D2C Weekly Buzz: Contraband x Parcos, HoB’s Global Biryani Play, Mila Beauté’s ₹100 Cr Ambition & More
In this week’s D2C Insider Pulse, India’s consumer brands are turning heads—luxury, food, and baby care all making bold moves.
National Disruptors
1.Contraband by Ananya Birla Partners with Parcos, Expands Retail Footprint in India’s Luxury D2C Beauty Market
Contraband, Ananya Birla's luxury fragrance brand, is growing by partnering with Parcos, a top luxury beauty retailer in India. This deal boosts Contraband's store presence and marks the first time an Indian fragrance brand will be sold nationwide in Parcos stores, changing the direct-to-consumer scene in India.
For Indian D2C brands, this shows growing chances for top-tier local brands to compete with global fragrance names. Contraband's spot in Parcos' stores puts it with global giants in beauty, showing Indian brands are becoming more visible in the D2C world. This news has been a major point in D2C updates this week, showing how Indian D2C news is changing what people think about high-end lifestyle items.
2. House of Biryani Secures ₹32 Crore in Growth Round Backed by MS Dhoni and Bestvantage, Eyes Global Expansion in D2C Food Market
House of Biryani (HoB), a fast-growing food-tech platform that delivers directly to consumers, has secured ₹32 crore (about $3.66 million) in its latest funding round. Bestvantage Investments led the round, with participation from cricket legend MS Dhoni, Mohit Goyal (formerly of CVC Capital), Abhineet Singh (Al Siraj Holdings), and senior people from SoftBank, Kedara, and APAX. This new funding is a key moment for HoB as it expands rapidly in the Indian market.
The company previously raised $2 million in July 2024 from Al Siraj Holdings and Angel Star Ventures, showing that investors are confident in its business model. With this fresh funding, HoB intends to expand to 120–150 outlets in the next three years, targeting revenue between ₹450–550 crore. These expansion plans make HoB one of the fastest-growing food and beverage brands in India.
Founded by chefs Mohammed Bhol and Mikhail Shahani, who have more than 25 years of experience, House of Biryani wants to make biryani a global food item, like pizza, sushi, and burgers. This ambition shows how Indian brands are expanding not just in India but also internationally.
Business Boost
1.Mila Beauté Eyes ₹100 Crore Scale in FY26, Strengthens Position Among Fastest-Growing D2C Beauty Brands in India
Mila Beauté, a rapidly expanding beauty and skincare brand in India's direct-to-consumer market, had a successful year, closing FY25 with ₹60 crore in revenue. They aim to exceed ₹100 crore next year. This success places them among India's most promising D2C brands.
Founded by industry experts with over 20 years of experience, Mila Beauté has become a trendsetting brand in the Indian beauty scene. Using an omnichannel model, the brand has broadened its reach to 300 cities and over 10,000 retail stores, along with a strong online presence covering 1,900 pin codes nationwide. This mix of retail and online strategy shows how consumer behavior is changing in India's beauty market.
2.FirstCry Parent Brainbees Records ₹1,863 Cr Revenue in Q1 FY26, Strengthens Position in India’s D2C Ecosystem
FirstCry's parent firm, Brainbees Solutions, posted excellent results this quarter, solidifying its spot as one of India's fastest-growing direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands.
The company's Q1 FY26 revenue was ₹1,862.56 crore, a 13% jump from last year. Losses dropped by 13%, and they reported a positive EBITDA of ₹75 crore, showing that the Indian D2C market is maturing and focusing on profits.
Most of the revenue (about 78%) came from FirstCry’s Indian D2C operations, which include both physical stores and online platforms. GlobalBees, their rapidly expanding subsidiary, contributed ₹426 crore in revenue. This shows the Indian D2C landscape is changing, with major companies using a mix of retail, digital strategies, and brand acquisitions to keep growing.
Founders Funded
1.DOBRA Raises ₹1.5 Crore in Seed Funding Round Led by D2C Insider Super Angels Fund to Scale as India’s Next Big D2C Food and Beverage Brand
In recent news, DOBRA, a quickly growing Indian food and beverage company, has secured ₹1.5 crore in seed funding. The D2C Insider Super Angels Fund led this round of investment. This money is a big step forward for DOBRA and for the direct-to-consumer market in India. Food and beverage brands are starting to get noticed for their high-quality, unique products.
Oxbow Brands created DOBRA, which is making a name for itself by mixing old-fashioned tastes with great quality. They sell things like updated Pop Goli Soda, fancy cotton candy, and tapioca crisps. These items bring back memories of childhood while still being appealing to today's customers. This shows a change in what Indian consumers want: they're looking for interesting experiences along with convenience, which is a huge chance for new D2C companies.
2.R for Rabbit secures $27M funding from Filter Capital and 3one4 Capital to fuel expansion in India’s growing D2C market.
R for Rabbit, an Indian direct-to-consumer brand, just landed $27 million in a new funding round. Filter Capital and 3one4 Capital co-led the investment.
Xponentia Capital, an early investor, sold its shares after putting about $4.5 million into the company in 2021. This deal shows that investors are very interested in premium direct-to-consumer brands in India that are growing quickly and gaining customer trust.
R for Rabbit plans to use the money to grow its business, strengthen its distribution network, launch new products, and focus on digital strategies.
Kunal and Kinjal Popat, the husband-and-wife team who founded R for Rabbit, have built it into one of the fastest-growing baby care brands in India. They sell a wide range of products, like strollers and car seats, to parents who want safe, high-quality items. With over 2,000 offline partners and more than 5 million customers, R for Rabbit has a strong distribution strategy.
3.Beyond Appliances Secures $4M in Series A as D2C Smart Kitchen Brand Scales Manufacturing and Expansion
Beyond Appliances, a Bengaluru-based D2C electronics startup that’s growing quickly, has secured $4 million in Series A funding. This is a big step for the Indian D2C scene.
Fireside Ventures led the funding round, with Dharana Capital also participating. This shows investors are really confident in India's new D2C brands. This comes after Beyond Appliances raised $2 million in seed funding in November 2024, also from Fireside Ventures. It's one of the newest D2C startups to consistently get VC funding.
Founded in 2024 by Eshwar K Vikas and Rakesh Patil, Beyond Appliances is creating a high-end range of smart kitchen appliances that mix lifestyle with tech. This approach is becoming more common in the direct-to-consumer market in India. The company has found its place in the D2C electronics category with its range of Android-powered and plug-and-play chimneys, plus smart hobs and cooktops. By adding features like OTT platforms, music, reminders, and grocery lists, the brand is changing how consumers behave in India’s D2C industry.
D2C Insider Update
D2C Insider CXO Meets are Back – Gurugram & Bangalore!
This season, D2C Insider is bringing together the sharpest minds, boldest founders, and leading investors shaping India’s consumer ecosystem with two high-impact CXO networking evenings.
📍 North – Gurugram | 13th September 2025
At Masters’ Union, DLF Cyber Park, Gurugram, the Cohort 4 Demo Day × CXO Meet will showcase disruptive pitches from Cohort 4 founders, direct investor interactions, and a high-energy evening of collaboration.
📍 South – Bangalore | 31st October 2025
A vibrant CXO Meet designed for strategic conversations, 150+ top-tier networks, and scaling insights from the South’s strongest consumer ecosystem. Venue is Yutori Spaces, Safina Plaza, Infantry Road, Tasker Town, Shivaji Nagar.
✨ Why Attend?
Disruptive founder pitches in Gurugram
Deep-dive conversations with CXOs & investors
Networking with 150+ leaders
Community-driven growth evenings
👉 Register here: https://d2ci.co/cxo-meet-register
