Neil Pokharel’s company has gone to the dogs

Neil Pokharel’s company has gone to the dogs

When Neil Pokharel left Microsoft, he dove into something quite different from the world of tech: pet products.

In 2015, Neil and his business partner founded Durkha — a company that produces all-natural dog chews, treats and toys. Based in Kent, Washington, the Durkha products are now sold nationwide in pet stores.

After five years at Microsoft as an Office 365 solutions professional and a lead productivity solutions professional with Microsoft Education, Neil started his entrepreneurial journey.

Neil, who got his bachelor’s degree in computer systems networking and telecommunications as well as business administration, said working at Microsoft was a lifelong dream. As a young adult, he would visit his cousins in Seattle and visit the Microsoft campus and take pictures. When he moved from Omaha to Seattle in 2007, he set the goal to land a role at Microsoft within a year. He did just that.

After landing his dream job with his dream company, Neil decided he wanted to take the risk to become his own boss. While he took a large salary cut, he worked more flexible hours and spent his free time researching different markets that he could potentially tap into. Aside from having dogs as a kid, Neil said he didn’t know anything about the pet product market, but his research showed massive potential in the industry.

According to the American Pet Products Association, Americans have been spending more on their pets every year since 1994. It’s estimated that consumer spending on pet products is expected to reach nearly $100 billion by the end of 2020.

Neil dove in. He knew he wanted to make his pet products unique by utilizing his connections in Nepal, where he was born, to create an all-natural treat for dogs. The cheese in Durkha chews is made from milk of yaks and cows raised on Himalayan farms. The long cheese-making process includes removing the lactose and drying over a fire for up to four months to add a smoky flavor. The chews are lactose-free, gluten-free, all-natural, stainless and odorless.

Durkha’s mission is to provide natural, healthy and innovative pet products. It focuses on quality, price and sustainability. The vision is to become a leader in ethical and eco-friendly pet products.

Durkha had its breakthrough moment at a trade show in 2016. The company gained exposure and Neil began to understand the unfamiliar market and re-work their market strategy. Durkah gained momentum and has become a multi-million-dollar company. Neil expects annual revenue to continue to increase in the coming years, and he plans to go global in 2021.

Neil said his time at Microsoft helped solidify his sales skills and build his credibility. The high-level communication he had to maintain was also a stepping-stone to his current success. He is constantly making new connections.

Neil’s proudest moments are when he sees his products on the shelves at pet stores. Before the pandemic, he and his son had a weekend tradition of getting a car wash, eating junk food and going to the pet store to look at the shelves.

Neil says his 5-year-old son is his inspiration to push himself to be better every day. He loves to join Neil at the warehouse. Neil said his wife was also instrumental in supporting him both financially and emotionally during his entrepreneurial journey. The business has been a family affair.

In January, Neil acquired full ownership of Durkha. He has a small team, but he plans to hire more salespeople in January. Durkah was just the start of Neil’s entrepreneurial journey.

Neil recently created another product company called Mister Poop Toilet Accessories. The company sells emoji-shaped plungers and toilet brushes. This company was launched by Neil and his friend, who is also a Microsoft alumni.

The idea for the plunger came about when Neil saw his son sticking googly eyes on a new plunger he had bought. Neil and his partner saw potential for a functional product that could put a smile on someone’s face.

The product debut was in the Oscar goodie bags in 2019, given to each Oscar nominee. The plunger was also featured in Forbes magazine. Following the Oscars, Neil and his family were invited to a red-carpet event in Beverly Hills hosted by MTV. They had a small booth set up and gained publicity. He was set to attend a worldwide tradeshow this year to launch the plunger, but unfortunately the pandemic disrupted those plans. Mister Poop products will be available for purchase online soon.

Neil said his positivity and patience are what has helped him get to where he is today. He hopes he can inspire young people to follow their passions and push them to be better. He and his wife currently support students in Nepal. In the coming years, he hopes to mentor and motivate high-school students.

“If there is anything that you want in your head that you are passionate about, go for it,” he said. “You live one life and there is only one shot you have. It’s now or never.”