Process
How I work
Here's how a project runs, from the first call to handover, and what I put in writing before we start.
Step by step
From first call to handover
Discovery call
Free, 30 minutes on video. We talk through your product, where you are now, your target market, your timeline and what you need. If you need to share confidential details on this call, we can sign an NDA before it.
Written proposal
I scope the project and send a written proposal: the work, the milestones, what each milestone delivers, estimated hours, the timeline, what's excluded and the fee. You can ask for changes before you agree to anything.
NDA and contract
We sign an NDA before you share any recipe or formula, and a contract before any work starts. Ownership of the work is set out in the contract.
Development in milestones
Benchtop rounds, tastings and trials, following the plan in the proposal. We check in at the end of each milestone before moving to the next.
Handover
You get the final formulation, process instructions and specification documents your team or manufacturer can work from.
Proposals
How I draft your proposal
I scope every project separately, based on how many products there are, how complex they are and what stage you're at. Each proposal follows the same structure, so you always know where to find the scope, the costs and the terms.
The principles I scope by
- You pay for progress. Fees are set per milestone.
- Costs that sit with you are named upfront, such as lab testing, pilot plant time, ingredient samples and courier.
- Hours are written down, including meetings and coordination, so expectations match on both sides.
- Anything that depends on results stays optional, to be agreed once we know it's needed.
- I don't promise what I can't control, such as a shelf life before testing, or approval from a regulator.
What every proposal contains
Technical proposal
- Project understandingYour product, goals and constraints in my words, so we can check we agree.
- ApproachHow I'll get there, including how tastings and trials will run.
- Roles and responsibilitiesWhat I do, what your team does, and what a lab or manufacturer does.
- Milestones and deliverablesEach milestone with its deliverables, timing, estimated hours and fee.
- TimelineThe week-by-week plan, including time for testing and courier.
- RisksWhat could slow the project down and how we'll handle it.
- ExclusionsWhat isn't included, in writing.
- Commercial termsPayment by milestone, working hours, response time and how calls are booked.
- Next stepsNDA, contract and kickoff.
Working together
Remote by default, wherever you are
Time zones
I'm based in Mumbai (IST) and work with clients around the world. We agree a regular call slot that suits both of us.
Trials
Trials at your kitchen, co-packer or plant are supervised over video. If you need me on site, in-person attendance can be scoped and priced separately.
Tastings
Tasting samples can be couriered between us at your cost. If that isn't practical, I share the full recipe so your team can make and taste it locally. Every tasting uses a structured feedback sheet.
Confidentiality
I sign an NDA before you share any recipe, formula or confidential detail. Ownership of the work, including the final formulation, is set out in the contract before we start.
Good to know
What I don't do
Being clear about this upfront saves us both time.
- I don't run my own lab. I do bench and kitchen-level development myself. Pilot runs, analytical testing and shelf-life testing happen at your facility, a co-packer, a rented pilot plant or an accredited lab, at your cost.
- I'm not a registered dietitian or nutritionist. I formulate to nutrition targets, but I don't make health or clinical nutrition claims.
- I don't give final regulatory sign-off. For label compliance in your market, I recommend working with a regulatory specialist.
Tell me about your product
Start with a free 30-minute discovery call. After the call, I send you a written proposal scoped to your project.