Canebot® has been among India’s most diverse agro-based farm direct companies in the organized cane juice sector since 2012. Canebot builds on the synergy between culture and technological advancements and aims to create an organized sugarcane juice industry. The firm has been operating hygienic kiosks in cafeterias in corporate enterprises and has served over 28 lakh glasses of fresh sugarcane juice.
Incubated at IIM Bangalore’s NSRCEL, Canebot is a part of the Atal Innovation Mission ‘AIM Catalysts’ under NITI Aayog, a Government of India initiative.
When the pandemic hit, all the Canebot corporate kiosks were closed down, that too, overnight. They very quickly succeeded at a seemingly impossible task of bottling sugarcane juice. They launched two unique products: GannaPanna® and Immunity Shots (with ginger and turmeric). These are sugarcane juice based natural beverages in bottled form which are 100% natural, with no added preservatives, sugar or colours. They have received tremendous response from various segments, encouraging them to believe that this innovation could be a game changer in the beverages market.
Canebot products GannaPanna® and Immunity Shots.
The company was founded by Kirty and Milind Datar, who say they were motivated by a simple thought: “If someone could take a cup of coffee and make a CCD out of it; why not sugarcane juice? If we could organize this unorganized sector and make it appealing to the young generation, it could have a multi-fold impact.” The calling was so strong that they both quit their IT jobs and embarked on a mission to give sugarcane juice its place in the world of beverages through research and innovation.
Kirty says she was always fascinated with the way western countries build marketable products and scalable business models around something very basic. She realized that it is not so much about ‘what’ you do, but more about ‘how’ and ‘why’ you do it.
Milind is a people’s person with a remarkable flair for networking and is passionate about whatever he does. ‘Impossible is Nothing’ is the mantra that drives Milind.
“We couldn’t be happier than to realize that we have succeeded in bringing this humble drink to such a prestigious platform,” says Kirty.
Kirty and Milind Datar, co-founders of Canebot, say that NSRCEL is like a guiding force for them.
Kirty and Milind Datar say that NSRCEL’s programme has helped them in many ways. “The learning sessions were certainly insightful, but that was just the starting point, followed by ongoing support. It is like having a guiding force while walking an unknown path. Every time we come across a hurdle, we approach the peer network or mentors and there is always someone willing to help. It is indeed a huge support system.”
