Have you ever got back home from work tired and exhausted, craving for a steamy aromatic home-cooked food? Have you recently missed your mom’s amazing dishes? Of course we all do at some point of time. You might also be new to the city, and are clueless how to find a good and reliable cook in your area. We all want to cook at home, but sometimes the hassle is too much, or the skills are let’s just say, subpar… looking at you maggi chefs 👀
Yes, there might be abundant options of quick food deliveries from restaurants and cloud kitchens these days. But in the end, the satisfaction of having a home prepared meal which is hygienic, healthy and tasty is what we all seek every now and then. On top of that ordering food every single day from restaurants does not just affecting your health, but also affects your wallet too.
In this fast paced world of working professionals and staying away from home to earn a living, we always miss out on certain perks and hence sacrifice pampering ourselves. This is a huge pain point in many cities, with a busy lifestyle.
That’s where Cookzy comes in with a solution as an aggregator for home cooks. Think of it like an Airbnb of chefs. Finding home cooks is a tedious job. They make it easy for YOU!
Till now, Cookzy has served over 25,000 users and has more than 4,000 home cooks registered with them. They are currently expanding their services and reaching a nationwide audience so that people can have access to healthy home-cooked food. Their platform also uses technology to create a more efficient and fair system for both home cooks and users. As a startup, they promise to be committed to their mission, and making a positive impact on the lives of both home cooks and our users.
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We sat down with the Founder – Palkesh Jain for an one on one interview, in helping us understand their startup better, and learn about their goals and vision. Do go through their interview conducted by Desi Founder Team.
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Table of Contents
What inspired you to start Cookzy, and how did your journey as a founder begin?
The idea of Cookzy came from witnessing two contrasting realities. On one hand, there were families, students, and professionals struggling to manage daily meals due to their busy schedules. On the other, I saw many talented home cooks, especially women, struggling to find consistent work despite their skills. Cookzy was created as a way to bring these two worlds together.
The journey began with a vision to empower home cooks, many of whom are the unsung heroes behind countless delicious meals. These cooks don’t just prepare food—they share a part of their culture, their love, and their stories. Cookzy allows them to take pride in their work and connect with people who value it.
How does Cookzy aim to empower home cooks while solving meal management issues for users?
Cookzy empowers home cooks by providing a platform where their culinary talents are celebrated and valued. Many of the cooks who join our platform are incredibly skilled but often lack the means to reach potential clients. Cookzy bridges that gap, connecting them directly to users who appreciate their skills and need reliable help in managing their meals.
For users, Cookzy is a game-changer. It addresses the stress of daily meal planning by offering access to a wide variety of cooks who specialize in different cuisines, allowing families, students, and professionals to enjoy personalized meals tailored to their tastes. Whether someone needs help with traditional home-style food or unique regional dishes, Cookzy ensures they find the perfect match.
Beyond just providing a platform, we foster trust and relationships between users and cooks. Many cooks share how Cookzy has given them newfound confidence and a sense of independence, while users often express gratitude for the sense of comfort and consistency they find in having home-cooked meals. Together, Cookzy is creating a win-win solution that’s making life better for everyone involved.
What is Cookzy’s business model, and how do you generate revenue without charging commissions?
At Cookzy, fairness and transparency are at the heart of our business model. Users pay a one-time fee to connect with cooks, ensuring that the cooks receive their full earnings without any deductions or hidden charges.
We also offer an assistance service where, for an additional fee, we personally help users find the right cook based on their specific preferences—whether it’s cuisine type, location, or meal schedules. This service is designed for users who want a hands-off approach while ensuring they get the perfect match.
This model aligns with our mission of empowering home cooks while keeping the platform accessible and affordable for everyone.
Can you share any memorable stories or feedback from users or home cooks that stand out?
There are countless stories that remind us why we started Cookzy, but Rajesh’s journey is one of the most inspiring. He joined Cookzy during a tough time in his life, with no clients and little hope for consistent work. Through the platform, he connected with families who appreciated his skills, and over time, his network grew to 11 households. Today, Rajesh is not only financially stable but also deeply respected by the families he works with.
On the user side, a young professional once shared how her cook’s meals felt like “coming home” after a stressful day, offering her the comfort and warmth she had missed since moving to a new city. These stories remind us that Cookzy is more than just a platform—it’s a way of building connections and creating positive change in people’s lives.
When I shifted to Bengaluru, the thing I missed the most was the taste of home food. In the initial days, I was unable to find any cook in my area so I started eating out. Then I came to know about Cookzy and I found so many cooks in my area, now I enjoy not only the taste but the healthiness of the home food.
Hemant Chandak
What advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs looking to start a platform addressing social challenges?
Start with empathy. The best solutions come from deeply understanding the people you’re trying to help. It’s also crucial to stay grounded and focused on your mission, even when challenges arise. Building a platform for social impact isn’t just about profits; it’s about creating real value and staying true to the cause.
Lastly, be patient. Change doesn’t happen overnight, but every step forward counts when you’re making a difference.
How do you balance your day-to-day work responsibilities with personal life as a founder?
Balance is a challenge every founder faces, and I’m no exception. For me, it’s about prioritizing what truly matters and setting boundaries. I make time for my family and hobbies, which helps me recharge and stay focused. At the same time, I’ve learned to delegate and trust my team, which has been key to maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
What are your future plans for Cookzy in terms of expansion and new features?
We’re excited to expand Cookzy to more cities, bringing our platform to a wider audience. We’re also exploring partnerships with community organizations to reach more home cooks in under-served areas. In terms of features, we’re working on enhancing the user experience with better matchmaking tools and richer profiles that showcase cooks’ unique skills.
Beyond growth, our ultimate goal is to amplify our social impact. We want Cookzy to be more than a platform—it should be a movement that empowers home cooks and celebrates the power of food to connect people.
That will be a wrap of the interview. Hope you enjoyed reading it, as much as we enjoyed creating it. If you too have an interesting Founder Story to share it with the world, please feel free to submit a request here.