In this episode of The Startup Line, I sit down with Victoria Ho, Co-Founder of Khalo, a modern food brand reimagining Ayurveda and gut health for today’s kitchens. What began as a personal journey of healing and connection has grown into a company bringing ancient traditions into modern homes through spice blends and cooking bases.

Victoria shares how she went from studying English literature at Berkeley to scaling CPG brands, co-founding a popcorn company from scratch, consulting for Nestlé, and ultimately co-creating Khalo with Ankita and Jesal. We dive into the lessons of building with empathy, navigating the gritty realities of scaling food products, aligning with the right partners, and holding integrity at the core of every business decision.

We also explore the bigger picture—why passion alone burns out, how food is a love language that connects us to our families and cultures, and how Khalo is making Ayurveda approachable for anyone looking to improve their gut health and daily rituals.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to grow a purpose-driven food brand, balance storytelling with operations, or reimagine ancient traditions in a modern context, this episode is for you.

Relevant Links:

Khalo: https://www.khaloworld.com/

Ankita: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankitasankla/

Victoria: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriajho/

Jesal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesaltriv/