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JIIF incubated Startup Select Brands raises 6.5 Cr in pre-Series A

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
JIIF incubated Startup Select Brands raises 6.5 Cr in pre-Series A
Medial

Select Brands, incubated at JITO Incubation and Innovation Foundation (JIIF), has secured Rs 6.5 crore in its Pre-Series A funding round led by Agra Gwalior Pathways and Airen Holdings. Other marquee investors include We Founder Circle, Prataap Snacks, Apricot Foods, Workie, and IVY League Ventures. The funding will be utilised to expand its current operations and to explore new territories and broaden its reach through category expansion, the company said in a press release. Founded by brothers Agam Choudhary and Saksham Jain in 2022, Select Brands’ journey began with the launch of Kyari in April 2022, a D2C brand offering home-grown plants. With multiple plant varieties catering to different needs and spaces, Kyari quickly gained traction among plant enthusiasts. “Basically, we are entering multiple categories by launching new brands and focusing on the growth of existing ones. Approximately 70% of the capital will be invested in existing sub-brand growth, which is Kyari, while around 30% will be allocated to new sub-brands,” said Choudhary in a press release. Kyari claims to have sales of Rs 4 crore in its first fiscal year (FY23) and currently records monthly sales of approximately Rs 1.5 crore. JITO Incubation Centre is a structured program that helps with essential resources for startups, including vital components such as mentorship, a global network, technology, peripheral services (such as legal and financial assistance), and business connections, all under one roof.

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JIIF leads $1 Mn round in logistics automation startup Elixia

EntrackrEntrackr · 8m ago
JIIF leads $1 Mn round in logistics automation startup Elixia
Medial

Elixia Robotics, a logistics automation startup founded in 2022 by Sanket Sheth, has raised $1 million in a pre-Series A funding round led by JITO Incubation and Innovation Foundation (JIIF), with participation from investors including Motilal Oswal, Vimal Shah, Sparsh Jain, Vinod Dugar, Vimal Khinvasara, Ashok Shah, and Amit Chandwar. The new funding will be directed towards expanding Elixia’s presence in the Middle East, where it aims to deliver advanced logistics solutions tailored to the specific needs of regional businesses. The company focuses on providing comprehensive software solutions to streamline supply chain operations, including transport management systems and logistics control towers. Elixia plans to enhance its product offerings by integrating Generative AI and Machine Learning, which will improve multimodal visibility and operational efficiency. This integration is intended to provide real-time business-critical insights, enabling logistics operations to be executed with greater efficiency and transparency. Notably, Elixia has already served major clients such as Flipkart, Hershey’s, Pidilite, and UPL. JIIF, which facilitates access to the startup ecosystem for its members, has invested over Rs 150 crore in more than 80 early-stage companies and has incubated 50 Jain founder startups. As AI is projected to contribute significantly to the global economy—up to $15.7 trillion by 2030—Elixia’s focus on AI and ML positions it well to capitalize on these trends in the logistics sector.

Jewelbox raises $3.2 Mn in pre-Series A round

EntrackrEntrackr · 2m ago
Jewelbox raises $3.2 Mn in pre-Series A round
Medial

Lab-grown diamond brand Jewelbox has raised $3.2 million in a pre-Series A funding round led by V3 Ventures, with participation from Atrium Angels, Dexter Ventures, Infinyte Club, Samarthya Capital, and existing investor JITO Incubation & Innovation Foundation (JIIF). In March 2024, the Kolkata-based startup had raised Rs 3.7 crore in seed funding from JIIF. The proceeds will be used to grow its store network, build brand awareness, and hire across key departments. Founded in May 2022 by siblings Vidita Kochar Jain and Nipun Kochar, Jewelbox sells lab-grown diamond jewellery through both online and offline channels. The firm reported an annual revenue run rate (ARR) of Rs 38 crore for FY25, up from Rs 16 crore the previous year. Jewelbox currently runs eight stores in six cities—Delhi, Gurgaon, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, and Guwahati—and aims to expand to 30 stores by the end of 2025. In the lab-grown diamond space, Jewelbox will compete with a clutch of firms, including COLUXE, Fiona Diamonds, Limelight Lab Grown Diamonds, and Firefly Diamonds. Aditya Birla-backed GIVA also offers a lab-grown diamond jewellery line. Last month, Firefly Diamonds raised $3 million in its seed round led by WestBridge Capital. Jewelbox and other new brands have asked the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to stop the use of the term "synthetic" for lab-grown diamonds, saying it confuses with imitation stones like cubic zirconia.

JIIF investors invest in Rs 350 Cr consumer-focused fund by Atomic Capital

EntrackrEntrackr · 15d ago
JIIF investors invest in Rs 350 Cr consumer-focused fund by Atomic Capital
Medial

Investors from the early-stage angel network JIIF have invested in a Rs 350 crore fund by Atomic Capital, a newly launched consumer-focused venture capital firm. JIIF-affiliated angel investors alone contributed Rs 26.5 crore to the fund. According to JIIF, this is the largest collective bet by JIIF’s investors in the consumer VC space, underscoring rising conviction in India’s next wave of consumption, driven by digital-first brands, regional demand, and wellness-oriented products. Commenting on the investment, Jeenendra Bhandari, Chairman of JIIF, said, “It is a proud moment to see JIIF members backing Atomic Capital’s first fund. Their investment aligns with our broader thesis of supporting category-defining, purpose-led startups. India’s consumer opportunity is massive, and Atomic’s operating model is well positioned to unlock enduring brand value.” Atomic Capital operates with an “Operating VC” approach, offering not just capital but also hands-on support in brand building, growth marketing, supply chain optimization, and leadership hiring. In FY25, JIIF’s investor base deployed over Rs 60 crore across more than 20 startups spanning fintech, healthtech, AI, logistics, and consumer. The network now supports a portfolio of over 150 companies. Mumbai-based Atomic Capital, an early-stage VC firm founded in 2024 by Apoorv Gautam, combines strategic depth with on-ground execution.

Lamark Biotech raises Rs 6.5 Cr in pre-Series A round led by IAN Group

EntrackrEntrackr · 9h ago
Lamark Biotech raises Rs 6.5 Cr in pre-Series A round led by IAN Group
Medial

Lamark Biotech raises Rs 6.5 Cr in pre-Series A round led by IAN Group Lamark's proprietary ProteoStrong platform enables the stabilization of fragile protein-based drugs, such as insulin, monoclonal antibodies, and enzymes, without altering their molecular structure. Biopharma startup Lamark Biotech has raised Rs 6.5 crore in a pre-Series A round led by IAN Group, including IAN Alpha Fund, powered by BioAngels, Vinayender Tulla, Nita Roy, and Venkataraman KNK. Domain experts from IAN’s angel investors led the round. The Ahmedabad-based company had previously raised $41.3K in a seed funding round led by VIT-TBI and others. The fresh funds will be utilized to accelerate the development of thermostable insulin and expand the biologics platform for global access, Lamark said in a press release. Founded in 2018 by Vaibhav Bhatia, Lamark Biotech aims to reimagine drug delivery for chronic and life-altering diseases. Its proprietary ProteoStrong platform enables the stabilization of fragile protein-based drugs, such as insulin, monoclonal antibodies, and enzymes, without altering their molecular structure. According to Lamark Biotech, it leverages the R&D base of Venture Center, NCL Innovation, and it is advancing a new class of temperature-resilient biologics that retain potency across extreme conditions—ideal for underserved regions where cold storage infrastructure is limited. With its lead program, InsulinStrong, Lamark is targeting the Rs 4,000 crore Indian insulin market and intends to expand across Southeast Asia and the UAE. In the next 24 months, it plans to file new international patents, begin early clinical trials, and build partnerships with pharma companies, CDMOs, and global health agencies.

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