“Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, stay focused on your vision, and most importantly, never give up. The road might be tough, but perseverance and a learning mindset are key to long-term success.”
In a freewheeling chat with Entrepreneurs Today, Setu Patel talks about her journey of building Daffocare Research Laboratory, a state-of-the-art facility offering pharmaceutical, food, and water testing services.
At Daffocare Research Laboratory, they offer a range of services from development, and validation, to regulatory compliance testing. They are also FDCA-approved along with approvals from ISO 17025, ISO 9001, and GLP.
Before founding her own venture, Setu had a brief stint working with the UK Government’s Food Laboratory FERA, following her Master’s in Pharmaceutics with research experience in tumour cells from Imperial College London.
Founded in 2018, Setu’s goal with Daffocare Research Laboratory is to address the significant gaps in the pharmaceutical industry by offering services like testing, validation, and compliance. Reflecting on the work they have done so far, she says,
“With a deep passion for enhancing industry standards, we are proud to have grown into a trusted name in the field, offering high-quality, reliable testing and research services.”
Entrepreneurial Spirit
Growing up in a construction and real estate business, Setu had always wanted to set up her own venture eventually. It was during her master’s that she knew she wanted to own a pharmaceutical manufacturing unit. While doing the market research, she identified a lack of support services like testing and validation for manufacturers. She reveals,
“This inspired me to start Daffocare Research Laboratory in 2018, after gaining laboratory experience at Imperial College. This initiative addressed the industry’s needs and laid the foundation for my long-term goal of setting up a manufacturing unit.”
Today, Daffocare is known for its integrated approach, along with the addition of Bridgecare F&D. She shares,
“While many companies in the industry focus on just one area, we offer a holistic range of services that span across testing, validation, regulatory compliance, and more. Our laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities ensuring that we deliver services that meet the highest industry standards.”
What provides them with an edge, even more, is the synergy between Daffocare and Bridgecare F&D with which they are able to offer a wide range of services making them the one-stop solution. Setu further adds,
“While Daffocare specialises in critical testing, validation, and research services, Bridgecare F&D complements this by providing end-to-end support in pharmaceutical development, formulation, clinical trials, regulatory approval, and more. Whether it’s developing complex dosage forms, providing bioequivalence studies, or ensuring regulatory compliance, we are equipped to support our clients at every stage of the pharmaceutical lifecycle.”
Moreover, Setu believes in collaborating rather than competing, and over the years she has fostered numerous relationships in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmeceutical industries. The approach has helped them grow in a competitive market by working together with others in the industry.
The Journey
There have been several challenges along the way. However, Setu says that the most challenging one was navigating the journey as a woman in a male-dominated pharmaceutical industry. While she was starting fresh, there were several clients who refused to engage with her as she was a woman. Setu asserts,
“The only way to overcome this was to earn their trust by consistently delivering results, solving problems, and building a reputation for competence. Another challenge came when a client transferred a major project to another lab, teaching me the importance of safeguarding intellectual property and not trusting clients blindly.”
Despite the challenges, one of the most rewarding times was when they secured a validation project in 2020 which refined the quality standards by miles. Eventually, they came to be known as the go-to lab in Gujarat for a critical drug test during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A New Dawn
Going ahead, Setu’s long-term plan is to build her own pharmaceutical manufacturing unit. In the near future, she is looking forward to expanding the capabilities of Daffocare Research Laboratory and Bridgecare F&D.
Her strategy follows a structured seven-year growth cycle. The first five years are dedicated to hands-on involvement in operations to build a strong foundation. The next two years focus on identifying and training future leaders while transitioning into a strategic role.
From the seventh year onward, the plan is to expand services, enter new markets, and work toward launching the manufacturing unit. Setu aims to achieve this through strategic collaborations, continuous service improvements, and investment in cutting-edge technology, ensuring adaptability and sustained growth in the pharmaceutical industry.
With a hope for a bright future ahead, Setu signs off, saying,
“One thing I have learned is to be resilient. The journey has been filled with challenges, from overcoming gender bias to learning through trial and error. I never had a mentor, so my mistakes became my greatest teachers.”
