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Entrepreneur
17-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Dealmakers' Digest: This Week's Top Startup Investments
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. India's startup ecosystem witnessed a fresh round of funding momentum this week, with companies across sectors such as health food, AI, retail, hygiene, and food tech securing significant capital. From legacy brands expanding their footprint to emerging ventures breaking new ground with tech-led innovations, the funding activity underscores investor confidence in scalable, consumer-focused, and tech-enabled business models. Here's a roundup of the top startup funding deals from May 10 to May 16. Farmley Farmley, founded in 2017 by Akash Sharma and Abhishek Agarwal, is a Noida-based health food brand that champions clean snacking. With a farm-to-shelf model, Farmley sources ingredients directly from farmers, offering roasted nuts, trail mixes, and makhana-based snacks. The company positions itself as a healthier alternative in the snacking space, targeting the growing health-conscious urban consumer base. Funding Amount: USD 40 Million Investors: L Catterton, DSG Consumer Partners Nobel Hygiene Mumbai-based Nobel Hygiene, founded in 2000 by Kamal Kumar Johari, is a market leader in disposable hygiene products. The company's products include adult diapers (Friends), baby diapers (Teddyy), and feminine hygiene items (RIO Pads). Nobel operates two state-of-the-art manufacturing units in Nasik and Baroda and has become a trusted name in the Indian personal care market. Funding Amount: USD 20 Million Investors: Neo Asset Management Complement 1 Founded in 2024 by Karan Bajaj, Complement 1 provides tech-powered, personalised lifestyle interventions for cancer patients and at-risk individuals. Through its unique "CoActive Coaches," the platform delivers real-time, one-on-one guidance on nutrition, physical activity, and stress management. The startup blends empathy with evidence-based care, representing a new frontier in preventive and supportive healthcare. Funding Amount: USD 16 Million Investors: Owl Ventures, Blume Ventures Celebal Technologies Celebal Technologies, founded in 2016 by Anirudh Kala and Anupam Gupta, specialises in cloud, AI, and data engineering solutions for large enterprises. The Jaipur-based firm is known for deploying high-impact use cases such as Customer 360, logistics analytics, and supply chain optimisation. With global clients and a strong delivery track record, Celebal is poised to scale its enterprise tech offerings even further. Funding Amount: USD 15 Million Investors: InCred Growth Partners Fund I, Norwest Capital 1-India Family Mart Founded in 2012 by Jay Prakash Shukla and Ravinder Singh under Nysaa Retail, 1-India Family Mart brings affordable fashion and lifestyle products to tier III and IV cities. Operating mid-sized stores, the brand has filled a crucial gap in underserved markets. Funding Amount: USD 12 Million Investors: Gulf Islamic Investments, Foundation Private Equity, Carpediem Capital Partners, Capri Global Holdings, JP Shukla Hocco Launched in 2023 by the Chona family, Hocco is an Ahmedabad-based ice cream brand drawing on the family's deep F&B heritage. Led by Ankit Chona, the company offers indulgent frozen desserts and aims to scale into a full-fledged food and beverage brand. Backed by strong lineage and brand nostalgia, Hocco is carving a premium niche in India's fast-growing dessert market. Funding Amount: USD 10 Million Investors: Chona Family Office, Sauce VC Biryani Blues Hyderabad-headquartered Biryani Blues was founded in 2013 by Raymond and Aparna Andrews. The QSR chain offers authentic Hyderabadi biryani and other regional favorites across its expanding store network. With a strong delivery presence and loyal customer base, the brand is leveraging the growing appetite for regional cuisine to scale across metro and non-metro markets. Funding Amount: USD 5 Million Investors: Yugadi Capital
Entrepreneur
15-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Nobel Hygiene Raises INR 170 Cr from Neo Asset Management to Fuel Expansion
The fresh round — a mix of primary and secondary capital infusion — will bolster Nobel Hygiene's efforts to expand market penetration, especially in the adult diaper category, and gear up for its upcoming IPO. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Mumbai-based disposable hygiene products manufacturer, Nobel Hygiene, has raised approximately INR 170 crore (USD 20 million) in funding from Neo Asset Management, the investment arm of Neo Group. The fresh round — a mix of primary and secondary capital infusion — will bolster Nobel Hygiene's efforts to expand market penetration, especially in the adult diaper category, and gear up for its upcoming IPO. The funds will be strategically deployed to deepen distribution, invest in flagship brands such as Friends adult diapers and Teddyy baby diapers, and enhance consumer outreach across urban and rural markets. The company also aims to leverage this capital to strengthen its leadership team and accelerate brand visibility, building on earlier investments from Quadria Capital and Sixth Sense Ventures. Kamal Johari, Managing Director and Promoter at Nobel Hygiene, said, "This investment by Neo Group is not just a capital infusion; it's a reinforcement of our commitment to lead and grow the adult diaper category in India. With this support, we are ready to amplify our consumer outreach, reinforce our distribution channels, and further solidify the leadership of our core brands." Founded in 2000 by Kamal Kumar Johari, Nobel Hygiene is a manufacturer of disposable hygiene products, operating out of Mumbai. Its product portfolio includes adult diapers, baby diapers, and sanitary pads under well-known brands like Friends, Teddyy, and RIO Pads. The company has two advanced manufacturing units in Nasik and Baroda, a PAN-India network of over 1,000 dealers and distributors, and exports to more than 20 countries. Nobel Hygiene has been a category pioneer, credited with breaking social taboos around incontinence and driving awareness around dignity and hygiene for all age groups. Its flagship brand, Friends, holds a market leadership position in the adult diaper segment. With this investment, Neo becomes the third institutional investor in Nobel Hygiene, joining Quadria and Sixth Sense. The deal also marks the return of Nitin Agarwal, Neo's Private Equity Head and a former board member of Nobel Hygiene, to the company's cap-table. Hemant Daga, CEO of Neo Asset Management, added, "We are delighted to partner with Nobel Hygiene — a market leader in the adult diaper segment and a prominent homegrown brand in India's rapidly expanding personal hygiene sector."
