Accel, Lightspeed, Bessemer, V3 Ventures, Sauce VC and others in talks to fund half a dozen consumer...

Accel, Lightspeed, Bessemer, V3 Ventures, Sauce VC and others in talks to fund half a dozen consumer startups

A fresh crop of consumer startups, spanning quick commerce, travel, healthcare, coffee and more, is attracting fresh capital as investors bet on a new generation of Indian consumers who are increasingly willing to spend on convenience, premium brands and differentiated experiences.

Accel, Lightspeed and Fireside bet on quick commerce

Shezan Bhojani, co-founder of home interior solutions startup, Design Cafe, is in talks to raise $5-7 million (Rs 48-67 crore) for his new company, Fixxly, from Accel, Fireside and Lightspeed, people familiar with the developments told Moneycontrol.

Bhojani is starting a new venture months after he sold Design Cafe to larger rival HomeLane in September 2024. Accel was an early investor in Design Cafe and is now returning to invest in Bhojani's new venture, too.

Fixxly, Accel, Lightspeed and Fireside did not reply to Moneycontrol’s queries.

“Shezan’s new venture – Fixxly – will operate in the quick commerce space, likely focusing on the delivery of home construction materials and related supplies,” one of the persons cited above said.

Fixxly will follow a model similar to Bengaluru-based Homerun, which delivers construction and interior materials within 60–90 minutes, but will focus on cities like Hyderabad and Mumbai.

The quick home materials delivery space will now have at least three serious players which are all backed by larger venture capital investors. While Fixxly will be backed by Accel, Fireside and Lightspeed, Homerun counts Sorin Investments as an investor and is in the process of raising an additional $12-15 million (Rs 115-140 crore) from Nexus Venture Partners to build on its existing base.

Similarly, MeltPlan has raised $10 million (Rs 92 crore) from Bessemer Venture Partners as investor conviction in the space begins to cement.

Bessemer Venture Partners looks at travel startups

Beyond home construction, investors are also turning their attention to travel and vacation-focused startups.

30 Sundays, a startup that curates travel and holiday packages for couples, is in talks to raise around $5-8 million (Rs 48-76 crore) from Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP) and others in a fresh funding round, sources told Moneycontrol.

30 Sundays competes with travel planning platforms such as Pickyourtrail and other players in the customised holiday segment.

The New Delhi-based startup is pursuing fresh capital even as foreign travel demand remains subdued, amid expectations that bookings will recover once the conflict in West Asia stabilises.

The deal contours could change slightly as talks progress.

30 Sundays and Bessemer Venture Partners did not reply to Moneycontrol’s queries.

Beyond home construction and travel, investors are also increasingly backing healthcare startups focused on haircare and sleep, as consumers become more proactive about personal wellness and preventive health.

Xtovia, a patented haircare startup, is in the advanced stages of raising Rs 4.5 crore ($470k) from V3 Ventures, sources told Moneycontrol. Similarly, Sloom Wellness, a rest and recovery company, is in talks to raise Rs 6.5 crore ($680k) from V3 Ventures and Sadev Ventures, these sources added.

V3 Ventures, Xtovia and Sloom Wellness did not reply to queries.

V3, the early-stage investment arm of Verlinvest, a Belgium-based family office, is one of the most active early-stage consumer investors in India. It has backed startups such as Kuku FM (vernacular content), Eka.care (health tech), Go Zero, Superyou, among others.

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The funding comes at a time when consumers are increasingly willing to spend on products and services that improve their appearance, wellbeing and overall health.

Moxie Beauty recently raised money from Bessemer Venture Partners and Traya has built a strong cap table as the sector continues to grow.

Investor interest is also spilling over into categories such as specialty coffee and anti-ageing, as consumers increasingly spend on products and services that promise a better lifestyle, improved wellbeing and premium experiences.

Sauce VC, a prominent investor in consumer companies, and other investors, are together negotiating and investing around Rs 20-25 crore (around $3 million) each into Be Clinical, a science-backed, clinical-grade, anti-ageing skincare brand and Savorworks Coffee, a New Delhi-based specialty coffee roastery and craft chocolate brand, sources told Moneycontrol.

Sauce VC, Be Clinical and Savorworks Coffee did not reply to queries.

The deals are still being negotiated and there are chances the construct of the round changes slightly.

Taken together, the flurry of fundraising activity points to a shift in where investors see the next wave of consumer opportunities. Rather than chasing broad-based horizontal platforms, capital is increasingly flowing into companies solving specific consumer needs -- whether it is home construction, travel, haircare, sleep, coffee or longevity. The common thread is a willingness among consumers to spend more on convenience, wellness and experiences that improve everyday life.

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