Down the Road Spice Co. has a mission to change how Indian food is cooked and experienced in the U.S. by making it simpler and more accessible to the home chef.
The company received the Launch Grant from Main Street Ventures, an entrepreneur support organization that helps people with business ideas through grant funding and other assistance.
Main Street Venture’s Launch Grant provides $5,000 to $10,000 in funds for emerging pre-revenue companies in the prototype or product stage. Companies must show direct customer engagement to legitimize the business model to receive the grant.
According to the business’s website, co-founder Mansi Shah started Down the Road Spice Co. due to a lack of spices offered in the U.S. to make Indian cuisine. The business specializes in small-batch organic masalas that can be cooked in under 30 minutes with no prep.
Shah said she enlisted her dad as her co-founder, “the greatest chef” she knows. Per their website, they source single-origin organic spices like her grandmothers used to translate family recipes into their blends.
In a previous interview with LINK nky, Main Street Ventures Executive Lead Brianna Dzuricsko said that around 50 to 60 companies typically apply per grant cycle, and the company normally accepts five to seven applicants. She noted that they do make exceptions. Such as in the final quarter of 2022, when they took nine companies.
Dzuricsko said that number has continued to expand since they started in 2018, making it a competitive program.
Director of Community Engagement and Entrepreneur Support Abby Ober told LINK nky in a previous interview that after a company receives the grant, they go through a needs assessment to address specific needs. Once they go through the evaluation, those targeted areas can be discussed, such as if the company needs help with marketing, they would be connected to a marketing mentor.
“We want to make sure it’s not just here’s the check; see you later,” Ober said. “We want to make sure we grow our community and continue that relationship with them as long as they like it.”