In 2016, Pooja Kaul - a postgraduate student at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) - spotted a herd of donkeys near Solapur, setting her on an unexpected entrepreneurial path. The animals belonged to the Lashkar community, migrant laborers earning just ₹300–₹400 per day and struggling to feed their donkeys through seasonal work lulls.

Recognizing the untapped potential of donkey milk - rich in nutrients and historic skincare usage - Kaul launched a pilot. Despite cultural stigmas and community suspicion (they feared she intended black magic), she spent six months building trust and experimenting in soap-making using her ₹26,000 personal savings plus ₹34,000 raised via crowdfunding. Her first batch of 250 soaps sold out locally, validating her idea.

Today, her enterprise, Organiko, offers handmade, chemical‑free skincare products infused with donkey milk and Ayurvedic oils. With prices ranging from ₹350 to ₹1,400, Organiko fulfills over 500 monthly orders nationwide. More importantly, it supports over 150 donkey‑rearing families across Delhi‑NCR and Uttar Pradesh, many of whom now earn between ₹5,000 and ₹14,000 monthly - an income boost that’s transformed livelihoods.

Beyond business, Organiko has championed animal welfare - milking donkeys ethically only every alternate day and ensuring hygienic storage. Its advocacy also influenced policy: in 2024, donkey farming was included under the National Livestock Mission, enabling broader access to subsidies for livestock owners.