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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallIn 2017, former Amazon engineer Mitra Raman launched The Buttermilk Co., a Seattle startup selling packets for Indian meals that customers prepared with hot water. The idea began with a practical gift from her mother: a bag of ingredients for rasam, a comforting dish Raman could make without shopping for every ingredient or spending hours cooking.
From Carnegie Mellon to Amazon
Raman studied computer science at Carnegie Mellon University and interned at Amazon while she was an undergraduate. After graduating in 2014, she returned to Amazon, working first on Amazon Go and later on Amazon Books. Alongside that engineering career, she began exploring a way to make the Indian food she missed more accessible when she was short on time and ingredients.
The home-cooking idea behind The Buttermilk Co.
The turning point was a bag her mother packed with what Raman needed to make rasam. Raman recalled: “My mom gave me everything I needed in a bag to make a healthy, complete meal. I realized that all I needed was the right ingredients and know-how to recreate my favorite comfort foods.” The simple preparation—adding hot water—helped shape the startup’s central premise: deliver ingredients and know-how in a convenient format.
Raman launched The Buttermilk Co. in Seattle in July 2017. GeekWire reported that she initially worked on it part time, then left Amazon to focus on the company full time. The profile described one part-time employee at the time. It also reported that the name “Buttermilk” came from Raman adding buttermilk to her rasam; the article explained that it is traditionally eaten after a spicy Indian meal to cool the palate.
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What the startup sold in 2018
GeekWire described The Buttermilk Co. as a meal-delivery-kit startup. Customers received packets of ingredients for Indian dishes and prepared them by adding hot water. The profile said five meal options, developed with family, friends, and food scientists, were being sold and shipped nationwide at the time. These figures and sales details describe the company as reported in 2018, not a current menu or offer.
| Detail reported by GeekWire in 2018 | What the profile said |
|---|---|
| Preparation | Customers added hot water to packets of ingredients. |
| Dishes mentioned | Khichdi, daal, and sambar. |
| Meal options | Five options had been developed. |
| Price | $6 per meal, as reported at publication. |
| Sales and shipping | Nationwide sales and shipping were reported at publication. |
Raman said the company was working on automating a process for turning recipes submitted by the public into meal kits. She described the community as part of the product’s value: “Our community! We crowdsource the recipes to guarantee authenticity and bring awareness to this group of (mostly) immigrants who have honed the art of their traditional food for years. We give back a portion of the proceeds to the recipe curator and connect the customer to the person behind their recipe.”
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Engineering skills and customer feedback
Raman saw her technical background as useful in the operational side of the business. “Being an engineer, you were forced to think about different problems very logically,” she told GeekWire. “So when it comes to something new like food creation and delivery, I was able to set up the website really easily and build a delivery tracker and route tracker.”
She also credited direct customer input with guiding early product decisions: “Gathering in-person user feedback early on. We made all of our new product decisions based off of our users’ feedback and were able to confirm that we had the right product to start with.” One costly misstep, she said, was “Getting a user study done before we did any product testing. It was a huge cost and we haven’t received any return on the investment.”
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Y Combinator and plans as of 2018
In May 2018, GeekWire reported that Raman had been selected for Y Combinator and planned to spend three months in California. At that point, she described bootstrapping and starting an angel round as financing intentions; the profile does not establish whether an angel round took place. The article also reported that she hoped to create a subscription plan and add other cuisines. Those were plans at the time, not confirmation that either was implemented.
Her advice to aspiring founders was direct: “Just start. You can have a million excuses for why you can’t or don’t have time to do something, but take that first step and it will all roll from there. I recommend product testing with friends, industry research or attending meet-ups.”
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- 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 – Comes in a convenient resealable pack to maintain freshness and aroma. A must-have spice mix for every Indian kitchen and spice lover.
What is known about The Buttermilk Co. now?
GeekWire’s May 31, 2018 profile documents the company’s launch, product concept, and plans at that time. It does not establish whether The Buttermilk Co. is operating in 2026, whether its meals can currently be purchased, or whether it has an active affiliate or retail program. The historical $6 price and nationwide shipping report should not be treated as current purchasing information.
Read Lisa Stiffler’s GeekWire profile of Mitra Raman, published May 31, 2018.
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Best Value
- Authentic South Indian Flavor – A traditional specialty blend crafted to deliver the rich, aromatic, and slightly tangy taste of classic South Indian sambar. Perfectly balanced spices create a deep, layered flavor that enhances lentils and vegetables.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
