Zoomies, Pee Safe, Burger Singh, Akshayakalpa, Mave Health, Laani & More 🚀
India’s D2C ecosystem is accelerating — with capital, new categories, and founder-led brands driving momentum. 🚀
National Disruptors:
Akshayakalpa Organic is Raising ₹175 Cr to Scale D2C Dairy Expansion and Strengthen India’s Organic Food Ecosystem
Akshayakalpa Organic, an organic dairy brand, is securing ₹175 crore (about $19 million) in a Series D funding round led by ABC Impact Fund, supported by Temasek. This marks a notable milestone for D2C food and beverage companies within India’s direct-to-consumer ecosystem. Existing investors such as Rainmatter, Asha Ventures, Catamaran Ventures, Waterfield Fund, Pratithi Growth Fund, and A91 Partners also participated, reflecting sustained investor interest in D2C brands emphasizing sustainability and quality
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This news stands out within the current D2C startup landscape in India, illustrating how consumer-focused brands in essential categories like dairy continue to attract substantial investment. Regulatory filings indicate the company will issue 36.81 lakh Series D Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares at ₹475 each. ABC Impact is leading with an investment of ₹101 crore, followed by Rainmatter contributing ₹21 crore, with the remaining funds coming from other investors. The post-money valuation is estimated between ₹1,600 and ₹1,700 crore, placing Akshayakalpa Organic among the highest-funded D2C players in India’s organic food sector.
Pee Safe’s Growth Delivers 9.6X Exit for Venture Catalysts, Highlighting Strength of India’s D2C Wellness Brands
Hygiene and wellness brand Pee Safe has yielded significant returns for early investors, as Venture Catalysts concluded its investment with a 9.6X return and a 30.53% XIRR. This exit, occurring during Pee Safe’s $32 million Series C funding round, underscores the increasing maturity of D2C exits in India and the strength of direct-to-consumer brands within the personal care and wellness sector
Established in 2015, Pee Safe has become a well-known name among D2C personal care and wellness startups in India. Initially focused on toilet and menstrual hygiene solutions, the company has broadened its offerings to include intimate care, menstrual wellness, pain management, and hygiene essentials, distinguishing itself among premium D2C brands in the country.
The brand’s progression aligns with wider trends in India’s D2C ecosystem, where digital-first companies are expanding through robust omnichannel strategies. Pee Safe’s products are now available in over 50,000 retail outlets across 100 cities, alongside a strong online presence via their website, e-commerce platforms, and quick commerce channels.
Burger Singh Raises ₹82 Crore Series B to Scale Franchise-Led Growth in India’s D2C Food Ecosystem
Burger Singh, a domestic quick-service restaurant brand, has secured ₹82 crore in a Series B funding round led by Artal Asia. This marks a key phase in the development of direct-to-consumer (D2C) food and beverage brands within India’s D2C sector. The investment underscores growing investor interest in franchise-driven consumer brands with scalable potential.
Other participants in this round include Negen Undiscovered Value Fund and Aurum Rising India Fund, reflecting increased venture capital interest in D2C brands that are establishing structured and scalable business frameworks. This funding aligns with a broader shift where Indian D2C brands are evolving from digital-first ventures into comprehensive consumer businesses.
Founded in 2014 by Kabir Jeet Singh, Burger Singh employs a hybrid expansion strategy combining company-managed outlets and franchise partnerships.
Business Boost:
Zoomies Raises ₹5 Crore Pre-Seed Round Led by D2C Insider Super Angels to Build India’s Next Big D2C Pet Nutrition Brand
Pet food startup Zoomies has secured ₹5 crore in a Pre-Seed round led by D2C Insider Super Angels, marking a strong early signal in India’s rapidly evolving D2C ecosystem India. The round also saw participation from marquee angel investors including Gaurav Munjal, Roman Saini, Pallavi Mohadikar, Puneet Gupta, and others, reinforcing growing investor confidence in VC-backed D2C brands and D2C funding rounds in emerging categories.
Founded in September 2025 by Sumedh Battewar, former Co-founder & Chief Business Officer at EMotorad, along with co-founder Spriha Choubey, Zoomies is building a Direct-to-consumer India brand focused on solving one of the biggest gaps in the D2C pet care brands segment—clean, transparent, and nutritionally complete pet food. As part of the latest D2C startups shaping D2C business India, Zoomies is positioning itself at the intersection of D2C food and beverage brands and functional nutrition.
The brand’s core offering revolves around complete meals made from 100% real, human-grade meat, free from additives, preservatives, and synthetic supplements.
Mave Health Raises $2.1M to Scale Neurotech Innovation and Build a Breakthrough D2C Wellness Brand
Neurotechnology startup Mave Health has secured $2.1 million (approximately ₹18 crore) in a seed funding round led by Blume Ventures, with additional investment from Inuka Capital, Stanford Angels, Aureolis Ventures, All In Capital, and several notable angel investors. This funding highlights the growing overlap between deep technology and the direct-to-consumer (D2C) market in India, signaling a new stage in the development of wellness-focused D2C startups.
Founded in 2023 by Dhawal Jain, Jai Sharma, and Aman Kumar, Mave Health is positioning itself uniquely in the Indian D2C landscape by offering non-invasive wearable headsets aimed at enhancing focus, mood, and stress management. The company combines neuroscience with consumer technology to introduce a novel segment within D2C electronics and wellness products.
The capital raised is intended to support the company’s plans for expanding its D2C presence, including launching its wearable headset across India and the United States, and scaling manufacturing operations.
Betterhood Raises ₹5 Crore Seed Funding to Build India’s Preventive Pain Care D2C Ecosystem
Betterhood, a preventive health startup, has secured ₹5 crore in seed funding led by Kairon Capital, with additional participation from investors including Yogesh Kabra, Rishubh Satiya, Rohit Chawla, Sifat Khurana, and Shayamal Vallabhjee. This investment supports the company’s objective to develop a preventive musculoskeletal health ecosystem through scientifically validated products, digital tools, and expert-led interventions.
Established in October 2024 by Vikram Kadam and Neha Zade in Bengaluru, Betterhood operates at the intersection of healthcare and the growing Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) wellness market in India. The company addresses musculoskeletal health concerns by offering products such as posture supports, orthotic devices, recovery tools, educational resources, and digital assessment platforms that enable early identification and management of pain.
The raised funds will be allocated toward enhancing product development, expanding the core team in product, content, and growth areas, and broadening distribution across both online and offline channels.
Founders funded:
Laani Raises ₹9.1 Cr Pre-Seed to Build Next-Gen D2C Personal Care Brand for Modern India
Personal care startup Laani has secured ₹9.1 crore in a pre-seed funding round led by V3 Ventures and Saama Capital. This marks an important early phase in the development of direct-to-consumer (D2C) personal care brands within India’s D2C ecosystem. The round also included contributions from notable angel investors such as Arjun Purkayastha, Manish Taneja, Kunal Bahl, and Dr. Aneesh Sheth, indicating increasing investor interest in Indian D2C ventures.
This funding event highlights how D2C brands in India are attracting early-stage investment by addressing unmet needs in large consumer categories. Laani’s emphasis on functionality and innovation reflects current market trends, where brands focus on effectiveness, convenience, and unique product formats to differentiate themselves in a competitive environment.
Pinq Polka Raises ₹4 Cr from IPV as D2C Innerwear Brand Clocks 19X Growth and Scales in India’s Booming Intimate Wear Market
Innerwear and shapewear brand Pinq Polka has secured ₹4 crore in a Pre-Series A funding round led by Inflection Point Ventures (IPV). This investment marks a significant step in India’s D2C startup landscape and reflects ongoing momentum among D2C brands in the region, especially in niche segments like intimate wear.
The new funds will be used primarily to accelerate expansion plans focused on D2C channels, with emphasis on scaling marketing efforts for the shapewear line, enhancing internal team capabilities, and supporting working capital needs. This development aligns with broader trends, where VC-backed D2C companies are intensifying efforts to lead their categories while strengthening consumer-centric operations within India’s D2C ecosystem.
Since its founding in 2017 by Manveen Ssharma, Pinq Polka has become one of the fastest-growing D2C brands in intimate wear, achieving approximately 19 times growth over the past three years.
MANNLICH Raises $294K Seed Round to Accelerate Growth in India’s D2C Men’s Grooming Market
Men’s grooming brand MANNLICH has raised $294,000 in a seed funding round led by BeyondSeed, marking a notable development in the growing D2C personal care sector in India. The round also included investments from Chandigarh Angels Network, Signal Ventures, Growth Sense, Growth91, and prominent angel investors such as Arjun Vaidya, Arush Chopra, Megha Sabhlok, and Gaurav Kumar. This reflects a growing interest among investors in Indian D2C startups.
This funding highlights how early-stage D2C brands in India are attracting capital by offering differentiated and quality products. MANNLICH positions itself as a German-quality grooming brand tailored to Indian consumers, aligning with trends forecasted for the broader D2C market by 2025, where brands blend global standards with local needs.
Founded in 2023 by Pritam Kudev, MANNLICH offers dermatologically tested, chemical-free grooming products without parabens or sulphates.
Circato Secures ₹90 Lakh on Shark Tank India to Scale Sustainable Plastic Waste Construction Solutions
Circato, a sustainable construction startup based in Bengaluru, has secured an investment of ₹90 lakh for 10% equity on Shark Tank India Season 5, valuing the company at ₹9 crore. This investment marks a significant step as the company seeks to expand its innovative construction solutions aimed at reducing plastic waste and promoting net-zero building systems.
Founded by T Paul Koshy, Sushma Joseph, and Praveen Crasta, Circato operates at the crossroads of sustainability, infrastructure innovation, and the growing direct-to-consumer (D2C) ecosystem in India, with a focus on environmentally responsible materials. The startup is developing advanced wall and construction systems that incorporate recycled plastic waste, facilitating faster and more energy-efficient building processes while addressing the issue of plastic pollution.
Circato’s vision aligns with the ongoing transformation within India’s D2C ecosystem, where startups leverage technology, research, and material innovation to create scalable solutions for pressing environmental challenges.
“Great brands don’t start in boardrooms. They start with a real problem.”
In 2017, Kruthika wasn’t building a brand.
She was solving her daughter’s skin concern.
So she went to her kitchen…
and made goat milk soap.
No funding. No strategy. Just intent.
What began as a personal solution soon found resonance —
moving from a kitchen to a small store in Coimbatore.
From homemaker to founder.
But Vilvah’s story isn’t just about where it started —
it’s about how it was built.
While the market chased trends,
Vilvah chose efficacy over noise.
While others chased virality,
they focused on product and trust.
From sustainable choices…
to early recycling initiatives…
to building a 40,000+ sq ft facility…
Every step was intentional.
Today, Vilvah isn’t just a brand —
it’s a community built on consistency.
Because in the end —
A brand isn’t built in moments.
It’s built in decisions.
Every single day.
And over time —
those decisions become trust.
5 TAKEAWAYS FOR FOUNDERS
1. Start With a Real Problem
The strongest brands begin with personal truth.
2. Don’t Chase Trends — Build Efficacy
Products outlast hype.
3. Intent > Perfection
Honest steps compound over time.
4. Sustainability Is a Mindset
Not a campaign.
5. Brands Are Built Collectively
People, systems, and discipline create scale.
📌 D2C INSIDER UPDATE — CHANDIGARH, YOUR TURN 🚀
After Jaipur, the momentum moves forward.
Chandigarh is next.
On 28th March, a new room opens — filled with founders building, operators executing, and investors looking for what’s next.
Not just another event.
A space where ideas get sharper, conversations get real, and the right people find each other.
📍 Chandigarh | 3 PM – 8 PM
The Bharat Edition continues.
And every city is adding its own energy to it.
🎟 Register here: