Siachen Naturals™, a startup based in Ladakh, has successfully completed its pre-seed funding round, securing a valuation of half a million USD. This landmark achievement represents the first instance of equity financing for a startup in the region. The funding round was led by prominent investors, including Anuj Sharma, Founder of Alsisar Impact; Sonali Mehta-Rao of Ahaana Ventures; Urvashi Devidayal, former South Asia head of the Thomson Reuters Foundation; and Manoj Jain, an angel investor and startup finance leader from Silicon Valley.
Siachen Naturals™ specialises in creating natural soup mixes, porridges, and other healthy breakfast products using locally sourced, organic ingredients from Ladakh. The products are renowned for their health benefits and are steeped in centuries-old heritage. The company employs environmentally friendly methods, such as solar dryers and glacier water turbines, alongside eco-packaging, to handcraft its offerings sustainably.
Founded by Tsetan Dorjey, a native of Aranoo village—the northernmost village in India located in the scenic Siachen Glacier valley—Siachen Naturals™ aims to empower local Ladakhi communities. Tsetan, an alumnus of the SECMOL alternative school established by Sonam Wangchuk and a graduate of the Naropa Fellowship, has also received catalytic funding from OYO Rooms Founder Ritesh Agarwal and IIT Mandi Catalyst.
Tsetan’s vision is to address the socio-economic challenges faced by indigenous Ladakhi communities, particularly women from Siachen villages, by offering sustainable business opportunities. The company provides fixed-income opportunities, training, infrastructure, and advance payments to support stable livelihoods and promote regenerative agricultural practices.
Reflecting on the company’s journey, Tsetan commented, “Our ambitions for Siachen Valley and Ladakh are boundless. We are laying the groundwork for a prosperous and happy Ladakh where we can conserve our values and traditions while providing equitable economic opportunities for countless Ladakhi youth. With the challenges of climate change, we urgently need to preserve our pristine land, traditions and farmers. While this milestone marks progress, it’s merely the opening chapter of our story. We are taking Ladakh’s flavours worldwide.”
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ALSISAR Impact, which focuses on supporting local and indigenous entrepreneurs in the Himalayan startup ecosystem, has been involved with Siachen Naturals™ since its inception in 2022. The company’s products have been well-received, with demand growing in Ladakh and expanding into northern India. Successful exhibitions in Mumbai further demonstrate the brand’s potential for growth.
Anuj Sharma, founder of ALSISAR Impact and an investor in Siachen Naturals™, remarked that the company offers a blueprint for communities worldwide to responsibly utilise their natural resources while preserving cultural heritage and enhancing climate resilience.
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