In the high-stakes world of social media influence and health advocacy, authenticity often comes at a cost. For Revant Himatsingka—widely known as FoodPharmer—that cost once nearly consumed his savings, strained his mental health, and left him navigating a labyrinth of legal threats. But in that bleak moment, an unexpected offer from one of India’s most respected entrepreneurs reminded him—and his growing base of followers—what true support looks like.
It was December 2023. Himatsingka, the sharp-tongued critic of deceptive food marketing, had just quit a lucrative ₹2 crore job in the US to return to India and take on Big Food. The move wasn’t just bold—it was financially suicidal. Within months, he found himself buried under eight legal notices, completely income-less, and deeply uncertain about the future of his mission.
Then came an unexpected encounter.
An Unforgettable Offer from an Unexpected Stranger
“I had never met him before,” Himatsingka wrote on X, formerly Twitter, as he recounted meeting Zerodha co-founder Nithin Kamath at an event. What followed was something out of a film script.
Kamath, having heard of FoodPharmer’s work, offered to help. “Don’t worry, if you need any financial help, let me know, I’ll help out,” he told Himatsingka.
Stunned, the influencer asked, “How much equity would you want if you help me?”
Kamath smiled. “None. I don’t want anything. I just want to support you.”
In a world driven by venture capital returns, exit strategies, and performance metrics, the words carried the emotional weight of a thousand paychecks.
No Strings, Just Belief
“It wasn’t charity,” Himatsingka later wrote in a now-viral post. “It was belief. Belief that doing the right thing is worth backing.”
He didn’t accept the money, choosing instead to push forward in his mission to build a sustainable platform. But the gesture stayed with him.
“You didn’t just offer me help. You inspired me,” he wrote, a sentiment that has since touched thousands across the internet. Kamath’s quiet integrity, paired with Himatsingka’s transparency, has sparked conversations about what real mentorship and allyship look like in today’s entrepreneurial landscape.
The Cost of Integrity
Since returning to India, Himatsingka has walked a lonely path. Despite massive opportunities, he has said no to all food brand deals—junk or otherwise—to preserve his credibility. Even offers that could have turned his financial reality around were declined.
“The money these companies offered could have changed my life,” he admitted. “But I want to remain 100% unbiased.”
For 14 months, he made no income. Legal fees mounted. Burnout crept in. And still, he refused to compromise.
“I’m not struggling financially,” he clarified. “But I am struggling to scale our impact. And I am very burnt out.”
More Than Just a Moment
What makes this story resonate isn’t just the viral nature of the tweet or the unexpected generosity of a startup mogul. It’s the reminder that in a world fixated on profit, the rarest and most profound acts are those done without expectation.
Kamath’s offer didn’t just give Himatsingka a temporary lifeline—it gave him something far more valuable: a renewed sense of purpose.
As FoodPharmer continues his crusade against misleading food marketing, one thing is clear—sometimes, the smallest gestures have the greatest impact.
It was December 2023. Himatsingka, the sharp-tongued critic of deceptive food marketing, had just quit a lucrative ₹2 crore job in the US to return to India and take on Big Food. The move wasn’t just bold—it was financially suicidal. Within months, he found himself buried under eight legal notices, completely income-less, and deeply uncertain about the future of his mission.
Then came an unexpected encounter.
An Unforgettable Offer from an Unexpected Stranger
“I had never met him before,” Himatsingka wrote on X, formerly Twitter, as he recounted meeting Zerodha co-founder Nithin Kamath at an event. What followed was something out of a film script.
Kamath, having heard of FoodPharmer’s work, offered to help. “Don’t worry, if you need any financial help, let me know, I’ll help out,” he told Himatsingka.
Stunned, the influencer asked, “How much equity would you want if you help me?”
Kamath smiled. “None. I don’t want anything. I just want to support you.”
In a world driven by venture capital returns, exit strategies, and performance metrics, the words carried the emotional weight of a thousand paychecks.
When I was nearly broke, battling lawsuits, and questioning everything—Nithin Kamath offered to help me out.
— Revant Himatsingka “Food Pharmer” (@foodpharmer2) May 29, 2025
I had quit my job in the US, wasn’t doing food brands deals, and I had 8 legal notices. That's when I met @Nithin0dha at an event in December 2023.
He told me “Don’t… pic.twitter.com/Cfc5P6katE
No Strings, Just Belief
“It wasn’t charity,” Himatsingka later wrote in a now-viral post. “It was belief. Belief that doing the right thing is worth backing.”
He didn’t accept the money, choosing instead to push forward in his mission to build a sustainable platform. But the gesture stayed with him.
“You didn’t just offer me help. You inspired me,” he wrote, a sentiment that has since touched thousands across the internet. Kamath’s quiet integrity, paired with Himatsingka’s transparency, has sparked conversations about what real mentorship and allyship look like in today’s entrepreneurial landscape.
The Cost of Integrity
Since returning to India, Himatsingka has walked a lonely path. Despite massive opportunities, he has said no to all food brand deals—junk or otherwise—to preserve his credibility. Even offers that could have turned his financial reality around were declined.
“The money these companies offered could have changed my life,” he admitted. “But I want to remain 100% unbiased.”
For 14 months, he made no income. Legal fees mounted. Burnout crept in. And still, he refused to compromise.
“I’m not struggling financially,” he clarified. “But I am struggling to scale our impact. And I am very burnt out.”
More Than Just a Moment
What makes this story resonate isn’t just the viral nature of the tweet or the unexpected generosity of a startup mogul. It’s the reminder that in a world fixated on profit, the rarest and most profound acts are those done without expectation.
Kamath’s offer didn’t just give Himatsingka a temporary lifeline—it gave him something far more valuable: a renewed sense of purpose.
As FoodPharmer continues his crusade against misleading food marketing, one thing is clear—sometimes, the smallest gestures have the greatest impact.
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