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VS Mani & Co, a south Indian food startup, has raised $370k in funding round from angel investors including Haresh Chawla (Partner, True North Co), Anupam Mittal (Founder and CEO of People Group), Ashish Hemrajani (Founder and CEO of BookMyShow), Sidharth Rao (Group CEO, DentsuMB), Rajan Navani (Founder and CEO of JetSynthesys) actor-producer Rana Daggubatiand Sattva Group’s family office.
The company plans to use the funds to take its online-first business to other channels and expand its product line to include South Indian snacks.
The Bangalore-based VS Mani & Co was founded in 2020 by GD Prasad, it offers authentic South Indian packaged foods and beverages.
“Many south Indian foods are popular across the country but there are hardly any pan-India players who have consolidated this opportunity into a comprehensive, ready-to-consume range of south Indian delicacies. We want to create a ‘national south Indian brand, so to speak – and we have a strong brand story to facilitate this”, said, GD Prasad, founder of VS Mani & Co.
The startup said that it plans to scale through online marketplaces and offline retail not only in India but also overseas, where there is a significant expatriate to cater.
“VS Mani & Co is well placed to grow into a leader in the specialty south Indian food segment, the one where there are hardly any national players”, said, Anupam Mittal, founder and CEO of People Group.
“As of now, almost 90% of our sales come from our own channel. We have acquired customers profitably – and with healthy repeat rates, have also proven that we have a solid product”, said, Yashas Alur, Co-Founder & Head of Growth.
“Now, the plan is to scale via online marketplaces and offline retail – not just in India, but also abroad, where there is a significant diaspora to cater to”, said, Rahul Bajaj, Co-Founder & Head of Operations of VS Mani & Co.
About VS Mani & Co
VS Mani & Co. is a Bangalore-based FMCG company offering authentic South Indian packaged foods and beverages, backed by prominent angels and VCs including Anupam Mittal (Founder and CEO People Group and Judge on Shark Tank India), Ashish Hemrajani (Founder & CEO, BookMyShow), Sidharth Rao (Group CEO DentsuMB), Rajan Navani (Founder & CEO JetSynthesys), actor-producer Rana Daggubati, and Sattva Group’s family office. Founded by GD Prasad in 2020, it is a tribute to the loving South Indian home in which he grew up.
