When Your Hard Work Is Copied: A Founder’s Heartbreak
For over 15 years, I have poured my heart, time, and faith into building my brand—Millet N Minutes. What started as a mother’s concern for her children’s health slowly grew into something much bigger. It wasn’t just a business; it was my child. I nurtured it with care, patience, sleepless nights, and endless effort.
Every recipe, every product, every jar of millet snacks came from years of experimentation and learning. I didn’t just create snacks—I created a purpose. I created opportunities for my community. I created something honest and meaningful.
So when I recently saw another brand, Millet N Joy, copying my products, packaging style, jar concepts, speaking style, and even the posters I designed and shared on social media, it broke my heart in ways I can’t fully explain.
This is not just about competition. Competition is healthy. But copying someone’s hard work, creativity, and identity after watching their journey for years is deeply hurtful.
What hurts even more is this:
They approached me earlier for collaboration.
If they had come to me with sincerity, I would have helped them. I am someone who believes in sharing knowledge. I have always supported homegrown entrepreneurs. I have given ideas, guidance, and even leads to help others grow. I truly believe there is space for everyone to succeed.
But instead of building something original, they chose to copy.
Since yesterday, after seeing those videos and posts, I haven’t been able to eat or sleep properly. My mind keeps replaying the journey of these past 15 years—the struggles, the sacrifices, the risks, and the faith it took to build Millet N Minutes from nothing.
People often see only the success. They don’t see the nights of worry, the financial stress, the doubts, the failures, and the strength it took to continue. They don’t see the emotional attachment a founder has to their brand.
Millet N Minutes is not just a company to me.
It is my child.
I raised it with honesty, hard work, and purpose.
Seeing someone replicate not just products but the voice, the style, and the identity I built over years feels like someone has taken a part of my story and claimed it as their own.
Still, I want to say this with dignity:
I believe in doing good.
I believe in growing together.
I believe that if someone genuinely wants to build something meaningful, I am always ready to guide and support.
If they had simply asked with respect and honesty, I would have shared ideas openly. I still believe collaboration is stronger than imitation. There is enough space in this world for everyone to succeed without copying someone else’s journey.
This experience has been heartbreaking, but it has also reminded me of how much love and effort I have invested in Millet N Minutes. No one can copy the years of struggle, the intention, the authenticity, and the trust we have built with our community.
To those who have supported us through the years—thank you.
Your trust gives me strength.
Your encouragement reminds me why I started.
I will continue this journey with honesty and courage. Because what we built is real. And real things, built with heart and purpose, cannot be replaced by copies.
Sometimes the hardest part of building something meaningful is protecting it. But I still believe in kindness, integrity, and doing things the right way.
Millet N Minutes was built with love.
And that love will always remain original.
