Rohit Rawat’s Post

#InnovationOpportunity While taste still remains important, with the rise of health-conscious consumers, sugar-free and low-calorie beverages are growing in demand. We incubate ventures and scale brands in India. Email: team@northside.co.in Website: www.northside.co.in Vidur Vyas Akash Singh Thakur Mallika Nayar Pranav Mehra Gaurav Mehta Krishanu Chakravarty Dhruv Sabharwal Soumya Chadha #consulting #marketresearch #marketfit #brandmarketing #brandconsulting #incubation #marketgrowth

The question in most startups and frankly also investors’ mind is – when will the drought get over? My view has been that startups need to demonstrate that the business models that they are building are sustainable i.e. they are capable of making money for the investors to regain confidence and restart funding. I believe that consumer companies will lead this trend – here is the data – ~90 deals amounting to ~$1.1 bn between October 2023 and February 2024. Investors are placing their bets on the Indian consumption story driven by premiumisation, personalization, digital inclusion and omnichannel retail. Brands operating in discretionary sectors like beauty and personal care (BPC), apparel, and luggage have peaked investor interest – some prominent companies who have raised funding recently include Cureskin, Foxtale, The Ayurveda Experience, NAT HABIT, Innovist, SNITCH, NEWME, Mokobara, MIRAGGIO, and Bagzone Lifestyles Pvt LTd, amongst others, while many more deals are at an advanced stage of closure. Various sub-sectors in the food & beverages space have also piqued investor as well as strategic interest – some examples include dairy companies like Country Delight and Akshayakalpa Organic, spices company Pushp Brand (INDIA) PVT. LTD., packaged food like Capital Foods Private Limited, ORGANIC INDIA, and Wholsum Foods (Slurrp Farm and Millé). Further, an additional share of the consumer wallet is being attributed towards restaurants, and the sector is now seeing a renewed investor interest – The Baker's Dozen, Wow! Momo and Bakingo have recently been funded. The other welcome trend has been that large consumer companies have become increasingly acquisitive, as seen recently with Unilever, ITC Limited, and Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting, opening exit options to private investors in the sector. Valuation expectations have also normalised for the consumer sector, both at an early stage as well as at the time of exit / IPO. The improved investor market sentiments, are likely to lead to a rise in the consumer sector deals in the coming months and hopefully pave the way for other sectors to also experience a return of investor interest. 

The Indian ready-to-cook (RTC) market is booming, estimated to reach $489 Mn by 2027, but health concerns are rising alongside convenience. Enter WickedGüd, a D2C brand founded by a former BCG consultant who saw a gap for healthier RTC options 💡👇 In 2016, Bhuman Dani left BCG and moved to India to set up The Good Life Company, a startup offering luxury teas and coffees. However, he pivoted in 2021, driven by the growing demand for healthy alternatives in the RTC space. He recognized that while people craved convenience, they also desired healthier choices for themselves and their families. WickedGud stands out by using traditional ingredients like lentils, chickpeas, brown rice, and whole wheat to create healthier versions of popular RTC foods like pasta, noodles, and chips. These are free from maida, palm oil, and harmful chemicals, making them a conscious choice for health-minded consumers. Compared to other product lines in the market, the brand claims a 96% reduction in saturated fat in its noodles and 50% less fat in chips.       A Shark Tank India (Season 2) finalist, the D2C food brand raised approximately INR 17 Cr from a clutch of notable investors – for instance Venture Catalysts++ | India's 1st Multi-Stage VC+, Titan Capital, Mumbai Angels, Hyderabad Angels, Aman Gupta and Shilpa Shetty, who also became its brand ambassador in May 2023. In fact, the startup claims to have sold over 2 Lakh packs of its healthy chips in 3 months after the product was launched in December 2023! This momentum continued, and in February 2024, it sold 20K packs of pasta, 70K packs of noodles and nearly 60K packets of chips. WickedGud has found success in an effective omnichannel model and dedicatedly works on retail expansion and unit economics. Dive deeper into how the brand is navigating competition from established FMCG players and the crowded healthy food landscape here: https://4-2.co/4b3ob91 #startups #d2c #sharktank

Excited to share that my insights on the premium consumer brand space in India were featured in the LiveMint, which highlights this view and overall investment strategy on the consumer space. At Sauce.vc, we've consistently recognized premiumization as a strong investment theme through the years. The landscape is evolving with established digital playbooks and the rise of quick commerce, allowing brands to scale quickly and effectively. Yet, the push towards more specialized, sharply-defined premium brands reflects a growing consumer demand for uniqueness and quality. Brands like The Whole Truth Foods, Mokobara, and Innovist exemplify this shift towards products that are not only premium but also distinct and innovation-driven. Dive into the full article to explore how this trend is reshaping the industry and driving strategic investments. #Investment #ConsumerGoods #Premiumization #VentureCapital

Why our Hitman is a financial genius. Rohit Sharma, the esteemed captain of the Indian Cricket Team, has not only excelled on the cricket field but also demonstrated remarkable financial acumen. 1.Rapidobotics Rohit Sharma's investment in Rapidobotics highlights his interest in cutting-edge technology. Rapidobotics provides robotic automation solutions, catering to industries looking to optimize their operations through advanced robotics. This investment aligns with the growing trend of automation in various sectors, promising substantial returns as industries continue to embrace technological advancements. 2.Veiroots Wellness Solutions Another notable investment is in Veiroots Wellness Solutions, a healthcare company focused on personalized wellness and preventive healthcare. This investment underscores Rohit's commitment to supporting innovative healthcare solutions that enhance the quality of life. The company's growth potential is significant, given the increasing global emphasis on health and wellness. 3. ZappFresh Rohit Sharma's investment in ZappFresh, an online platform for delivering high-quality meat and seafood, showcases his strategic move into the e-commerce sector. ZappFresh sources directly from farms and fisheries, ensuring freshness and quality, catering to the rising demand for premium food products. This investment taps into the growing market of online grocery shopping, which has seen a significant surge, especially post-pandemic. 4. Digital Art Ownership Diversifying his portfolio, Rohit has ventured into the realm of digital art ownership. This investment reflects his forward-thinking approach, recognizing the burgeoning market of digital assets and NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens). As digital art continues to gain popularity, this investment is poised to yield substantial returns, combining cultural value with financial growth. 5. Real Estate Ventures Rohit Sharma's real estate investments include a luxurious apartment in Mumbai and a residence in Lonavala. These properties not only serve as valuable assets but also exemplify smart real estate choices in prime locations. The Mumbai apartment, located in Worli, offers a panoramic view of the Arabian Sea, while the Lonavala residence provides a serene getaway, both contributing significantly to his asset base. Rohit Sharma's investment strategies reflect a balanced approach, combining technology, healthcare, e-commerce, digital assets, and real estate. His diversified portfolio not only secures his financial future but also supports innovative and growth-oriented ventures. #InvestmentStrategy #RohitSharma #FinancialPlanning #TechInvestments #HealthcareInnovation #ECommerce #DigitalArt #RealEstateInvestments #CricketAndFinance

Last week, SuperK, a startup which operates ~125 supermarkets (primarily in small towns) in Telangana raised 6m USD led by Blume Ventures. I've written previously about how FMCG and retail (remember sachets?) are the OG in figuring out how to monetise India 2. And now here's a startup that is treading the same path. Social media is fuelling the aspiration of the Indian consumer. She wants more choice, a better buying experience, and now has more time and money to spend. One place where this premiumisation is showing up is in the growth of modern retail - malls and supermarkets. Between 2006 and 2017, tier-II and tier-III cities got USD6.2 billion in retail investment, almost 5x the Indian metro, according to a report in the Economic Times. But the humble kirana shop still seems the same to the end consumer (despite all the hype around Dukaan Tech). Enter SuperK. SuperK helps kirana stores transition to modernity and keep up with the aspirational Indian consumer, by providing a supermarket in a box. How does this work? What do they do differently? What other models now start making sense? I write about aspiration, premiumisation, and SuperK in this weeks edition of The Indian Pivot. Please read and subscribe! https://lnkd.in/g_xac2y7 #product #consumer #bharat

Building FMCG business “Few insights” Based on over 30 years of experience watching from close quarters over 100 companies Working and interacting closely with MNC’s, large Indian brands , funded startups( VC, PE), greenfield by Large PE’s - over 100’s of them and working with leadership teams and promoters directly 1. Very difficult or almost impossible to build profitable brand based on only E com - market places - quick commerce- and modern Trade. These platforms can at best be early testing and learning grounds. Good way to test the waters - to achieve scale and profitability with this approach is almost impossible- at best you can be niche player. 2. To build long term profitable business- General Trade is the most critical aspect and almost impossible to succeed - if you don’t succeed in GT if you are looking at building large business beyond 1000 cr and go for listing. 3.It’s extremely crucial to focus on few products categories and few “Hero” products at best 7-8. With most of the startups one sees rush to launch multiple categories- multiple SKU’s - this while gives some blip in sales - but puts immense pressure on supply chain, managing quality, inventory, working capital etc. This all leads to almost confused positioning to the consumer and lot of challenges for the internal team across all functions - Lot of efforts - on wide range - leading to dilution of focus and finally frustration #sucess# #fmcg# #business#

🚀 Exciting News in the QSR Space! 🍲 The Indian food industry is witnessing a remarkable surge, and recent developments have further accentuated this growth narrative. 🌟 Wow! Momo Significant Funding 🌟 Wow Momo, a trailblazer in the QSR sector, recently secured substantial funding from Khazanah Nasional Berhad. This move not only underscores the brand's impressive growth trajectory but also highlights the potential the QSR space holds. Wow Momo's journey reflects the evolving preferences of Indian consumers and the sector's adaptability to these changing trends. 📈 The Broader Picture: India's Consumption Growth 📈 This funding mirrors the broader growth story of India's overall consumption narrative. As disposable incomes rise and urban lifestyles evolve, the demand for quality, quick, and diverse culinary options is skyrocketing. 💡 Trillium Venture Capital's Move with Zomoz 💡 In parallel, Trillium's strategic investment in Zomoz further diversifies the offerings in the QSR sector. Zomoz, under the leadership of Ex DRDO Scientist Shouvik Dhar, is set to revolutionize the momo segment, bringing innovative offerings to the table. 🔍 The Opportunity in QSR 🔍 These developments are not just isolated success stories but indicative of a larger trend. The QSR space in India is ripe with opportunities, driven by innovation, consumer demand, and a dynamic market environment. As investors continue to show interest and confidence in this sector, we can expect to see more such transformative stories. 🔗 Connecting the Dots 🔗 The strategic moves by Wow Momo and Zomoz, supported by robust investments, are reshaping the QSR landscape in India. It's a sector that's buzzing with potential and innovation, promising exciting times ahead for entrepreneurs, investors, and consumers alike. #QSR #FoodTech #Investment #GrowthStory #Innovation #WowMomo #Zomoz #Entrepreneurship

#Spotlight: In our survey, no consumer was expecting to spend less than Rs 10 per unit on summer beverages, signalling a trend towards premiumisation. We incubate ventures and scale brands in India. Email: team@northside.co.in Website: www.northside.co.in Vidur Vyas Akash Singh Thakur Mallika Nayar Pranav Mehra Gaurav Mehta Krishanu Chakravarty Dhruv Sabharwal Soumya Chadha #consulting #marketresearch #marketfit #brandmarketing #brandconsulting #incubation #marketgrowth