Home Essentials, ZeroHarm, Puresta, Limelight, Nailinit, Basil, CURRYiT, Misfits & More 🚀

India’s D2C ecosystem is scaling fast — powered by growth capital, tech-led innovation, retail expansion, and founder conviction. 🚀

Feb 28, 2026

National Disruptors:

Home Essentials Raises ₹70 Crore Pre-Series B Led by 360 ONE Asset to Accelerate Omnichannel D2C Expansion

In a significant D2C news India development within the fast-growing home and kitchen segment, Home Essentials has raised ₹70 crore in a pre-Series B funding round led by 360 ONE Asset, with participation from existing investor India Quotient. For those tracking D2C daily news, D2C startup news, and Indian D2C updates, this marks another strong signal of investor confidence in scalable, design-led Direct-to-consumer India brands.

Founded in 2024 by brothers Tanishq Jain and Divyam Jain, the Gwalior-based startup has quickly emerged as one of the Latest D2C startups building a differentiated D2C business India in the home and kitchen essentials category. The brand had earlier raised $2.2 million in seed funding from India Quotient and other investors, laying the foundation for rapid D2C revenue growth and disciplined execution within the D2C ecosystem India.

Home Essentials currently offers more than 1,000 thoughtfully designed home and kitchen products across categories including storage solutions, cookware, furniture, and décor. Positioned around the philosophy of “smart living,” the company focuses on blending thoughtful design, smart functionality, and space optimization at accessible price points—an approach aligned with evolving D2C consumer behavior India trends.

ZeroHarm Sciences Raises ₹65 Crore Series A to Scale Nano-Formulated Plant-Based Nutraceutical Platform

In a major D2C news India development within the rapidly expanding D2C wellness startups segment, ZeroHarm Sciences has raised ₹65 crore (approximately $7.15 million) in a Series A funding round. The round was led by Kotak Alternate Asset Managers Limited, through its Kotak Life Sciences Fund I, which invested ₹40 crore, while Alkemi Growth Capital invested ₹25 crore. For those tracking D2C daily news, D2C startup news, and Indian D2C updates, this funding marks a strong validation of science-led Direct-to-consumer India brands operating at the intersection of Ayurveda and advanced technology.

Founded in 2020 by Sachin Darbarwar and Shweta Darbarwar, the Hyderabad-based company develops plant-based health supplements using proprietary nano formulation technology. Positioned among the Latest D2C startups redefining preventive healthcare, ZeroHarm Sciences aims to build India’s first “Trust over Promise” health platform—where supplement efficacy is backed by measurable consumer health outcomes rather than marketing claims.

ZeroHarm’s core differentiation lies in converting plant-based nutrients into nano-sized particles to enhance bioavailability and enable controlled release at lower dosages. By integrating Ayurveda with advanced nano-science, the company is building a differentiated D2C business model India in preventive wellness.

Puresta Raises ₹34 Crore Pre-Seed to Build AI-Powered Full-Stack Dermatology Platform, Acquires SKINQ Ahead of Launch

In a major D2C news India development within the D2C beauty and skincare India and D2C wellness startups ecosystem, Puresta has raised ₹34 crore (approximately $3.7 million) in a pre-seed funding round led by Spring Marketing Capital to build an AI-powered, full-stack dermatology platform. For those tracking D2C daily news, D2C startup news, and Indian D2C updates, this marks one of the most ambitious early-stage D2C funding rounds in the intersection of beauty, health, and technology.

Founded in 2025 by Ashish Mishra along with The Man Company cofounders Hitesh Dhingra and Bhisham Bhateja, Puresta is positioning itself at the convergence of Direct-to-consumer India, AI diagnostics, and clinically validated skincare. The startup aims to deliver end-to-end skincare solutions that combine AI-led diagnostics, dermatologist-formulated products, clinical validation, and real-time progress tracking—an integrated D2C business model India approach aligned with D2C market trends 2025.

Business Boost:

MyDesignation Raises ₹40 Cr Series A to Accelerate Omnichannel Expansion in India’s Fast-Growing D2C Fashion Ecosystem

In the latest D2C news India spotlighting momentum across Direct-to-consumer India, Kerala-based D2C fashion and lifestyle brand MyDesignation has raised ₹40 crore in a Series A funding round led by RPSG Capital Ventures, with participation from existing investors Veltis Capital, Multiply Ventures, and Dominor Investments. This D2C funding news marks a significant milestone in the journey of one of the fastest-growing D2C brands India in the fashion and lifestyle segment.

For those tracking D2C daily news and D2C startup news, this round comes shortly after the company secured $1.25 million in seed funding in February 2025, reflecting strong investor confidence and continued angel investment D2C interest in high-growth consumer brands. The fresh capital will be deployed to expand MyDesignation’s offline retail footprint through company-owned stores, strengthen its senior leadership team, and launch new product categories as it enters the next phase of D2C expansion plans.

Founded in 2020 by Swaroop Krishnan and Gopika B Raj, MyDesignation operates as a digital-first, design-led D2C fashion and lifestyle brand focused on building a community-driven apparel business.

Nailinit Raises ₹2.5–3 Crore Pre-Seed Round to Build India’s Next Community-Led D2C Nail Care Brand

In a fresh D2C news India development within the fast-evolving beauty segment, nail care brand Nailinit has raised ₹2.5–3 crore in a pre-seed funding round co-led by Gruhas Collective Consumer Fund (GCCF) and Marsshot VC. The round also saw participation from prominent angel investors including Razorpay co-founder Shashank Kumar, Arjit Johri, Yash Jain, Karan Jindal, Jivraj Singh Sachar, Nishank Jain, Yashvardhan Kanoi, Ashwarya Garg, Phot.AI founder Venus Dhuria, and Amishi Parasrampuria. For those tracking D2C daily news, D2C startup news, and Indian D2C updates, this round highlights continued investor confidence in emerging D2C beauty and skincare India brands.

Founded by Tanishq Ambegaokar and Shubham Singhal, Nailinit is building a modern Direct-to-consumer India brand in a category that remains high-frequency yet under-branded in the Indian market. Positioned at the intersection of beauty, self-expression, and community, the brand goes beyond functional products to create culture-led engagement and content-native experiences. This aligns with broader D2C market trends 2025, where D2C brands India are increasingly community-driven and creator-led rather than purely product-led.

Limelight Lab Grown Diamonds Crosses 60+ Stores with Visakhapatnam Launch, Accelerating South India Expansion

In a significant D2C news India update within the D2C fashion and lifestyle segment, Limelight Lab Grown Diamonds has expanded its footprint in Southern India with the launch of its first store in Andhra Pradesh, located in Visakhapatnam. With this opening, the brand has crossed 60+ exclusive brand outlets nationwide, further strengthening its presence within the fast-growing Direct-to-consumer India jewellery landscape.

The Visakhapatnam store was inaugurated by Nirav Bhatt, Co-Founder of Limelight Lab Grown Diamonds, along with Regional Partners Sridevi Budankailu and B. Vitalprasad, and members of the leadership team. The ceremony was also attended by Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Hon’ble Union Minister of Civil Aviation. For those tracking D2C daily news and Indian D2C updates, the launch signals strong momentum in the lab-grown diamond category, one of the most dynamic verticals in the evolving D2C ecosystem India.

With over 60 exclusive brand outlets and more than 40 shop-in-shops across 45+ cities, Limelight continues to scale its omnichannel D2C strategy while maintaining a focused D2C business model India approach.

Founders Funded:

Basil Raises $2 Million Pre-Series A Led by Prime Venture Partners, Targets ₹100 Crore ARR by FY27

In a strong D2C news India update within the D2C fashion and lifestyle and kids essentials segment, YourBasil has raised $2 million in a pre-Series A funding round led by Prime Venture Partners, with participation from existing investors Appreciate Capital and IIMA Ventures. For those tracking D2C daily news, D2C startup news, and Indian D2C updates, this marks a significant milestone for one of the latest D2C startups scaling rapidly within the Direct-to-consumer India ecosystem.

This D2C funding news comes nearly two years after Basil raised ₹3.6 crore in a seed round co-led by IIMA Ventures and Appreciate Capital in February 2024. The latest pre-Series A round reflects growing D2C investor insights and confidence in the brand’s D2C revenue growth trajectory and capital-efficient D2C business model India strategy.

Founded in 2024 by Harini Rajagopalan and Mahesh Muraleedharan, Basil operates an online multi-category kids essentials platform. What began with bento lunch boxes and insulated food jars has evolved into a broader kids essentials brand serving over 1.5 lakh families across more than 20,000 pincodes in India.

CURRYiT Secures ₹1.5 Crore Deal on Shark Tank India Season 5, Accelerating Growth in India’s D2C Food Ecosystem

In a notable D2C news India update from Shark Tank India Season 5, Delhi-based CURRYiT has secured ₹1.5 crore in funding from Shark Mohit Yadav, marking a significant milestone for the fast-growing Direct-to-consumer India food brand. For those tracking D2C daily news, D2C startup news, and Indian D2C updates, this deal highlights rising investor confidence in clean-label, convenience-driven D2C food and beverage brands.

Founded in 2020 by Nischal Kandula and Richa Sharma, CURRYiT is a New Delhi-based D2C food brand focused on clean, preservative-free Indian cooking pastes. The founders entered the tank seeking ₹60 lakh for 1% equity, valuing the company at ₹60 crore. After negotiations, Mohit Yadav made a counter-offer of ₹1.5 crore for 3.3% equity plus 1.2% advisory equity. The founders accepted the offer, securing both capital and strategic mentorship—an important moment within D2C funding news conversations.

CURRYiT operates within the expanding D2C ecosystem India by simplifying traditional Indian cooking for modern consumers. With over 20 products across curry, biryani, and vegetable categories, the brand enables customers to prepare authentic Indian meals in approximately 15 minutes without chopping, excessive prep, or artificial preservatives.

Misfits Secures ₹1 Crore Deal on Shark Tank India Season 5 to Scale India’s Offline Community Platform

In a notable D2C news India moment within the evolving social and community-driven Direct-to-consumer India landscape, Gurugram-based startup Misfits appeared on Shark Tank India Season 5 and secured a ₹1 crore investment for 3% equity. For those tracking D2C daily news, D2C startup news, and Indian D2C updates, the deal highlights the growing investor appetite for platforms that build real-world engagement beyond pure ecommerce.

Founded by Shashwat Narhatiyar and Saurabh Chaitanya, Misfits is building hobby-based offline communities that help people connect through shared interests and activities. Positioned within the broader D2C ecosystem India, the startup enables users to discover, join, and host local clubs and hobby groups through its mobile platform. Activities span sports, music, art, game nights, and curated social meetups, reflecting emerging D2C consumer behavior India trends where community, belonging, and experiential engagement are becoming key value drivers.

“₹500 crore didn’t make me happy. ₹2700 crore didn’t make me happy.”

Early on, Priyanka remembers telling her co-founder, “If we ever reach ₹100 crore, I’ll finally feel like we made it.”

They hit ₹100 crore.

The satisfaction lasted a few days.

By Monday morning, the question had changed:

“What does ₹500 crore look like?”

She’s spoken to enough founders to know this isn’t rare.

You chase a number. You hit it. And instead of joy, you feel a strange emptiness — as if the finish line was never really there.

At ₹1 crore, she thought ₹100 crore would mean freedom.

At ₹100 crore, she thought ₹500 crore would mean validation.

At ₹2700 crore, she still wakes up thinking about what’s not working.

The high from milestones fades quickly.

What stays is the gap between where you are and where your mind has already moved.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

That restlessness is what builds companies.

The inability to feel “done” is what took The Sleep Company from selling 3 mattresses a day to building a team of 1800+ people.

Even when everything is going right, the founder’s default setting is “not enough.”

Priyanka watches her son celebrate a football goal — fully, joyfully, without an asterisk. She can’t remember the last time she felt that way about a business milestone.

Maybe the founder brain isn’t wired for contentment.

She’s still figuring out whether that’s a superpower — or a cost.