NILESH KUMAR
Bangalore
Summary
Dynamic and impact-driven food entrepreneur with a robust blend of culinary expertise and strategic business acumen. Proven ability to conceptualize, launch, and scale innovative food ventures in both digital and physical formats. Experienced in driving new product development, executing growth marketing strategies, and leading cross-functional teams to deliver consumer-centric solutions. With a deep passion for food and technology, I bring a track record of success across early-stage startups and large-scale platforms like Swiggy. I’m actively seeking opportunities where my entrepreneurial mindset, executional rigor, and brand-building experience can unlock scalable growth and transformative consumer experiences.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Founding Member
Swish
Bengaluru
09.2024 - Current
- Conceived and launched Swish, a digitally-native food brand emphasizing culinary R&D and operational efficiency.
- Defined brand vision, go-to-market strategy, and execution roadmap, achieving significant initial traction.
- Built core team and developed scalable SOPs to drive product-market fit through iterative testing.
- Led product development initiatives for innovative consumer solutions within a tech startup.
- Established central production facility with capacity to produce 3 tonnes of food daily.
- Developed operations, supply chain management, procurement, and vendor processes to enhance efficiency.
Entrepreneur in Residence
Ristara Foods
Bangalore
03.2024 - 09.2024
- Doubled company revenue within six months by executing targeted channel partnerships and campaigns.
- Grew Instagram following from 50 to 5,000+, establishing brand as digital-first leader in clean-label food.
- Designed and implemented hybrid ATL/BTL marketing playbook to enhance consumer reach and loyalty.
- Spearheaded launch and go-to-market strategy for two flagship outlets of Babai Tiffins.
- Achieved 100% revenue increase across aggregator platforms through strategic growth initiatives.
Assistant Manager – Menu Excellence
Swiggy (Bundl Technologies)
09.2022 - 03.2024
- Delivered category innovation for The Bowl Company, Homely, and Instamart Café through alignment of culinary trends with operational scalability.
- Spearheaded New Product Development (NPD) by managing timelines and coordinating cross-team efforts alongside third-party partnerships.
- Enabled data-driven decision making for Swiggy’s food innovation pipeline, enhancing consumer experience and unit economics.
New Business Development Manager
Hygiene Bigbites Pvt Ltd
07.2020 - 08.2022
- Launched and scaled multiple food brands, establishing operational frameworks and customer touchpoints.
- Drove direct-to-consumer initiatives, optimizing backend systems for improved order flow.
- Developed 1tsp meal kit brand, achieving daily fulfillment of 1,000 orders.
Partner – Operations Specialist
Pinyata Foods Pvt Ltd
03.2019 - 02.2020
- Streamlined procurement and inventory processes, enhancing gross margins and service consistency.
- Negotiated vendor contracts to secure favorable terms and maintain high hygiene standards.
- Enforced safety protocols across operations to ensure compliance and safeguard staff.
Product Intern
Masalabox Food Network Pvt Ltd
10.2017 - 03.2018
- Streamlined hiring processes for Homechefs to enhance consumer experience.
- Developed and executed effective menu planning strategies.
- Conducted demand planning to optimize inventory management.
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration - Strategy & Leadership
JAIN University
12-2025
Advanced Culinary Training - Level 3 & Level 2 Diplomas
Bangalore Culinary Academy | City & Guilds, London
12.2019
Skills
- Strategic Leadership & Execution
- Brand & Product Development (NPD, GTM)
- D2C & Omnichannel Growth Strategy
- Consumer Insights & Experience Design
- Performance Marketing (ATL/BTL, Digital)
- Culinary Innovation & Menu Engineering
- Cross-functional Team Management
- Operations & Vendor Optimization
- Data-Driven Decision Making
- MS Office
- Excel
- SQL - Basic
- Project management
- Data analysis
- Customer service
- Supply chain management
- New product development
- Team building
References
- Mr. Balasubramanium J, +91 99530-24159
- Mr. Rahul Nagpal, +91 98801-14077
Languages
- English, Fluent
- Hindi, Native
- Kannada, Conversational
- Tamil, Conversational
Timeline
Founding Member
Swish
09.2024 - Current
Entrepreneur in Residence
Ristara Foods
03.2024 - 09.2024
Assistant Manager – Menu Excellence
Swiggy (Bundl Technologies)
09.2022 - 03.2024
New Business Development Manager
Hygiene Bigbites Pvt Ltd
07.2020 - 08.2022
Partner – Operations Specialist
Pinyata Foods Pvt Ltd
03.2019 - 02.2020
Product Intern
Masalabox Food Network Pvt Ltd
10.2017 - 03.2018
Bachelor of Business Administration - Strategy & Leadership
JAIN University
Advanced Culinary Training - Level 3 & Level 2 Diplomas
Bangalore Culinary Academy | City & Guilds, London
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