Latest news with #RukamCapital
Fashion Network
21-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Mila Beauté scales D2C operations, looks to Tier 2 shoppers for growth
Indian beauty brand Mila Beauté is scaling up its direct-to-consumer operations and expanding into Tier 2 and 3 cities as part of a wider strategy to localise its beauty offerings for Indian consumers. Backed by Rukam Capital, the brand is investing in digital infrastructure, product development, and in-house manufacturing to reduce reliance on imports and strengthen control over formulation and quality. Founded by Saahil Nayar, Mila Beauté focuses on skincare-infused makeup designed for Indian skin tones and climate. 'Beauty is not just about how you look. It's about how you feel,' Nayar told Indian Retailer Bureau in an interview. The brand currently offers products across categories including lips, eyes, and face, with plans to launch over 44 new SKUs this year. With a presence in metro cities like Mumbai and Delhi, Mila is now targeting smaller cities such as Lucknow, Ludhiana, and Coimbatore through hyperlocal marketing, retailer partnerships, and tailored product assortments. South India has been identified as a high-potential market, with region-specific campaigns and vernacular content currently in development. Mila Beauté's omni-channel model includes quick-commerce sampling and CRM-enabled personalisation, while its exclusive in-house production allows for faster product iterations. 'In five years, I want Mila Beauté to be remembered as the brand that rewrote the rules of color cosmetics in India," said Nayar. Mila Beauté's marketing campaigns are designed to spotlight diversity to appeal to a wide customer base. Based in Faridabad, the brand has a post money valuation of $35.3 million as of March 27, 2025, according to business information platform Tracxn.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Funding, consumer trust key hurdles for Indian startups: Rukam Capital founder
Live Events Indian startups today contend with a range of hurdles, including access to consistent funding, navigating intricate regulatory and tax frameworks, overcoming bureaucratic obstacles, retaining talent, and earning consumer confidence in a price-sensitive market, according to Rukam Capital 's Archana Jahagirdar . Jahagirdar -- the founder and managing partner of the venture capital firm, which has invested in startups like Beco , Sleepy Owl, Indus Valley, GO Desi, Burger Singh, and believes that while ambition and innovation of Indian startups are undeniable, access to consistent funding, especially at the early stage, remains a major roadblock."Unlike more mature ecosystems, India still sees uneven distribution of capital, with non-metro startups facing even steeper barriers. Operating within a maze of complex rules and taxing systems is another industry challenge."Beyond funding, Indian startups often grapple with regulatory bottlenecks, talent retention, and building consumer trust in a price-sensitive market. A common pitfall is chasing valuations without establishing a clear path to profitability or differentiation," she must double down on building strong fundamentals, stay nimble, and leverage tech for scale and efficiency. Surrounding themselves with the right partners, whether VCs, advisors, or early evangelists, can make all the difference, Jahagirdar the past decade, India's startup scene has transformed dramatically. From a few thousand startups in 2016 to over 150,000 today, the ecosystem has matured in both scale and tech has been at the heart of this change, revolutionising how Indians shop, pay, travel, and interact online."We are seeing a new generation of consumer tech startups coming from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, creating products that are hyperlocal, digital-first, and highly personalised," says capital, she notes, has been a key enabler -- not just by providing funding, but by partnering with founders to shape business models, scale operations, and build strong leadership recent IPO momentum and growing interest in AI-led consumer experiences, investor confidence is bouncing back."Indian startups aren't just chasing growth, instead, they are building with clarity, stronger unit economics, and long-term vision. The bar is higher, and that's a good thing," she sees significant, largely untapped opportunities in Bharat -- the one beyond the over 63% of the population outside urban centres, sectors like agritech, education, financial services, and clean energy are ripe for that engage thoughtfully with these communities and build context-driven, tech-enabled, cost-effective offerings can drive real impact while expanding their market presence."When you are building for Bharat, you are not just solving for scale, you are solving for relevance. The needs of middle India are nuanced and deeply rooted in context," she advises believes startups can thrive despite fierce competition for funding and the pressure to scale quickly. Scalability, she explains, means building a business model that can grow efficiently without ballooning stand out in a crowded funding landscape, founders need a clear, compelling story and a solid business plan. Exploring diverse funding avenues -- angel investors, crowdfunding, government grants, and venture debt -- can reduce reliance on traditional VC routes, she initiatives like Startup India, the Seed Fund Scheme , and various state-led policies have played a meaningful role in shaping the landscape, providing funding, mentorship, and regulatory like Startup Mahakumbh are bringing startups from across the country together, giving early-stage companies much-needed visibility. Jahagirdar suggests that further simplifying compliance and tax laws, supporting dual listing, and offering better incentives for domestic investors could strengthen the ecosystem even more.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Funding, regulations, consumer trust key hurdles for Indian startups: Rukam Capital founder
Indian startups today contend with a range of hurdles, including access to consistent funding, navigating intricate regulatory and tax frameworks, overcoming bureaucratic obstacles, retaining talent, and earning consumer confidence in a price-sensitive market, according to Rukam Capital 's Archana Jahagirdar . Jahagirdar -- the founder and managing partner of the venture capital firm, which has invested in startups like Beco , Sleepy Owl, Indus Valley, GO Desi, Burger Singh, and Antithesis. #Operation Sindoor The damage done at Pak bases as India strikes to avenge Pahalgam Why Pakistan pleaded to end hostilities Kashmir's Pahalgam sparks Karachi's nightmare He believes that while ambition and innovation of Indian startups are undeniable, access to consistent funding, especially at the early stage, remains a major roadblock. "Unlike more mature ecosystems, India still sees uneven distribution of capital, with non-metro startups facing even steeper barriers. Operating within a maze of complex rules and taxing systems is another industry challenge. "Beyond funding, Indian startups often grapple with regulatory bottlenecks, talent retention, and building consumer trust in a price-sensitive market. A common pitfall is chasing valuations without establishing a clear path to profitability or differentiation," she said. Founders must double down on building strong fundamentals, stay nimble, and leverage tech for scale and efficiency. Surrounding themselves with the right partners, whether VCs, advisors, or early evangelists, can make all the difference, Jahagirdar said. Live Events Over the past decade, India's startup scene has transformed dramatically. From a few thousand startups in 2016 to over 150,000 today, the ecosystem has matured in both scale and ambition. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories Consumer tech has been at the heart of this change, revolutionising how Indians shop, pay, travel, and interact online. "We are seeing a new generation of consumer tech startups coming from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, creating products that are hyperlocal, digital-first, and highly personalised," says Jahagirdar. Venture capital, she notes, has been a key enabler -- not just by providing funding, but by partnering with founders to shape business models, scale operations, and build strong leadership teams. With recent IPO momentum and growing interest in AI-led consumer experiences, investor confidence is bouncing back. "Indian startups aren't just chasing growth, instead, they are building with clarity, stronger unit economics, and long-term vision. The bar is higher, and that's a good thing," she says. Jahagirdar sees significant, largely untapped opportunities in Bharat -- the one beyond the metros. With over 63% of the population outside urban centres, sectors like agritech, education, financial services, and clean energy are ripe for innovation. Startups that engage thoughtfully with these communities and build context-driven, tech-enabled, cost-effective offerings can drive real impact while expanding their market presence. "When you are building for Bharat, you are not just solving for scale, you are solving for relevance. The needs of middle India are nuanced and deeply rooted in context," she advises startups. Jahagirdar believes startups can thrive despite fierce competition for funding and the pressure to scale quickly. Scalability, she explains, means building a business model that can grow efficiently without ballooning costs. To stand out in a crowded funding landscape, founders need a clear, compelling story and a solid business plan. Exploring diverse funding avenues -- angel investors, crowdfunding, government grants, and venture debt -- can reduce reliance on traditional VC routes, she said. Government initiatives like Startup India, the Seed Fund Scheme , and various state-led policies have played a meaningful role in shaping the landscape, providing funding, mentorship, and regulatory support. Platforms like Startup Mahakumbh are bringing startups from across the country together, giving early-stage companies much-needed visibility. Jahagirdar suggests that further simplifying compliance and tax laws, supporting dual listing, and offering better incentives for domestic investors could strengthen the ecosystem even more.
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Business Standard
12-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Indian startups face funding, regulation, trust challenges: Rukam founder
Indian startups today contend with a range of hurdles, including access to consistent funding, navigating intricate regulatory and tax frameworks, overcoming bureaucratic obstacles, retaining talent, and earning consumer confidence in a price-sensitive market, according to Rukam Capital's Archana Jahagirdar. Jahagirdar -- the Founder and Managing Partner of the venture capital firm, which has invested in startups like Beco, Sleepy Owl, Indus Valley, GO Desi, Burger Singh, and Antithesis -- believes that while ambition and innovation of Indian startups are undeniable, access to consistent funding, especially at the early stage, remains a major roadblock. "Unlike more mature ecosystems, India still sees uneven distribution of capital, with non-metro startups facing even steeper barriers. Operating within a maze of complex rules and taxing systems is another industry challenge. "Beyond funding, Indian startups often grapple with regulatory bottlenecks, talent retention, and building consumer trust in a price-sensitive market. A common pitfall is chasing valuations without establishing a clear path to profitability or differentiation," she said. Founders must double down on building strong fundamentals, stay nimble, and leverage tech for scale and efficiency. Surrounding themselves with the right partners, whether VCs, advisors, or early evangelists, can make all the difference, Jahagirdar said. Over the past decade, India's startup scene has transformed dramatically. From a few thousand startups in 2016 to over 150,000 today, the ecosystem has matured in both scale and ambition. Consumer tech has been at the heart of this change, revolutionising how Indians shop, pay, travel, and interact online. "We are seeing a new generation of consumer tech startups coming from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, creating products that are hyperlocal, digital-first, and highly personalised," says Jahagirdar. Venture capital, she notes, has been a key enabler -- not just by providing funding, but by partnering with founders to shape business models, scale operations, and build strong leadership teams. With recent IPO momentum and growing interest in AI-led consumer experiences, investor confidence is bouncing back. "Indian startups aren't just chasing growth, instead, they are building with clarity, stronger unit economics, and long-term vision. The bar is higher, and that's a good thing," she says. Jahagirdar sees significant, largely untapped opportunities in Bharat -- the one beyond the metros. With over 63 per cent of the population outside urban centres, sectors like agritech, education, financial services, and clean energy are ripe for innovation. Startups that engage thoughtfully with these communities and build context-driven, tech-enabled, cost-effective offerings can drive real impact while expanding their market presence. "When you are building for Bharat, you are not just solving for scale, you are solving for relevance. The needs of middle India are nuanced and deeply rooted in context," she advises startups. Jahagirdar believes startups can thrive despite fierce competition for funding and the pressure to scale quickly. Scalability, she explains, means building a business model that can grow efficiently without ballooning costs. To stand out in a crowded funding landscape, founders need a clear, compelling story and a solid business plan. Exploring diverse funding avenues -- angel investors, crowdfunding, government grants, and venture debt -- can reduce reliance on traditional VC routes, she said. Government initiatives like Startup India, the Seed Fund Scheme, and various state-led policies have played a meaningful role in shaping the landscape, providing funding, mentorship, and regulatory support. Platforms like Startup Mahakumbh are bringing startups from across the country together, giving early-stage companies much-needed visibility. Jahagirdar suggests that further simplifying compliance and tax laws, supporting dual listing, and offering better incentives for domestic investors could strengthen the ecosystem even more.
Time Business News
21-04-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Top 5 Indian Venture Capitals Fueling the Next Wave of D2C Growth
India's consumer landscape is experiencing a revolution. With rising digital adoption, conscious buying, and strong demand from tier-2 and tier-3 cities, consumer brands — especially in the D2C space — are thriving like never before. But behind every successful brand is a bold investor who believed in the vision early. Here's a look at the top 5 Indian early-stage consumer brand investors who are backing the next generation of purposeful, high-growth ventures: Backer of brands with purpose and culture Founded by Archana Jahagirdar, Rukam Capital is an early-stage VC firm focused exclusively on consumer products and services. What sets Rukam apart is its approach of being Founder First — investing in brands that are not just solving a problem but also resonating with India's evolving identity. Their portfolio includes standout brands like Go DESi, Sleepy Owl, & The Indus Valley — each one rooted in strong storytelling and product innovation. Rukam is also known for its founder-first philosophy, exemplified through podcasts like the Founder Fridays and Startup Table with AJ, where real, unfiltered conversations about the founder journey take center stage. India's D2C kingmaker Fireside Ventures has become synonymous with India's D2C boom. Focused on early-stage investments, Fireside has backed some of the most iconic new-age consumer brands including boAt, Mamaearth, Vahdam Teas, and Slurrp Farm. With its thematic focus on millennial and Gen Z-driven consumption, the firm blends capital with deep operational support in brand building, distribution, and digital marketing. Champion of challenger brands Founded by Deepak Shahdadpuri, DSG Consumer Partners was one of the first firms in India to take early bets on challenger brands that redefined categories. Think Epigamia, OYO Rooms, Blue Tokai Coffee, and Raw Pressery. Their thesis is clear: invest in brands that have strong founder vision, deep customer insight, and global ambition. DSG's sharp focus on food, beverage, and health & wellness makes it a go-to for consumer-first founders. Product-first, brand-forward is a venture capital firm that lives and breathes early-stage consumer brands. From skincare and fashion to snacking and lifestyle, their portfolio reflects India's rising appetite for curated, modern, and homegrown alternatives. Investments include The Whole Truth, Mokobara, and Nua, with a clear emphasis on product innovation and strong visual branding. Sauce is also known for rolling up their sleeves to support founders through the earliest brand-building stages. The first consumer-focused VC fund in India Led by Nikhil Vora, Sixth Sense Ventures was among the pioneers of consumer-centric VC investing in India. With a sharp eye for emerging trends, they've backed brands like Bira 91, Soothe Healthcare (Paree), Wellbeing Nutrition, and Veeba. Their ability to spot scalable consumer opportunities across sectors — from food to feminine hygiene to fintech — makes them one of the most versatile investors in the space. These early-stage investors are not just funding consumer brands — they're helping build India's new consumer identity. With a focus on innovation, storytelling, and sustainability, they're backing founders who want to serve the India of tomorrow. If you're a startup founder building a consumer-first brand, these five firms should definitely be on your radar. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
