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Premium tea brand Freshleaf raises seed round

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Premium tea brand Freshleaf raises seed round
Medial

Premium tea brand Freshleaf has raised Rs 1 crore in its seed round led by Inflection Point Ventures. The proceeds will be used to expand marketing efforts, increase production capacity, and enhance research and development for new products, the company said in a press release. Led by Balkirat Singh and Muneet Arora, Freshleaf strives to deliver premium quality tea at an affordable price starting from Rs 130. Since its inception in 2022, it has built a strong offline presence, now reaching over 550 stores across 40 cities in India. Through strategic marketing initiatives, such as interactive tastings, the company has enhanced its brand recognition and engagement with its customer base. It is now venturing into modern retail and quick commerce while extending its reach into the UAE market, aiming to enhance accessibility and market presence. In the premium tea brand, Freshleaf competes with Vahdam Teas, Teamonk, Young Mountain Tea. Interestingly, Teamonk is also backed by Inflection Point Ventures.

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Bubble tea brand Boba Bhai raises Rs 30 Cr in Series A round

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Bubble tea brand Boba Bhai raises Rs 30 Cr in Series A round
Medial

Bubble tea brand Boba Bhai, a quick-service restaurant (QSR) brand focused on bubble tea and other food items, has raised Rs 30 crore (around $3.4 Mn) in its Series A round led by 8i Ventures. The round also saw participation from existing backers, including Titan Capital Winners Fund, Global Growth Capital, and DEVC among others. Earlier, the startup raised Rs 12.5 crore in its seed round led by Titan Capital and Global Growth Capital UK. The proceeds will be used to expand to new cities, scale operations, and introduce innovative menu offerings. Founded by Dhruv Kohli, Boba Bhai currently has 42 outlets in nine cities and plans to open over 150 stores by the end of the year. Approximately 70% of orders are generated through its website and platforms like Zomato, Swiggy, and ONDC.

Chai Kings bags $3 Mn in Series A round

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Chai Kings bags $3 Mn in Series A round
Medial

Snippets Chai Kings bags $3 Mn in Series A round Chennai-based chai retail chain Chai Kings has raised $3 million (Rs 24 crore) in its Series A funding round from A.V. Thomas and Co. (AVT). Chennai-based chai retail chain Chai Kings has raised $3 million (Rs 24 crore) in its Series A funding round from A.V. Thomas and Co. (AVT). Earlier in January 2020, the tea brand had raised $1 million in its seed round from Chennai Angels (TCA), Hyderabad Angels and TiE India Angels. As part of this round, The Chennai Angels (TCA) are making a partial exit with substantial returns. The proceeds will be used to accelerate its expansion plans, enhance its product offerings, and further strengthen its supply chain. It will also be used in customer engagement and operational efficiencies. Founded by Jahabar Sadique and Balaji Sadagopan, Chai Kings offers a premium and hygienic chai experience, serving a diverse range of tea blends with a focus on quality, sustainability, and customer delight. Since its inception in 2016, Chai Kings claims to have operated 57 stores across Chennai, Hyderabad, and Coimbatore. The brand is known for its quality tea offerings, sustainable packaging, and customer-centric approach. Chai Kings claims that it will close FY25 with a revenue of Rs 48 crore with a positive EBITDA. The firm has plans to double its revenue over the next two years while maintaining profitability.

Croft Beverages raises pre-seed funding round

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Croft Beverages raises pre-seed funding round
Medial

Croft Beverages, a farmer-centric sustainable tea startup, has raised $125K in a pre-seed funding round through a combination of equity and debt. The investment round was led by notable angel investors from the tea, sustainability, IT, and biotech industries. The fresh funds will be used for its farmer-owned FPC model, starting with its first mini-factory in Billicombai near Kotagiri, Croft stated in a press release. Founded by Harish Kannan, Croft Beverages aims to create a sustainable model to improve the livelihoods of small tea growers. The platform aspires to produce ethically sourced tea that is traceable to its roots, transparent in trade, and transformative for farmers. By 2030, it plans to establish a network of over 100 farmer-owned mini factories and empower more than 3,000 small farmers in the Nilgiris region. According to the Tamil Nadu-based company, through strategic initiatives like 100% “farm-to-cup” traceability and best-in-class agronomy, Croft has formed key partnerships with some of the country’s leading brands under its “direct from origin” model. The first batch of tea produced by the farmers' factory has been completely sold out, and Croft is now working on setting up three additional farmer-owned factories in 2025. Croft claims that each mini-factory directly turns 25 small farmers into entrepreneurs, increasing their income by 3x.

QSR chain Boba Bhai raises $4.3 Mn

EntrackrEntrackr · 9d ago
QSR chain Boba Bhai raises $4.3 Mn
Medial

Quick service restaurant (QSR) chain Boba Bhai has secured $4.3 million (approx. Rs 40 crore) in a funding round from its existing investors 8i Ventures, Titan Capital, Winners Fund, and Global Growth Capital, along with participation from Big Capital and other angel investors. The Bengaluru-based startup had earlier raised Rs 30 crore (around $3.4 million) in its Series A round led by 8i Ventures in January last year and Rs 12.5 crore in a seed funding round led by Titan Capital and Global Growth Capital UK. The proceeds will be deployed to accelerate store expansion, strengthen leadership, and launch new products, Boba Bhai said in a press release. Launched in 2023 by Dhruv Kohli, Boba Bhai specializes in Korean-inspired fusion cuisine and bubble tea. The company operates multiple outlets and cloud kitchens and aims to scale to 300 stores by 2026, offering items like gochujang burgers, K-pop-inspired dishes, and packaged beverages. Boba Bhai offers more than 45 bubble tea flavors, Korean-style burgers, Korean fried chicken, rice/noodle bowls, and fries. It operates with a mix of offline stores and high-volume delivery through Swiggy, Zomato, and Blinkit. The brand said it is growing by about 40–50% month-on-month on quick commerce and intends to be present on all platforms while entering more cities. It aims to cross Rs 100 crore ARR in the next two months. According to Boba Bhai, it reported revenue of Rs 5 crore in FY24, which increased to Rs 30 crore in FY25. The brand claims to currently have 90 outlets across the country, with about 55 outlets offering seating options and the rest acting as delivery hubs.

Coffee-first beverage brand Drickle raises Rs 6 Cr in seed round

EntrackrEntrackr · 2m ago
Coffee-first beverage brand Drickle raises Rs 6 Cr in seed round
Medial

Bengaluru-based coffee-first beverage QSR brand Drickle (formerly BONOMI) has raised close to Rs 6 crore in seed funding through equity. The round saw participation from multiple angel investors and operators, including Param Kandhari, Naresh Krishnaswamy, Abhinav Mathur, Hemanshu Jain, Vinay Bhopatkar, Vaibhav Sisinty, Dalvir Suri, and Rishit Jhunjhunwala. Shaili Chopra also participated via Ideabaaz. In April 2025, Drickle had earlier raised Rs 5.3 crore with an additional Rs 50 lakh coming in as an extension of the round via Ideabaaz. The fresh capital will be used to expand Drickle’s outlet network in Bengaluru, strengthen backend manufacturing, build leadership and operations teams, and invest in marketing and brand building. Founded by Rahul Nijhawann and Vardhman Jain, Drickle operates seven compact-format outlets across Bengaluru. Each outlet spans 150–200 sq ft and is clustered within micromarkets to drive high-frequency consumption. The brand operates in the Rs 100–150 price range. Drickle follows a coffee-first model, offering fresh-brewed flavoured coffees, while also selling matcha, boba, and Thai tea beverages. The brand runs an owned backend manufacturing facility in Bengaluru, producing coffee brewing solutions and key ingredients in-house. This allows Drickle to operate asset-light outlets without espresso machines and maintain tighter control over margins and supply chain.

Malaki raises Rs 5.7 Cr in seed round led by Venture Catalysts

EntrackrEntrackr · 10m ago
Malaki raises Rs 5.7 Cr in seed round led by Venture Catalysts
Medial

Malaki, a premium beverage brand, has raised Rs 5.7 crore ($669K) in its seed round led by Venture Catalysts. Maarc Ventures and the Dadachanji Family Office also participated. The proceeds will be used to expand Malaki’s presence in quick commerce, premium hospitality, and scale its Crystal Bottle product. It plans to strengthen its online channels, sustainability initiatives, and presence in major metro markets such as Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Jaipur, and Bengaluru. Founded in 2020 by Mohit and Ashish Bhatia, Malaki offers products such as tonic waters, alkaline waters, sparkling waters, and ginger ales, packaged in sustainable glass bottles. The brand gained visibility after appearing on Shark Tank India and is known for its patented Crystal Bottle design. Malaki currently operates in over 500 premium HORECA outlets and has partnerships with brands like Singapore Airlines, Ritz Carlton, and Hyatt in cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Goa. Venture Catalysts, which has backed startups like Beardo, Pee Safe, and BharatPe, sees strong growth potential in Malaki. The Indian premium beverage market is expected to grow rapidly, driven by consumer demand for healthier and sustainable alternatives.

Fragaria Fruits raises $2 Mn in seed round led by WEH Ventures

EntrackrEntrackr · 5m ago
Fragaria Fruits raises $2 Mn in seed round led by WEH Ventures
Medial

Fragaria Fruits raises $2 Mn in seed round led by WEH Ventures Farming company Fragaria Fruits has raised $2 million in a seed funding round led by WEH Ventures, along with participation from Rainmatter, Spiral Ventures, and angel investors such as Sashi Kumar. The startup had previously raised Rs 1.5 crore in a pre-seed funding round. The fresh funds will be utilized to scale its operations in Bengaluru, expand its premium fruit portfolio to include blueberries and raspberries, and provide a year-round supply of high-quality, sustainable produce to the Indian market, Fragaria said in a press release. Co-founded in 2024 by Harish Varadharajan, Timothy Chad Van Niekerk, and Damian López-Salazar, Fragaria Fruits aspires to address a critical gap in India’s fruit industry: the lack of consistently high-quality, fresh fruit available year-round. It aims to redefine the fruit-eating experience for Indian consumers by delivering premium, sustainably grown produce using world-class farming techniques. According to the Chennai-based startup, its flagship brand, Oh! Fruits, offers European strawberries grown in Chennai using advanced vertical farming technology, which are twice as sweet as conventional Indian varieties, pesticide-free, and have a shelf life up to three times longer than typical market options. The company’s commitment to sustainability is reflected in its water recycling systems, solar power integration, and efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of farming while maintaining affordability. By using Controlled Environmental Agriculture (CEA) and vertical farming, Fragaria has built a sustainable and scalable model to grow premium strawberries year-round. It plans to expand production in Bengaluru, increasing daily output from 2–3 kg to 120–150 kg. The startup doesn't have any local brands to compete with for fruits, but there are limited imported fruit brands in India, such as Driscoll’s (berries), Zespri (kiwi), and Rockit (apples).

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