The Spark Behind the Vision
When Mohammed Sharik Alam set out to order fresh meat in Kolkata a few years ago, he wasn’t looking to start a business. He was simply trying to get a hygienic, reliable, and fresh product delivered to his doorstep. What he encountered instead was a frustrating blend of inconsistent quality, unhygienic handling, and unreliable delivery timelines.
That inconvenience planted the seeds for what would soon become a food tech and logistics empire, stretching from smart cold-chain logistics to D2C essentials—all under the banner of Minutes Management and Technology Pvt. Ltd.
“It wasn’t one ‘aha’ moment,” says Alam. “It was a growing realization that tech could bridge this glaring gap between demand and supply.”
Today, as the founder of multiple ventures including KolkataMeat, Iceobox, MetioFresh, HarvestHub, Sery, and Roadiex, Mohammed Sharik Alam is not only building businesses—he’s crafting a sustainable, tech-first ecosystem that empowers both farmers and consumers.
The Serial Entrepreneur’s Playbook
With a professional background rooted in building tech-driven supply chains and D2C brands, Alam has worn many hats: innovator, operator, and mission-led founder. His ventures speak to a relentless desire to solve India’s systemic inefficiencies in the food and logistics sector:
- KolkataMeat: Vacuum-sealed, hygienic meat and seafood delivered with traceability.
- Iceobox: IoT-enabled cold-chain logistics solution.
- HarvestHub: Direct farm-to-city linkages for equitable agri trade.
- MetioFresh: Subscription-based organic produce platform.
- Sery: D2C lifestyle essentials with a sustainability focus.
- Roadiex: Hyperlocal, last-mile delivery that optimizes urban logistics.
The binding thread? A technology-first approach with deep supply chain integration.
Solving Real Problems, One Startup at a Time
Alam’s entry into entrepreneurship wasn’t driven by trends—it was driven by necessity.
“Consumers didn’t trust what they were buying. And farmers had no visibility or control over where their produce ended up,” heexplains.
This dual-sided dysfunction is what his ventures aim to fix. He points to five glaring issues that demanded urgent innovation:
- Lack of Trust in Food Quality: Especially in the meat and seafood sectors.
- Disorganized Supply Chains: Outdated systems led to waste and inefficiency.
- No Cold-Chain Access for Small Businesses: Resulting in spoilage and lost value.
- Middlemen Eating into Farmer Profits: Lack of pricing transparency hurt producers.
- Minimal Tech in Essential Services: Even as e-commerce boomed, basic goods lagged.
In response, he built what he calls “problem-first companies”—each focused on a distinct challenge, each structured to scale with purpose.
The Big Breakthrough: Scaling Trust
While many start-up’s rely on aggressive advertising for growth, Kolkata Meat’s turning point came from a very different place: word-of-mouth.
“When we crossed 100,000 loyal customers organically, that’s when we knew the model worked,” Alam recalls. “It validated everything our focus on hygiene, traceability, customer service. We weren’t just solving a need; we were earning trust.”
That inflection point triggered rapid expansion:
- 3X order volume growth in under 60 days
- A dedicated cold-chain fleet under Iceobox
- The launch of HarvestHub for reliable farm sourcing
- Strategic B2B partnerships with restaurants and retail chains
What began as a small venture is now a full-stack food and logistics ecosystem—built ground-up without heavy funding or hype.
The Roadblocks That Shaped the Journey
No founder’s path is without its battles, and Alam’s was no exception.
- Consumer Skepticism:
“Convincing families to move away from local butchers was hard,” he admits. Transparent sourcing and hygienic packaging helped win them over.
- Infrastructure Limitations:
“Cities weren’t built for cold-chain,” he says. Iceobox became a game-changer, with temperature-controlled fleets and IoT monitoring.
- Rural Farmer Integration:
“We had to teach farmers about digital procurement, quality standards, and logistics.” HarvestHub bridged that divide.
- Bootstrapped Growth:
Competing with VC-funded giants meant Alam had to focus obsessively on unit economics and lean operations. - Hiring Early Talent:
Offering equity-based incentives and a mission-driven culture helped attract top talent when cash was tight.
“Every challenge was a stepping stone,” he reflects. “We didn’t wait for perfect conditions, we built practical solutions, one problem at a time.”
The Vision Ahead: Tech, Trust, and Impact
For Alam, the journey is far from over. In fact, he sees the next five years as an opportunity to scale trust just as much as tech. Here’s his five-point growth blueprint:
- Pan-India Expansion:
Rolling out KolkataMeat and MetioFresh across metros and Tier 2 cities. - Cold-Chain as a Service:
Scaling Iceobox into a plug-and-play cold logistics network for SMEs. - Farmer Empowerment:
Enrolling 50,000+ farmers, offering agri-financing, input support, and digital procurement tools. - Sustainable Sourcing:
Implementing blockchain logs and QR-based product traceability, plus shifting toward plastic-free packaging. - Global & B2B Channels:
Launching export verticals for premium produce and partnering with HORECA, cloud kitchens, and institutional buyers.
“In five years, I see our ecosystem enabling everyday Indians, from farmers to families, with fresher food, fairer access, and smarter infrastructure,” Alam declares. “We’re not just building a brand, we’re building a movement.”
Key Takeaways for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Alam’s journey offers more than inspiration, it offers a roadmap:
- Start with a real problem. Disruption begins with dissatisfaction.
- Build trust, not just traction. Repeat customers > paid customers.
- Stay lean and smart. Money doesn’t replace mission clarity.
- Empower all sides of the chain. From producer to consumer, everyone matters.
- Tech is a tool, not the goal. The right tech simply enables better experiences.
Follow the Founder: Be Part of the Movement
If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a food-tech enthusiast, or someone who simply believes in the power of scalable, ethical business, Mohammed Sharik Alam is someone to watch.
Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mohammed-sharik-alam
Explore the Ecosystem: www.kolkatameat.com
Behind-the-Scenes on Instagram: @hunksharik
