TL;DR

1.5 Degree, an Indian plant-based dairy platform, has secured $1 million in funding led by 35North Ventures. The company is pivoting the alternative protein conversation from expensive retail 'lifestyle' choices to large-scale institutional contracts, aiming to reduce the carbon footprint of India's corporate and hotel sectors.

Why is 1.5 Degree ignoring the retail market?

Most plant-based startups fail because they fight for shelf space in premium grocery stores, targeting the top 0.1% of consumers. 1.5 Degree is smarter. They’ve realized that the real volume—and the real impact—lies in the cafeteria. By signing long-term contracts with corporate offices, hotels, and hospitals, they ensure a steady revenue stream while displacing conventional dairy at a massive scale. Over 80% of their revenue now comes from these institutional contracts.

How does 'Alternative Dairy' link to the 1.5°C climate goal?

The startup’s name isn’t just marketing; it’s a mission statement. Conventional dairy is one of the highest emitters in the food sector. 1.5 Degree’s products claim to deliver up to 72% lower greenhouse gas emissions. In a country like India, where dairy is a cultural staple, providing a sustainable, nutritionally identical alternative that fits into existing supply chains is the only way to hit net-zero targets.

Is this a 'Preventive Nutrition' play?

Founder Vedansh Goyal isn't just selling milk; he's selling health. The platform is expanding into 'preventive nutrition'—products designed to manage lifestyle diseases through the food system. This aligns with the broader Indian trend of 'clean label' eating, where consumers (and now HR departments in large firms) are demanding transparency in what’s being served in the office pantry.

Vichaarak Perspective

"Most people think 'saving the planet' looks like hugging a tree. In reality, it looks like a procurement manager in a Gurugram office park switching the office chai milk to a plant-based alternative. 1.5 Degree has understood the great Indian truth: if you want to change behavior, don't change the person, change the default option. It’s a calm, calculated approach to a very loud problem."

First-Person Analysis: The Harkirat Perspective

In my experience with Google’s operational frameworks, efficiency is often the result of removing friction. 1.5 Degree removes the 'guilt friction' for large corporations trying to meet ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals. Instead of asking employees to change their diets, the company integrates sustainability into the infrastructure. It’s 'Sustainability-as-a-Service' for the food industry.

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