NutriPop

NutriPop is a snack food company founded by University of Notre Dame MBA graduates Audrey Chung, Ujaswin Jain, and Rishi Reddy. The company was born after Jain shared popped water lily seeds, a traditional Indian snack, with his classmates, who were impressed by the taste and simple ingredients. Inspired by their university's motto to "grow the good in business," the founders established NutriPop with three core pillars: clean nutrition, sustainable impact, and community empowerment.

The company's main product is a ready-to-eat snack made from ethically sourced popped water lily seeds. These seeds are sourced directly from Bihar, India, with a commitment to providing fair-wage jobs, particularly for women in the region. NutriPop's snacks are positioned as a healthier alternative to popcorn, containing significantly less fat and calories while offering more protein. The products are vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, and made with simple ingredients like cold-pressed avocado oil and Himalayan pink salt. Initial flavors include Himalayan Salt and Peri-Peri, developed to appeal to a broad U.S. consumer base.

The business model focuses on direct-to-consumer sales and retail partnerships. The company's funding has primarily come from pitch competitions and grants, including a $25,000 prize from the AgriNovus Indiana Velocity Competition. NutriPop is in the process of scaling its operations, having completed FDA and Indiana Health Department registrations, with a product launch anticipated for late summer 2025. To mitigate risks associated with import tariffs, the team is exploring options to move parts of production to the U.S.

Keywords: water lily seeds, plant-based snacks, healthy snacks, gluten-free snacks, vegan snacks, popped snacks, CPG, food startup, sustainable sourcing, Notre Dame startup, Ujaswin Jain, Audrey Chung, Rishi Reddy, clean ingredients, low-calorie snack, popcorn alternative, allergen-free, non-GMO, Bihar India, agri-food tech