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Exclusive: Subko Coffee raises Rs 80 Cr led by NKSquared

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Exclusive: Subko Coffee raises Rs 80 Cr led by NKSquared
Medial

Subko Coffee has raised Rs 80 crore in a new round led by Zerodha co-founders-backed NKSquared, said two sources aware of the investment. Several individuals along with Blume Ventures and Progressive LLP also participated in the financing round. “NKSquared has put in around Rs 70 crore whereas the remaining Rs 10 crore came from other investors,” said one of the sources requesting anonymity as talks are yet to be public. The company has received $5.5 million (Rs 45 crore) and NKSquared has already invested Rs 34.2 crore, according to the Subko Coffee regulatory filings with the Registrar of Companies (RoC). Blume Ventures and Progressive Strategies LLP collectively invested Rs 4.75 lakh. Pallavi Dempo, Suprapadh S Manohar, John Abraham, Kalpathi Ratna, and Suparna Gupta also took part in the financing round. As per sources, NKSquared has also acquired a 25% stake in the Mumbai-based firm. Subko Coffee has been valued at around $35-40 million (post-money), said the person quoted above. Queries sent to Subko Coffee NKSquared and Subko Coffee didn’t elicit any immediate response. We will update the story in case they respond. NKSquared was incorporated by Kamath brothers in 2019 but it became active last year and backed a few companies, including Nazara Games. Subko Coffee provides caffeinated drinks along with baked bread-pastries and coffee roasters. According to its filings, several celebrities such as Gauri Khan, Tiger Shroff, and others invested in the company between June 2022 to December 2023. Subko Coffee has been growing at a rapid clip and this could be evident from its growth in the last fiscal year. Its revenue spiked 94% to Rs 13.57 crore in FY23 from Rs 7 crore in FY22 while the firm’s losses stood at Rs 9.86 crore in the same period. Subko Coffee competes with Third Wave Coffee, Blue Tokai, Rage Coffee, Slay Coffee, Sleepy Owl, and Seven Beans Co. Notably, Third Wave Coffee is also backed by Zerodha’s co-founder Nikhil Kamath.

abCoffee raises $3.4 Mn in Series A round

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
abCoffee raises $3.4 Mn in Series A round
Medial

Specialty coffee QSR chain abCoffee has raised $3.4 million in its Series A round led by Nexus Venture Partners, with participation from existing investor Tanglin Venture Partners. Earlier to this round, the startup had raised $2 million in its seed round led by Tanglin Venture in September last year. The proceeds will be used to enable abCoffee to ramp up its supply chain and technology stack to bring on-demand coffee beverages at lower prices in quicker time, abCoffee said in a press release. Founded in 2022 by Abhijeet Anand, abCoffee offers a wide variety of freshly brewed coffees at affordable prices and provides all the traditional blends including Americano, Latte, Flat White, Iced Latte, and Irish Cold Coffee. The company boasts a customer loyalty rate of 61%, nearly double the industry average, reflecting its commitment to exceptional service with a turn around time (TAT) of 1.5 minutes. Recently, the brand opened 25 outlets across Mumbai and Delhi within a span of 20 months. The brand is targeting 150 stores by end of 2024. Its competitors include Third Wave Coffee, Blue Tokai, Rage Coffee, Slay Coffee, Sleepy Owl, and Seven Beans Co., among others.

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

EntrackrEntrackr · 10m ago
Blue Tokai raises $35 Mn in Series C led by Verlinvest
Medial

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.

Chelvies Coffee raises $1 Mn in pre-Series A round

EntrackrEntrackr · 6m ago
Chelvies Coffee raises $1 Mn in pre-Series A round
Medial

Chelvies Coffee raises $1 Mn in pre-Series A round Coffee and dining experience brand Chelvies Coffee has secured $1 million in a pre-Series A funding round led by Endurance Capital, with an additional $500,000 in debt financing currently in process. The proceeds will be used to establish more than 30 high-street locations across major Indian metros by 2026, enhance existing supply chain infrastructure, develop proprietary food production systems, and strengthen operational teams, Chelvies Coffee said in a press release. Launched in 2023 by Dhruv Singh, Chelvies Coffee is a specialty coffee restaurant brand that combines premium coffee offerings with fresh, high-quality dining options. With six locations across Delhi NCR and Ahmedabad, the company aims to empower the Indian coffee shop experience through its commitment to quality, innovation, and exceptional customer service. The Delhi-based brand offers an extensive menu of over 70 specialty coffee brews, complemented by a curated dining menu that includes burgers, artisanal sandwiches, and pasta—all produced through in-house facilities. The company’s proprietary supply chain system, supported by centralized dispatch units and base kitchens, enables it to deliver a refined experience efficiently and at scale. According to market research, India's cafe industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 15-20%, reaching $2.6-3.2 billion by 2028. Chelvies claims it has achieved a monthly run rate of INR 1.30 crore, with demonstrated profitability at each store level. The company aims to transform India’s coffee culture with a European-inspired concept that blends premium specialty coffee with an elevated dining experience.

First Coffee raises $1.2 Mn in seed round led by BEENEXT

EntrackrEntrackr · 10m ago
First Coffee raises $1.2 Mn in seed round led by BEENEXT
Medial

Speciality coffee brand First Coffee has raised $1.2 million in its seed round led by BEENEXT. The round also saw participation from other investors such as Ashish Gupta (Helion Venture Partners), AngelList India, Dr. Ritesh Malik (founder, Innov8), Sahil Malik (founder, Da Milano), Chandini Purnesh (Owner, Harley Coffee Estate), Aman Arora (co-Founder, Board – Keventers), Agastya Dalmia (director, Keventers), Aman Bahel (Apex Group), Nakul Dev Chawla (Art Mumbai) and Dr. Shriram Nene. The proceeds will be used to drive the company’s expansion and bring its premium specialty coffee experience to more locations across the country, the company said in a press release. First Coffee aims to expand its store presence in key urban areas across New Delhi and NCR and tier I cities in North India. First Coffee will focus mainly on small format QSR outlets in high-footfall areas such as malls, corporate parks, high streets and metros. The company is set to open 35 stores across the country by the second quarter of next fiscal year. The funds raised will also be used for hiring and amplifying marketing efforts. Founded by Sohrab Sitaram and Shiv Dhawan in 2024, First Coffee combines design, culture and a new customer experience, with premium coffee. It integrates experiential big data with analysis powered by AI, creating a technology-driven retail model. Using shade-grown coffee and eco-friendly methods like man-made lakes for irrigation and traditional insect traps, First Coffee claims that its coffee is sustainably sourced while providing premium quality. As per Customer Market Insights, the Indian coffee market is projected to reach $1227.47 million by 2032, growing annually at a 9.87% CAGR from 2024 to 2033.

Third Wave Coffee revenue crosses Rs 240 Cr in FY24, losses up 2X

EntrackrEntrackr · 8m ago
Third Wave Coffee revenue crosses Rs 240 Cr in FY24, losses up 2X
Medial

Coffee chain Third Wave Coffee seems to be utilizing the VC funds the right way as the company managed to grow its scale at a scorching pace in the past couple of fiscal years: Its revenue from operations surged Rs 241 crore in the fiscal year ending March 2024 from Rs 32 crore in FY22. When it comes to year-on-year growth, Third Wave Coffee’s revenue from operations grew 67% to Rs 241.3 crore in FY24 as compared to Rs 144.4 crore in FY23, the company’s standalone financial statement sourced from the Registrar of Companies shows. The company is in the business of process, producing, packing, preserving, extracting, refining, buying, selling, and dealing in coffee and food products in and outside India. Third Wave Coffee made its entire revenue from sales of these products. Its products include coffee bags, coffee beans, and cold brews. As of October, the company has 114 cafes in India and plans to reach 160 by the end of the ongoing fiscal year (FY25). It is also looking to launch 80 to 100 coffee shops annually from 2025. The company claims that they’re roasting around 10-15k kilograms of beans per week. Other than its core business, the company also earned a non-operating income of Rs 6.61 crore during the year via interest and gains on assets. Overall, it made a revenue of Rs 247.9 crore during the last fiscal year. On the expense side, employee benefits turned out to be the largest cost element forming 27% to the total expenditure. This cost surged 68.8% to Rs 97.26 crore in FY24. The cost of materials doubled to Rs 87.61 crore while the company paid rent worth Rs 81.25 crore during the year. Importantly, the company spent only Rs 11.65 crore on selling and marketing. In the end, the company’s overall expenses went up 78% to Rs 358 crore in FY24 from Rs 201 crore in FY23. Despite the healthy growth in scale, the losses of the firm spiked over 2X to Rs 110 crore in FY24, which can be attributed to the excessive cash burn during the year, especially on employee costs and rent. Meanwhile, its operating cash outflows also rose 33% to Rs 81.57 crore. Its EBITDA margin and ROCE stood at -35.52% and -35.28%, respectively. On a unit level, Third Wave Coffee spent Rs 1.48 to earn a rupee of operating revenue in the last fiscal year. The company’s current assets jumped more than 5X to Rs 223.2 crore during the year while cash and bank balances grew multiple times to Rs 120.4 crore in FY24 from Rs 8.06 crore in FY23. At the end of FY24, Third Wave Coffee’s outstanding losses mounted to Rs 192 crore. As per TheKredible, the Bengaluru-based company has raised around $65 million to date from WestBridge Capital, Creaegis, and Redbrook, among others. It raised $35 million in funding in September 2023 and was valued at around $155 million (post-money). Third Wave Coffee competes with Subko Coffee, Sleepy Owl, Blue Tokai, Rage Coffee, Slay Coffee, and abCoffee among others. While the wave of Coffee sellers has made it a buyers market in some ways, coffee continues to chase the kind of premium buyer whose numbers remain a matter of conjecture in many ways. The low advertising and promotion costs indicate a smart hack, because it clearly hasn’t impacted growth, but the big challenge remains building the kind of loyalty that drives volumes at a steady clip, when aligned with planned expansion of the network. Like all retail businesses in India, the impact of rent remains disproportionate, and offers no relief really in a market that is still overheated, if not as piping hot as some of the coffee Third Wave offers. The path to profitability remains distant for now, even as Third Wave’s regular customers should be reassured that their preferred chain has enough runway to serve them for some time yet. Importantly, the chain seems to have done enough to raise a fresh round if the need arises.

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