In a significant boost for emerging consumer brands, The Paan Legacy, Hemptyful, and Polr.Care have each secured ₹1 crore through D2C Insider’s Elevate Growth Accelerator program, Cohort 2. This funding marks a pivotal moment for these startups, which emerged victorious during the program’s Demo Day, receiving support from a panel of distinguished investors.
A Successful Demo Day and Investor Engagement
The funding round concluded with a Demo Day held in Gurugram, where over 50 investors, including notable names like D2C Insider Angels, DSG Consumer Partners, Mumbai Angels, and Indian Angel Network, came together to support the startups.
Cohort 2 of the Elevate program was a 12-week accelerator designed to strengthen the foundations of selected direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands. Participants engaged in over 20 live sessions focusing on key business areas and received one-on-one mentorship from industry leaders, such as Aditya Sharma (The Souled Store) and Karthik Reddy (Blume Ventures).
The program’s goal was to refine business strategies and equip startups with critical insights necessary for scaling their operations effectively.
Insights from Industry Leaders
Amit Jain, founder of CarDekho, served as the chief guest at the D2C Insider Regional CXO Meet North, where he highlighted the importance of community support in fostering entrepreneurship. “It’s truly inspiring to witness the efforts of communities in promoting entrepreneurship and shaping Bharat 2.0. The D2C Insider community exemplifies how early-stage founders can receive the guidance and funding they need through initiatives like Elevate,” Jain remarked.
Networking and Resource Support for Startups
D2C Insider provided participating startups with a comprehensive support package, including ₹25 lakh in credits from leading service providers like WebEngage, Shiprocket, and Unicommerce. This assistance enabled the startups to bolster their operational capabilities in branding, marketing, and supply chain management.
Revant Kaza, a representative from Hemptyful, expressed gratitude for the program, stating, “The Elevate program was incredibly valuable. We connected with like-minded founders and gained insights into what investors seek when scaling brands. The funding will assist us in branding, marketing, research and development, and building a competent team to execute our strategies.”
Demo Day: Bridging Founders and Investors
During the Demo Day event, eight selected brands pitched their innovative ideas to a panel of esteemed investors, including seasoned professionals from Prath Ventures, Sauce.vc, Chandigarh Angels, and WFC. The event also featured D2C Insider’s Regional CXO Meet North, which gathered over 150 founders for networking and discussions about industry trends.
Looking Ahead: The Future of D2C Insider
Since its inception in 2019, D2C Insider has fostered the D2C ecosystem in India, supporting over 40 brands through its accelerator program. Abhishek Shah, Founder of D2C Insider, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to empowering early-stage startups by connecting them with vital capital and expertise.
Excitingly, Cohort 3 of the Elevate Growth Accelerator is set to launch in November 2024, promising even more opportunities for budding entrepreneurs.
