INCLUD’s Kidswear Leap, Sonani Jewels’ Luxury Play, GABIT’s Celebrity Boost & More
India’s D2C landscape is buzzing this week — from fast-growing kidswear brands raising funds, to premium jewelry ventures redefining luxury, healthtech startups backed by celebrities, and more...
1.INCLUD Nets ₹25.4 Crore Pre-Series A Round from 3one4 Capital & Incubate Fund, Scaling Up India’s Kidswear D2C Scene
INCLUD, an up-and-coming kidswear brand in India, founded by Ashwin Rastogi, has secured ₹25.4 crore (about $2.9 million) in a pre-Series A round. The round was led by 3one4 Capital, with participation from existing investor Incubate Fund Asia.
This new funding will support INCLUD’s plan to strengthen its position among the newest and fastest-growing D2C brands in India. This builds on their previous $1.5 million raise in April last year.
INCLUD, founded in Gurugram, offers kids’ apparel for children ages 2 to 14. They have a wide selection of over 5,500 styles, including clothes and accessories like hairbands, handbags, and hats, with prices starting around ₹449. The brand aims to serve today’s mothers, who play a big role in buying decisions, by providing quality, variety, and frequent style updates. This strategy makes the kidswear category appealing in the Indian D2C market.
2. Sonani Jewels Unveils the World’s Largest Lab-Grown Diamond Showroom in Surat — Redefining Direct-to-Consumer Luxury in India
Sonani Jewels, a rapidly growing premium D2C brand from India, has officially opened the world’s largest lab-grown diamond showroom in Surat. The 18,000-square-foot store, which Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil opened at JCS Arcade, Ghoddod Road, is a game-changer for the Indian direct-to-consumer jewelry business. With this big move, Sonani Jewels aims to be more than just a jewelry seller, becoming a luxury D2C leader that mixes tradition, new ideas, and sustainability.
For those in the D2C daily and industry news scene, this launch signals a shift in the jewelry market, where premium D2C brands are changing how people buy luxury items. Sonani Jewels has made a name for itself by combining skilled craftsmanship with sustainability, now bringing it all together in an engaging showroom that appeals to modern, eco-conscious buyers while respecting Surat’s status as the diamond capital
Business Boost
1. Ranbir Kapoor & Badshah Back Healthtech Startup GABIT: A Celebrity-Powered Push in India’s D2C Wellness Ecosystem
Healthtech startup GABIT has quickly emerged as one of the latest D2C brands India is watching closely. Started in 2022 by Gaurav Gupta and Arpana Shahi, GABIT is creating a complete platform for living a long, healthy life. It combines wearable tech, AI coaching, supplements, and skincare into one system.
The startup is getting attention from celebrities and investors. Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor and musician Badshah are among its backers. This is another big step for D2C startups, showing how India is becoming a center for fast-growing, digital-first health and lifestyle brands.
GABIT’s key product is its Smart Ring, a titanium, water-resistant device that tracks fitness, sleep, stress, and nutrition. With a 7–10 day battery life, the Smart Ring fits easily into users’ lives, acting as a constant companion on their wellness goals. The data is processed through PEP, GABIT’s AI health coach, which gives custom advice, food logging through voice, and help building good habits. By mixing tech, real-time data, and wellness services, GABIT is more than just a wearable brand—it’s a full health management platform, fitting into the trend of D2C startups changing consumer behavior in India.
2. Simple Energy Raises $10 Million to Expand Retail Network and Strengthen Growth Ahead of Planned IPO
Electric scooter company Simple Energy, based in Bengaluru, recently got $10 million from its current investors. This is big D2C news in India because it shows the growth of direct-to-consumer businesses.
Simple Energy, which started in 2019, plans to go public in 2027. They want to be one of the top three electric two-wheeler companies by 2030.
Arokiaswamy Velumani, the founder of Thyrocare Technologies, led the investment. Other current investors like Balamurugan Arumugam and the Haran family office also participated. Simple Energy will use this money to grow its stores from 53 to 150 and have 200 service centers across India this year. About 80% of the money will go to building these stores and service centers, while the rest will go to research and development.
CEO and founder Suhas Rajkumar said that Simple Energy wants to make electric two-wheelers with the longest range in India and put customers first with their D2C strategy. Their factory in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, can make 150,000 vehicles each year. They are also setting standards by using motors that don’t need heavy rare earth materials and offering an eight-year warranty
3.Grest Raises ₹16 Crore to Accelerate D2C Electronics Re-Commerce Expansion Across India
Grest (Radical Aftermarket Services Pvt. Ltd.), a quickly expanding direct-to-consumer electronics re-commerce brand, which was started in 2018 by Shrey Sardana and Nitin Goyal, has received ₹16 crore in its most recent funding round.
Equentis led the round with ₹7 crore, with The Chennai Angels, Lead Invest, and India Accelerator also participating. This funding indicates that investors are still supporting creative electronics and gadget startups that are changing the resale and refurbishment market in India.
The new funds, which include equity and debt, will be used to double Grest’s offline presence beyond 60 stores, grow its 20,000 sq. ft. refurbishment lab, support e-commerce and B2B platforms, improve supply chain , and expand into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. This shows how investors are becoming more confident in circular economy-driven business models in India.
Founders Funded
1. P.TAL Secures $3M Series A to Scale Global D2C Legacy in Copper, Brass & Bronze
P.TAL, a famous brand specializing in handcrafted metalware, has secured $3 million in Series A funding. This is big news for the direct-to-consumer market in India.
VC Grid and Rainmatter, supported by Nithin Kamath from Zerodha, led the funding. Connecticut Innovations, a US venture firm, also participated marking their first investment in an Indian D2C startup. Anicut Capital, Zero Pearl VC, Jaipur Rugs Family Office, Ramakant Sharma from Livspace, Sanjay Kapoor from Genesis Luxury – Reliance, Avnish Anand from CaratLane, Shibam Das from Atomberg, Dr Ritesh Malik from Innov8, Ekamya Ventures, the Salarpuria Group, and LNB Group were also among the backers. This shows a lot of investor interest in premium D2C brands from India.
Founded by Kirti Goel, Aditya Agrawal, and Gaurav Garg, P.TAL gained popularity after appearing on Shark Tank India Season 3. They’re known for reviving the traditional Thathera craft of Punjab, which UNESCO recognizes. By mixing this heritage with modern D2C business, they’ve built a global customer base. Right now, over half of their revenue comes from exports to the US, UK, Europe, and the Middle East. They plan to increase this to over 75% in the next three to five years
2. VyomIC Raises $1.6 Mn To Build LEO-Based Navigation Constellation, Strengthens India’s Deep-Tech and D2C Startup Ecosystem
Chennai-based startup VyomIC just landed INR 14 crore (about $1.6 million) in pre-seed funding led by Speciale Invest, with BYT Capital and DeVC also participating. This cash injection is a big step for VyomIC as it works to create a network of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. These satellites will deliver highly accurate, secure, and independent Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) services.
Lokesh Kabdal, Vibhor Jain, and Anurag Patil, who have skills in satellite tech, systems engineering, and business, co-founded VyomIC.While many daily D2C updates focus on consumer brands, VyomIC shows that deep-tech startups are equally important to India’s D2C space. The company’s focus on satellite-driven navigation could be a foundation for many Indian D2C business models, especially in industries where autonomous systems, secure finance, and telecom rely on precise navigation and timing.
3.Sustainable D2C Startup Amwoodo Raises $4 Million in Pre-Series A Funding to Scale Eco-Friendly Innovations
Amwoodo, a sustainable D2C startup in Kolkata that specializes in bamboo products,founded by Agni Mitra, just got $4 million in Pre-Series A funding. This puts them on the map in India’s developing D2C market as we head into 2025.
Rainmatter led the funding round, with Adventz Group, Thinkuvate, and Caspian also participating. This is big news for D2C funding lately. Amwoodo plans to use the money to make more products, improve its D2C platform in India, and introduce new brands under its House of Amwoodo, focusing on alternatives to plastic.
With more sustainable D2C brands and quickly changing consumer demands, Amwoodo’s growth shows what’s happening in India’s D2C scene. People want eco-friendly options, and news from Indian D2C companies often mentions sustainability as a key factor in revenue growth. This funding shows Amwoodo’s intention to grow as a D2C brand and take charge in India’s sustainability movement.
Ankur Warikoo, Entrepreneur & Mentor
“Failure is not the opposite of success. It IS the road to success.”
Ankur turned 45 last month and shared his “failure resume” — a reflection on the untold struggles behind a seemingly successful life. From studying at top universities and working at tier-1 firms to starting and selling companies, raising VC $, running a profitable startup, traveling 120+ days per year with his family, and impacting 16M+ people globally — it looks like a smooth journey. But it wasn’t.
He’s failed a lot. Yet, what defines his story isn’t talent, luck, or genius — it’s about failing, and still showing up again. Losing, and still choosing to play.
🔑 5 Takeaways for Founders:
1️⃣ Show up again – Consistency matters more than perfection.
2️⃣ Fail to learn – Every failure teaches lessons no success can.
3️⃣ Persistence beats talent – Keep playing, even after losing.
4️⃣ Impact is multidimensional – Success isn’t just money, it’s people, family, and learning.
5️⃣ Never stop walking the road – The only real failure is giving up.
Ankur Warikoo’s message:
“It’s easy to admire success, but the real story is in the failures. Keep failing, keep learning, and keep showing up — that’s the journey.”
🚀 D2C Insider Weekly Update | CXO Meet – South 2025
South India is gearing up for a landmark gathering in the consumer startup ecosystem this October. On 31st October 2025, Bangalore will host the CXO Meet – South, set to be India’s premier confluence for D2C founders.
The event promises a dynamic platform for founders, investors, and ecosystem enablers to connect, share insights, and collaborate — driving the next wave of India’s consumer revolution.
What’s in Store:
150+ Founders at the forefront of India’s new-age consumer brands
100+ Innovative Brands shaping trends and consumer behavior
25+ Investors & Enablers supporting the growth of high-potential ventures
The agenda is packed with actionable sessions covering fundraising strategies, omnichannel scaling, brand storytelling, and deep dives into consumer insights — equipping attendees to take their brands to the next level.
For anyone shaping or supporting India’s D2C ecosystem, CXO Meet – South is more than an event — it’s a hub for networking, learning, and executing bold ideas.
📌 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
