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Deepika Padukone invests in coffee chain Blue Tokai

Money Control

Money Control · 1y ago

Deepika Padukone invests in coffee chain Blue Tokai

Actress Deepika Padukone has made an investment in Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters, a homegrown coffee brand. The amount of the investment has not been disclosed, but it is part of Blue Tokai's extended Series B round, which raised $30 million earlier this year. Padukone joins other investors in the company, and Blue Tokai plans to use the funds to expand its business, introduce new products, and increase its global presence. This investment adds to Padukone's diverse portfolio of Indian startups.

Related News

Celebrity investors: Needless distraction or a boon?

Money Control

Money Control · 1y ago

Celebrity investors: Needless distraction or a boon?

Having a celebrity investor can be a significant advantage for startups, enhancing their visibility and credibility. Celebrities like Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt have recently made investments in Indian startups, such as Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters and Ed-a-Mamma. This trend is not new, as Bollywood legends Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan have previously invested in startups, like Ziddu.com. However, there is a debate on whether celebrity investments are helpful or distracting for startups.

Verlinvest-backed Blue Tokai acquires bubble tea chain

VCCircle

VCCircle · 9m ago

Verlinvest-backed Blue Tokai acquires bubble tea chain

Blue Tokai Coffee Roaster, a premium specialty coffee brand backed by Verlinvest, has recently acquired a bubble tea chain. This move aims to expand the company's product offerings. Blue Tokai raised $35 million in funding just a couple of months ago.

Blue Tokai negotiates $40-mn raise at $160-mn valuation

The Arc Web

The Arc Web · 1y ago

Blue Tokai negotiates $40-mn raise at $160-mn valuation

Blue Tokai, a coffee chain, is set to raise $40 million in funding, with consumer fund 12 Flags Group making its first investment. The investment will primarily be a secondary transaction, with existing investors likely to increase their investments as well. Blue Tokai is currently discussing a valuation of around $160 million and may attract another new investor. The specialty coffee sector is experiencing significant interest as consumers seek premium offerings. Blue Tokai and Third Wave, two major players in the market, operate around 100 stores each. In the fiscal year 2022-2023, Blue Tokai generated revenues of Rs 129 crore, while Starbucks India reported sales of Rs 1,081 crore.

Coffee chain Blue Tokai looking to triple revenue before mulling IPO

VCCircle

VCCircle · 9m ago

Coffee chain Blue Tokai looking to triple revenue before mulling IPO

Blue Tokai, an Indian coffee chain, plans to triple its annual revenue by 2027 before considering an initial public offering (IPO), according to its CEO. The company aims to operate around 350 cafes within three years, expanding its presence in cities such as Hyderabad and Chennai. Blue Tokai is targeting annual revenue of INR10bn ($118.5m) by 2027, compared to a projected revenue of INR3.7bn this year. Blue Tokai has raised $81m since its establishment in 2013 and competes with brands including Starbucks, Costa Coffee and domestic rival Third Wave.

Specialty coffee chain Blue Tokai in talks to raise funding at over $180 million valuation: Report

IndianStartupNews

IndianStartupNews · 1y ago

Specialty coffee chain Blue Tokai in talks to raise funding at over $180 million valuation: Report

Indian specialty coffee chain Blue Tokai has secured an undisclosed amount of funding from 12 Flags Group, a consumer fund created by former Reckitt Benckiser global chief Rakesh Kapoor. The exact funding details remain undisclosed, but reports suggest that Blue Tokai is in discussions to raise an additional $40 million at a $160 million valuation. Currently operating in India and Japan, Blue Tokai has four roasteries and over 80 physical outlets across various Indian cities, with regular pop-ups in Tokyo.

Verlinvest Makes $35 Mn Strategic Investment In Blue Tokai Coffee

Inc42 · 12m ago

Verlinvest Makes $35 Mn Strategic Investment In Blue Tokai Coffee

Belgian investment firm Verlinvest has invested $35 million in specialty coffee retailer Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters. The funding round also included contributions from existing investors Anicut Capital and A91 Partners. Blue Tokai plans to use the funds to expand its presence to more than 350 locations in the next few years, invest in product innovation, and explore new sales channels.

Chaayos looks to premiumise its offerings with trials at select outlets

Livemint

Livemint · 1y ago

Chaayos looks to premiumise its offerings with trials at select outlets

Tea cafe chain Chaayos is focusing on premiumising its offerings by conducting trials at select locations, experimenting with new menu items, improving food and beverage presentation, and enhancing cafe design and infrastructure. The company is also serving drinks in ceramic cups to enhance the customer experience. This move comes amidst fierce competition in the Indian tea and coffee market, with larger chains like Starbucks, Blue Tokai Coffee, and Third Wave Coffee Roasters vying for market share. Chaayos aims to charge a premium by upgrading its customer experience and improving its average order value.

Blue Tokai raises $35 Mn in Series C led by Verlinvest

Entrackr

Entrackr · 12m ago

Blue Tokai raises $35 Mn in Series C led by Verlinvest

Global investment platform Verlinvest has led a $35 million round in specialty coffee and bakery brand Blue Tokai. Existing investors Anicut Capital and A91 Partners also joined the Series C funding. This strategic partnership will enable Blue Tokai to deepen its presence in existing metro markets and expand into new tier I and tier II cities in India over the next three years, the company said in a press release. In January 2023, Blue Tokai raised $30 million in its Series B funding round led by A91 Partners. Led by co-founders Matt Chitharanjan, Namrata Asthana, and Shivam Shahi, Blue Tokai has partnered with several retail outlets, luxury hotels, restaurants, top corporates, and co-working spaces, among others. In the past 12 months, the company claims to have more than doubled its store count to 130 outlets. The funds will also be used to expand to over 350 locations in the next 30-36 months. Blue Tokai’s revenue from operations surged 72% to Rs 127.45 crore in FY23 from Rs 74 crore in FY22. According to startup data intelligence platform TheKredible, its losses also increased nearly 3.5-fold to Rs 43 crore in FY23, compared to Rs 12.3 crore in FY22. The company is yet to file its annual report for FY24. It competes with Rage Coffee, Third Wave Coffee Roasters, Slay Coffee, Sleepy Owl, and Seven Beans Co., among others. Among venture-funded startups, Third Wave Coffee was the largest brand in terms of revenue in FY23. However, the firm also experienced layoffs of more than 100 employees shortly after a $35 million fundraise in September last year. In March this year, Third Wave Coffee’s CEO Sushant Goel was replaced by Rajat Luthra from KFC. Earlier this week, GRM Overseas acquired a 44% equity stake in Rage Coffee through a combination of primary infusion and secondary buyouts.

Blue Tokai appoints Umwelt.AI's chatbot Nikki as chief listening officer

YourStory

YourStory · 5m ago

Blue Tokai appoints Umwelt.AI's chatbot Nikki as chief listening officer

Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters appointed an AI-powered chatbot, Nikki, as Chief Listening Officer to enhance workplace culture and employee engagement using real-time analytics. Developed by Umwelt.AI, this collaboration will optimize HR processes and provide valuable workforce insights. By leveraging Nikki for sentiment analysis, Blue Tokai aims to improve employee satisfaction, retention, and overall business performance. This move aligns with their commitment to innovation and workplace inclusivity, driving better HR decisions and long-term success.

Bollywood actress Dia Mirza invests in parenting platform BabyChakra

Economic Times

Economic Times · 1y ago

Bollywood actress Dia Mirza invests in parenting platform BabyChakra

Actress Dia Mirza has invested an undisclosed amount in the online parenting platform BabyChakra. The investment will enable the platform to incorporate sustainable and clean care principles into their product offerings. This highlights the growing trend of celebrities showing interest in emerging startups and D2C brands, despite funding challenges in the Indian startup ecosystem. Other celebrities, including Deepika Padukone and Kareena Kapoor Khan, have also recently made investments in startups. Cricketers such as Sourav Ganguly and Hardik Pandya have also shown interest in startup investments.

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