CRED’s Luxe Fintech Play, EcoSoul’s $20M Green Leap, Rebel’s ₹150 Cr Boost & More 🚀
India’s D2C ecosystem continues to surge — from fintech innovators launching gold-plated exclusivity, to sustainable homeware brands going global, footwear giants doubling offline bets, and more...
National Disruptors
1.CRED Partners with IndusInd Bank to Launch RuPay Credit Card and Sovereign Gold Membership
CRED, the fintech company, made some interesting moves. They've teamed up with IndusInd Bank to offer a co-branded RuPay credit card. Plus, they're starting Sovereign, a members-only group where you need an invite and an 18K gold card to get in. These actions show how Indian brands are always trying to come up with new lifestyle experiences.
The CRED IndusInd Bank RuPay Credit Card is aimed at people who want a taste of the good life. Cardholders get 5% back on all online shopping and 1% on everything else. They can use these rewards for flights, hotels, or at over 500 stores, as well as within CRED. This matches the current trend of new businesses and financial tech companies focusing on user-friendly experiences. By giving great rewards, CRED hopes to attract more customers and strengthen its position as a fast-growing brand.
CRED is also launching Sovereign, a special club for India’s most influential people. Members get a custom 18K gold card and exclusive perks like access to startup investments, global assets, travel benefits, cultural and sports events, and even opportunities for space travel. In a market where high-end brands are always looking for ways to connect with customers, Sovereign is a unique idea that mixes exclusivity and community.
2. EcoSoul Raises $20M to Scale as a Global Sustainable D2C Homeware Brand
EcoSoul, a D2C brand for sustainable homeware, has secured $20 million in Series B funding through a mix of equity and venture debt. Accel and Bajaj Financial Securities led the round, with StartupXseed Ventures, JSW Ventures, the CK Birla Group, and Singh Capital Partners also participating. Alteria Capital and SIDBI contributed debt. This round brings EcoSoul’s total funding to over $50 million, establishing it as a top sustainable D2C brand in India.
Founded in 2020 by Rahul Singh and Arvind Ganesan, EcoSoul aims to make sustainable living common. They offer over 1,800 items, including compostable tableware, drinkware, kitchenware, bamboo boards, and eco-friendly personal care products, all made from materials like bamboo and palm leaves.
3. Asian Footwears Plans Expansion to One Lakh Multi-Brand Outlets and 100 EBOs by FY26, Cementing Its Place Among India’s Top D2C Brands
Asian Footwears is making news in the Indian D2C space because of their size and plans. Since 1994, this footwear company has offered Indian customers good products that don't cost too much. They began as a small business in a crowded market, but now they're among India's quickest-growing D2C brands in the developing D2C area.
The company's growth is fueled by a bold plan to grow its retail presence to 100,000 multi-brand stores by fiscal year 2026. Also, they plan to grow their exclusive brand stores to 100 by the end of this year, and then add another 100 stores next year. This move to expand offline is part of a bigger plan to combine retail distribution with strong digital channels.
Right now, Asian Footwears is available in about 40,000 multi-brand stores and 35 exclusive brand stores. They also have a big presence on sites like Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart. Their own D2C website adds to this retail setup, which keeps them in the D2C news.
Business Boost
1. Rebel Foods Raises ₹150 Cr Debt from Alteria & InnoVen, Strengthens Position in India’s D2C Food Ecosystem
Rebel Foods, a major D2C food and beverage brand in India, has secured ₹150 crore ($17 million) in debt funding from existing investors Alteria Capital and InnoVen Capital. This investment shows strong investor confidence in Rebel Foods’ business approach and strengthens its position in India's quickly growing D2C market.
According to filings from the Registrar of Companies (RoC), Rebel Foods’ board has approved the allocation of 15,000 non-convertible debentures (NCDs) with a face value of ₹1 lakh each. Alteria Capital invested ₹90 crore ($10.2 million), and InnoVen Capital added ₹60 crore ($6.8 million). The NCDs have a coupon rate of 13.9% and will mature in September 2028.
This move follows Rebel Foods' recent $25 million funding from the Qatar Investment Authority. With total funding exceeding $780 million, Rebel Foods is one of the top funded D2C brands in India. Previous funding rounds include a $210 million Series G led by Temasek. For those following D2C news, this is a key funding event in the D2C food sector this quarter.
2. Insight Cosmetics Bets Big on Skincare and Omnichannel, Targets 40% Growth in FY26
Insight Cosmetics, a leading affordable beauty brand in India, has set some pretty aggressive targets for fiscal year 2026. They're planning to grow by over 40% by really cranking up their skincare product releases, boosting their presence everywhere you can shop, and reaching more customers in smaller cities. They've been making money for 30 years, so they got the basics covered.
In India's fast-changing direct-to-consumer market, Insight Cosmetics is doing things a bit differently than other new brands. Insight can make a profit while still growing fast. The company is showing that you can still grow steadily over time by focusing on coming up with new ideas and being available wherever customers want to shop.
Mihir Jain, the Sales and Marketing Director, says profits have always been super important to them. Lots of new direct-to-consumer companies grow fast but lose money along the way. Insight has been careful to expand responsibly, which keeps things running well and keeps customers happy. After a strong fiscal year 2025, they're getting ready to grow even faster, especially when it comes to makeup for professionals and skincare.
Founders Funded
1. Lucira Jewelry Raises $5.5M Seed Funding from Blume Ventures to Redefine Design-First Fine Jewelry in India’s D2C Ecosystem
Lucira Jewelry, a high-end jewelry brand, secured $5.5 million in seed funding. Blume Ventures and Spring Marketing Capital led the round, with SiriusOne Capital Fund and angel investors also participating.
The angel investors include founders from D2C brands such as Dot & Key, Livspace, Snitch, and Bewakoof.com, showing confidence in the D2C market in India.
Founded by Rupesh and Vandana Jain, Lucira plans to use the funding to grow its D2C reach across India. By fiscal year 2026, the business intends to introduce four flagship stores, improve the digital shopping experience, and put money into personalization using technology. This mirrors the change in India's direct-to-consumer market, with jewelry becoming more about emotion and design rather than only an investment
2. FarmDidi Raises ₹7 Cr to Scale Women-Led D2C Pickle Brand, Eyes Expansion Across India
Pickle brand FarmDidi recently got a seed funding round of over ₹7 crore. Samved Ventures led the round, with participation from LetsVenture, Indigram Labs, IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, plus angel investors from IIM Calcutta and Symbiosis.
The money will go toward strengthening the team, R&D, better tech for quality, and growing their group of rural women entrepreneurs—called “Didis”—from 2,000 to over 5,000 in the next few years.
Manjari Sharma, Anukrit Johari, and Asmita Ghodeshwar started FarmDidi in 2022. The company is becoming a player in India’s packaged food market. The brand helps rural women make homemade, chemical-free pickles and condiments right where the food grows, mixing old family recipes with modern safety standards. FarmDidi gives Indian consumers a product they can trust and helps create jobs in rural India.
3.Zappfresh Reports 94% Profit Growth in FY25, Eyes IPO to Fuel Expansion
Zappfresh, a meat delivery company, is standing out as one of India's fastest-growing food and beverage brands.In FY25, their net profit jumped 94% to INR 9 Cr, from INR 4.6 Cr the year before. This shows that the direct-to-consumer model is changing traditional markets like fresh meat delivery. For people following D2C trends, Zappfresh's story is a great example of how D2C businesses are growing in India.
The company's revenue also hit a milestone, crossing INR 100 Cr for the first time to reach INR 130.7 Cr in FY25. That's a 45% increase from INR 90.4 Cr in FY24. In just two years, Zappfresh's revenue has gone up by 232% from INR 56.3 Cr in FY23. This growth puts Zappfresh among the top D2C brands in India.
Founded in 2015 by Deepanshu Manchanda, Zappfresh focuses on delivering fresh products quickly, from farm to customer, in under 90 minutes. The company is planning to raise INR 50 Cr through an SME IPO, issuing 59.06 Lakh new shares. This shows that investors are interested in profitable D2C startups in India.
Karishma Mehta, Founder – Humans of Bombay
"Empathy and EBITDA can co-exist — one fuels the other."
What began as a Facebook page with stories captured on a camera in hand, Humans of Bombay has grown into one of India’s most loved storytelling platforms — built entirely bootstrapped and profitable from day one.
Karishma shares how her Gujarati DNA shaped her journey — frugality in money, generosity with people. For her, running lean wasn’t just business sense, it was culture. At the same time, empathy and impact have been the backbone of everything she built.
🔑 Takeaways for Founders:
1️⃣ Bootstrapping builds resilience — efficiency is born from constraints.
2️⃣ Money and empathy aren’t opposites; both must be respected.
3️⃣ True leadership is about presence — people remember how you make them feel.
4️⃣ Impact isn’t an afterthought; it can be the core of your business.
5️⃣ Alpha leadership isn’t about dominance, but humility, kindness, and purpose.
Karishma’s message:
"Humility + empathy don’t reduce power — they magnify it. Build with both heart and discipline, and the impact will outlast the numbers.”
D2C Insider Weekly Update | CXO Meet – South Special
South India is all set to host one of the most significant gatherings in the consumer ecosystem this October. On 31st October 2025, Bangalore will welcome the CXO Meet – South — positioned as India’s largest D2C founders’ confluence.
The event will bring together the sharpest minds and boldest builders of the D2C landscape, offering a platform for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and networking that can shape the next phase of India’s consumer journey.
What to Expect
150+ Founders leading India’s new-age consumer revolution
100+ Brands innovating and reshaping consumer preferences
25+ Investors & Enablers fueling the country’s most exciting growth stories
With a packed agenda, the meet will explore themes critical to the ecosystem — from fundraising playbooks and scaling omnichannel strategies to consumer insights and brand-building journeys.
For entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem enablers alike, CXO Meet – South is more than an event — it is a high-impact forum where collaboration meets execution, and the future of consumer brands is being written.
📌 Event Details
Date: 31st October 2025
Venue: Yutori Spaces, Safina Plaza, Infantry Road, Bangalore
Time: 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM
🔗 Register Now : https://d2ci.co/cxo-meet-register
