all over the country.
