Get All Access for $5/mo

The Indus Valley Raises $1.1 Mn From Rukam Capital, DSG Consumer Partners And The Chennai Angels The company intends to utilize the capital to expand the product portfolio, strengthen its team and geographical reach across the country

By Prabhjeet Bhatla

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

The Indus Valley

Rukam Capital, DSG Consumer Partners (DSGCP), and The Chennai Angels announced to have invested $1.1 million in The Indus Valley, a direct-to-consumer (D2C) healthy kitchenware startup. The round also saw participation from Lead Angels Network and Calega Family Office Investors Group.

The company intends to utilize the infused capital to expand its product portfolio, strengthen its team and geographical reach across the country.

"We welcome Rukam Capital and DSG Consumer Partners on board to join us in our journey to thrive and deliver health-first equipment to kitchens across the nation. We disrupted the segment by being the first mover in the industry, and ever since then, it has been a high-growth niche in the overall cookware industry. We realized that customers have become more health-conscious than ever before and are looking for non-chemical products to ensure their safety. Keeping in mind these growing demands, our products are carefully engineered to provide the healthiest cookware without any usage of chemicals," said Jagadeesh Kumar, co-founder and chief executive officer, The Indus Valley.

Founded in 2016 by Jagadeesh Kumar and Madhumitha Udaykumar, The Indus Valley aims to revolutionize the kitchenware industry in India with its health-friendly offerings. It has achieved an annualized run rate of INR 210 million in a capital-efficient manner. All products are produced only with natural materials like cast iron, iron, copper, clay, and wood to avoid the usage of any chemicals, coating or any harmful additives.

"In a country where people are moving towards healthier, sustainable lifestyles, we believe that The Indus Valley aids this movement with its unique offerings. This industry has incredible potential to be explored, and Indus Valley is visioned towards solving the people's problem statement to have chemical-free cookware. Its D2C digitized model of business makes health-focused kitchenware accessible. We at Rukam Capital believe that such startups and ventures can help people to get more aware about their health and wellness, and in the coming days, we can foresee a significant uptick in demand for toxin-free cookware," shared Archana Jahagirdar, managing partner, Rukam Capital.

Since its inception, the company has served more than two lakh orders and has a strong digital retail presence on marketplaces such as Amazon and Flipkart, besides retailing on its own website. With a current portfolio of more than 230 SKUs in its offerings, The Indus Valley is continuously expanding its product range with the aim of increasing to 1000 SKUs in the next 24 months.

"We are witnessing a shift from value-driven functionality-focused kitchenware products towards healthier and better-for-you products. Non-stick materials like Teflon, which are pervasive, can pose health risks when overheated. Extensive use of plastic can also cause issues when exposed to extreme heat. We have been tracking this trend globally and have seen a switch to cookware made from cast iron, ceramic, copper, wood, and glass, amongst others. Jagadeesh and Madhumitha have developed a portfolio of natural cookware products and are focused on building The Indus Valley as the leading Indian brand in the category. This includes educating the Indian consumer on the benefits of natural cookware, usage, and maintenance," added Deepak Shahdadpuri, managing director, DSGCP.

Previously, The Indus Valley raised seed funding from The Chennai Angels.

Prabhjeet Bhatla

Former Staff

Growth Strategies

Tata Motors: 45% Of EV Sales Come From Smaller Towns; Targets Installing Community Chargers

Category acceptance from smaller towns is the key to growth and we have achieved it, Vivek Srivatsa, chief commercial officer, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

News and Trends

Talent, Digital Infra, Policy, and Startups Driving India's GCC Ecosystem

By leveraging its demographic dividend and evolving policies, India is uniquely positioned to become the preferred choice for global enterprises seeking scalability, resilience, and a future-ready operational base.

News and Trends

India's Data Center Capacity to Reach 2,070 MW by End of 2025: CBRE

Cumulative investment commitments in the data center sector in India to cross USD 100 billion by 2027. Mumbai, Chennai, and Delhi-NCR to lead data center supply addition

Business News

'I'm Not Trying to Land on Mars': Mark Cuban Takes Dig at Elon Musk to Explain Why His Online Pharmacy Isn't Trying to Make More Money

Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Co. is an online pharmacy co-founded by Cuban and radiologist Alex Oshmyansky.

News and Trends

Indian Venture Ecosystem Poised for Global Ascent: Recovery, IPO Resurgence, and 'Building for Bharat' to Define 2025

India's GDP is poised to scale from USD 4 trillion to USD 8 trillion over the next decade and will offer a playground that is remarkable for both founders and venture capital (VC) firms, said Pranav Pai, Founding Partner and CIO at 3one4 Capital.