Veganism is no longer just a dietary choice; it’s a global movement reshaping the way we eat, live, and think about our connection to the planet. From Bollywood celebrities endorsing plant-based living to world-class athletes proving that peak performance can be achieved without animal products, the plant-based diet has captured imaginations across cultures and continents. At its heart lies a simple yet profound promise: healthier bodies, cruelty-free choices, and a sustainable future for generations to come. However, while the idea of plantbased living inspires millions, the real challenge lies in its practical application. How do we give up dairy based milk, the backbone of so many food delicacies we love, without feeling deprived of taste, nutrition, or tradition?
This is where Veganday enters the picture, offering not just a solution but a revolution. With their ground-breaking Smart Milk formulation, Veganday has turned the two toughest barriers to veganism, taste and affordability, into an opportunity for innovation. Their approach proves that plant-based living doesn’t have to mean compromise; it can mean convenience, better health, and even joyful routines.
Our team stumbled upon the story of Veganday, and we found not just another cover story to feature but a vision to make veganism accessible, desirable, and sustainable for all. A venture like Veganday is the need of the modern-day lifestyle, showing concern for not just human well-being but planet health too. By introducing Smart Milk in the market, they are showing the world that the future of nourishment can be cruelty-free, delicious, and planet-friendly…all in the same glass! In conversation with us, Akshat Jain, the Founder & CEO of Veganday, unveiled how the venture is carving its niche as a visionary force in the entrepreneurial landscape, pioneering life-changing products that redefine the way we perceive plant-based living.
Health Concerns related to the intake of dairy
For generations, milk has been seen as a complete food, poured into our morning teas, kneaded into our breads, or added to puddings as the foundation of a wholesome diet. And why not? Until a couple of centuries ago, people in India relied heavily on milk as a dietary staple, especially during times of famine and nutritional deficiency. Almost every household kept at least one cow, nurturing a symbiotic relationship. Today, the scenario is vastly different.
Modern medical research is beginning to unravel a different truth: the daily glass of dairy-milk today may not be as healthy as we once believed. Cow’s milk contains a growth hormone called IgH, which encourages rapid cell multiplication. While essential for calves to gain more weight and grow, in the human body, excess dairy can fuel abnormal cell growth, increasing risks of tumors. A steady intake of hormone laden dairy products creates conditions where irregular cell proliferation becomes more likely, a silent contributor to the rising global cancer crisis!
The dangers don’t end there. To keep up with rising consumer demand, cows are often injected with productivity-enhancing hormones (like Oxytocin) and antibiotics. These artificial stimulants seep into the milk we consume. For young women and girls, this hormonal adulteration is especially alarming. Doctors are increasingly linking dairy intake to early menstruation, PCOD, thyroid dysfunction, and other endocrine disorders. The very product we place on our kitchen shelves in the name of health may, in reality, be undermining it. It is no surprise, then, that many physicians around the world have started advising patients to reduce or cut dairy from their diets. Dairy-free living is no longer a fringe lifestyle; it is emerging as a medical recommendation for those seeking a healthier, more balanced life.
The Spark of a Vision
For Akshat Jain, this realization became personal during the global pandemic. An alumnus of IIT-Bombay (2012), Akshat had already built a decade-long career in finance, first in investment banking and later in venture capital. But when the world slowed down during the COVID-19 pandemic, he found himself reflecting deeply on the true cost of human choices of consuming animal based products.
While it was relatively easier for him to leave dairy, his wife was addicted to her daily coffee. Taking that as a challenge, he vowed to create an alternative that could help her (and the masses) transition away from an industry that had turned cows into machines, commoditizing them while also fueling leather and beef trade.
The goal was to innovate a product that could allow people to continue enjoying milk without perpetuating cruelty or damaging their health. In this journey, he was joined by Prakhar Sharma, a firm believer in crueltyfree living. While Akshat laid the strategic foundation, Prakhar devoted himself to product formulation. Together, they began to reimagine milk, without the cow, which led to the formulation of their most popular smart milk variant, Milky Magic – which smells, tastes and works just like dairy milk!
Inside Veganday’s Innovation
As explained by Akshat, this journey from idea to innovation was anything but simple. Early trials revealed what most consumers already complained about plant-based milks – they spoil quickly, have strong after-taste in preparations like chai & coffee, and cost significantly more due to last-mile logistics. After a couple of product iterations, the breakthrough came when Akshat and Prakhar asked a deceptively simple question: Why transport water? Traditional plant-based milk contains approx. 90% water and just 10% nutritional content. By eliminating the water and focusing on the essence, they developed Smart Milk, a revolutionary concentrate that transforms into milk within one minute of blending in any kitchen.
This innovation solved multiple problems at once:
- Taste: Ability to make it fresh at home, instead of buying 6-month old tetrapaks. Given its neutral taste and creamy texture, it works perfectly with kadak chai, creamy coffee and even fresh dahi.
- Affordability: The prices are close to half compared to other market alternatives, due to lower packaging and transport costs, bringing plant-based milk closer to A2 milk pricing.
- Clean Label: The natural oils from nut milk act as natural preservatives, offering a six-month shelf life (at room temperature) before blending with water, ensuring no wastage.
- Sustainability: Reduced water content meant lighter transport loads and lower carbon emissions. A small 500g jar makes 6L milk, thereby replacing 6 tetrapaks.
Their flagship product, Milky Magic, has gained popularity among its product portfolio, which is made primarily of almonds & cashews. It delivers the smell, taste, texture, and versatility of dairy milk while being fortified with Vitamins B12 & D, addressing one of the most cited concerns about plant-based diets. From tea and coffee to dahi and chaas, Milky Magic seamlessly integrates into the Indian kitchen.
The proud accomplishment
Veganday’s innovation is already proving itself in practice. From individual customers, to cafes, to weddings, to corporations, they’re seeing behaviors change quickly. Akshat shared that his team is especially proud to have introduced their Smart Milk at Parasdham (a Jain spiritual center), where taste and tradition were critical, as a substitute for butter-milk.
Having secured strategic angel funding, the founders have plans to extend its offerings to instant vegan milk powders for airlines & hotels. These powders don’t even require one minute of blending but can be used immediately after stirring with hot water. Akshat and Prakhar are very keen to imagine a world where in-flight coffee or roadside tea comes from a cruelty-free, eco-friendly plant-milk concentrated, ready in seconds.
A Choice for Health, Animals, and Planet
Going plant-based is often misunderstood as sacrificing reliance on milk and its products. Many people find it hard to compromise on taste and tradition. But the truth is the opposite. Choosing plant-based is choosing abundance, a diet free from cholesterol, hormones, and hidden cruelty. Plant-based milk not only protects the heart by lowering cholesterol but also avoids the hormonal disruptions and adulteration found in animal-derived milk. The environmental case is equally compelling. The dairy and meat industries are deeply intertwined, and are among the largest contributors to carbon emissions, deforestation, and water pollution. Their interconnection ensures that when one grows, the other thrives, worsening the planet’s ecological burden. By embracing veganism, individuals become agents of planetary healing. Every cup of vegan milk is a vote against climate change, a stand for animals, and a step toward personal well-being.
Impact on Planet and Future
Veganday is not just building a brand but championing a movement. Its mission is to empower households to turn entirely vegan without feeling deprived. By providing milk that tastes familiar, nourishes fully, and stores easily, Veganday is dismantling the myths that have long kept people tied to dairy.
Before taking leave from the conversation, Akshat shared a message for our readers:
“No more compromises. With every glass of Smart Milk, you can choose wellness over disease, and sustainability over exploitation, one day at a time.”
