Mom-Daughter To Co-Founders: Simran, Tina Bapu On Building Clean Dessert Brand

A love for food meets a quest for wellness—this is the story of Tina and Simran Bapu, a mother-daughter duo from Mumbai, turning indulgent snacks into nutrition-packed treats. Their story began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when, like many others, they found themselves swapping comfort foods for healthy alternatives. With Tina’s flair for baking and Simran’s expertise in clinical nutrition, their humble home-kitchen experiments turned into a full-fledged business, Paleoo Bakes. The brand is known for its sugar-free, gluten-free, and healthy desserts.

In an interview with SheThePeople, Simran and Tina shared their journey to entrepreneurship, how they realised the growing demand for mindful eating, and their mission to make nutrition more accessible and enjoyable. They also spoke about how their dynamic as mother-daughter has not only shaped their personal growth but also become a defining strength of their business.

Simran And Tina Bapu In Conversation With SheThePeople

STP: Please introduce yourselves individually– your background and professional journeys.

Tina Bapu: I always loved baking but the classic, indulgent kind we all grew up enjoying. Baking has always been my comfort zone. I loved making sweets the old-fashioned way rich, nostalgic, full of flavour and obviously sugar. When Simran introduced me to the idea of healthier alternatives, it sparked something new. Together, we found a way to keep the joy of baking alive while reimagining it for today’s lifestyle.

Simran Bapu: I pursued a postgraduate degree in Nutrition, I was always drawn to the health side, understanding what truly nourishes the body. Over time, I saw the growing need for treats that didn’t compromise on either taste or health. That’s when we decided to bring our worlds together, her love for traditional baking and my background in nutrition to create something that felt indulgent but was truly wholesome.

STP: Mithai has always been special to Indians. So how were you inspired to start a brand that specialises in sugar-free gluten-free desserts?

Simran Bapu: Desserts have always held a special place in Indian culture - every celebration whether it is big or small, ends on a sweet note. But over time, this deep-rooted love for sweets has also contributed to rising health issues, with diabetes becoming increasingly common in our country. As a nutritionist, I understand that asking people to completely give up desserts is neither practical nor joyful. 

That’s where the idea for our brand, Paleoo Bakes began. With my background in the science of food and my mom’s passion for baking, we came together to reimagine desserts, ones that are free from refined sugar and gluten, yet still truly indulgent. Our aim is to offer guilt-free treats that nourish the body without compromising on the taste we all crave.

STP: As the founders of a healthy snack brand, I'm curious to know how you both keep a check on your fitness and nutrition. Beyond physical fitness, how do you keep your mind healthy?

Simran Bapu: Honestly, we try to keep things balanced and sustainable. We don’t follow extreme diets or intense fitness routines because life gets busy, especially when you’re running a business. For physical health, we focus on staying active like regular gym sessions, morning/evening walks when possible, and just moving whenever possible during the day. We also try to eat mindfully and stick to whole, nourishing foods most of the time, while still enjoying our very own desserts in moderation.

As for mental health, we’ve learned that taking small breaks, spending time with loved ones, and having open, honest conversations especially with each other really helps. Building something together is exciting but also demanding, so we consciously make time to disconnect from work, even if it’s just for a little while each day.

STP: Although women are expected to run the kitchen at home, the food & beverages industry continues to be male-dominated. Have y’all personally faced any challenges or biases as a women-run business?

Simran Bapu: Yes, we’ve definitely felt it at times. It’s quite ironic—women are often seen as the natural caretakers of food at home, yet when it comes to professional kitchens or food businesses, the industry still leans heavily male. As a women-run brand, especially one that blends nutrition and baking, we've occasionally had to work harder to be taken seriously—not just as passionate individuals, but as professionals who understand both the science and the business of food.

Sometimes, it’s subtle—like being asked who the ‘real’ decision-maker is, or being underestimated in technical or financial discussions.

But instead of letting that discourage us, we’ve used it as fuel. We’ve built Paleoo Bakes on knowledge, intention, and a lot of hard work. And over time, we’ve seen perceptions shift. There’s a growing appreciation for women-led brands, especially when the product speaks for itself. We’re proud to be part of that change and hope to make the space more inclusive for others, too.

STP: What is it like running a business together as mom and daughter and how has getting into business together impacted your personal relationship? How do you separate your professional demands from personal time?

Simran Bapu: It’s been a beautiful mix of chaos and connection, to be honest. Running a business together as mother and daughter has brought us closer in so many ways. We’ve learned things about each other that we probably never would’ve if we weren’t working side by side like how we each handle pressure, make decisions, or bounce back from setbacks. There’s a strong sense of trust and comfort, which really helps in a high-pressure space like business.

But it’s not always easy. Lines do blur sometimes especially when your co-founder is also your mom! We’ve had to consciously create boundaries, like not bringing work talk to the dinner table or taking a break when things get too intense. We also make it a point to have non-work moments whether it’s spending family time together at home, watching something light, or just talking as mom and daughter, not business partners.

At the end of the day, we remind ourselves that this brand was built out of love for good food, for health, and for each other. That keeps us grounded.

STP: What is something invaluable you have learnt from each other? Tina, as a mother, you have surely imparted a wealth of knowledge to your daughter. But is there anything that you have learnt or inculcated from her?

Tina Bapu: Definitely. One of the most beautiful things I’ve learnt from her is confidence. The way she believes in herself, takes charge, and expresses her thoughts fearlessly it’s something I deeply admire and try to embody more myself.

As for me, I’ve done a wide variety of work all my life  from different businesses to constantly adapting to new roles. But ever since Paleoo Bakes happened, it’s been a different journey. With this, I’ve learnt what it means to be consistent and patient. It’s not just about starting something, it's about showing up for it every single day, nurturing it slowly, and allowing it to grow. That’s been a big shift in me.

STP: If you could go back to Day 1 of opening, is there any advice you would like to give yourselves?

Simran Bapu: If we could go back to day one, the advice we’d give ourselves would be not to just focus on perfecting the product and understand the business as a whole. In the beginning, our energy was entirely devoted to creating the ideal recipe, but we soon realized that running a brand requires much more. From packaging, pricing, and operations to customer service, marketing, and brand positioning each element plays a vital role.

We would also remind ourselves that not everyone will immediately understand or appreciate the concept of clean, guilt-free desserts. Educating customers takes time and patience. Staying confident in our vision, even during slow or uncertain phases, is something we wish we had embraced earlier. 

We understood that growth isn’t always fast or flashy, but when built with intention, it’s deeply rewarding.