WickedGud, a D2C food brand backed by Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, has secured ₹20 crore in funding. Orios Venture Partners led the investment round, with additional support from Asiana Fund and existing investors.
WickedGud’s latest funding follows a previous ₹6 crore investment from notable backers, including Titan Capital, Venture Catalyst, and Hyderabad Angels, which took place nearly a year ago.
WickedGud will utilize the fresh funding to augment its distribution network, boost branding and marketing efforts, and enhance its core team. The investment will also support the expansion of its product portfolio, notably introducing Korean flavors to its instant and cup noodles range, capitalizing on emerging global food trends.
“We’re thrilled to announce this funding milestone as it fuels our mission to revolutionize the consumer packaged goods (CPG) space in India,” said Bhuman Dani, founder of WickedGud. “In the past six months, our products have resonated deeply with consumers, seeing phenomenal growth in Reliance Retail stores and quick-commerce platforms. With recent launches on DMart, Zepto, Blinkit, and Instamart, we are excited to unlock massive potential in retail and redefine what India eats.”
Founded in 2021, WickedGud specializes in healthy and indulgent food products crafted with high-quality ingredients and advanced Steaming and Convection Air Drying (SCAD) technology.
WickedGud has achieved remarkable growth, expanding fivefold in just two years. Its robust omnichannel distribution network spans over 2,000 retail outlets, including more than 400 Reliance SMART Bazaar, Signature, and Freshpik stores.
Rehan Yar Khan, Managing Partner at Orios Venture Partners, stated, “We have been tracking WickedGud since its inception and Bhuman since his previous startup. Both have come a long way, and we saw that they were at an inflection point. The instant noodles market was estimated at INR 15,000 crore in 2023 and is projected to hit INR 30,000 crore by 2028.”
“WickedGud is the foremost with a healthy option in this category, and the response from major retailers has been exciting. We look forward to working with Bhuman and the team to build India’s leading noodle and healthy quick foods company,” he added.
Shilpa Shetty is also an early backer of a number of Indian startups including the popular cosmetic brand Mamaearth, Fast&Up, Chicknutrix, KisanKonnect, and Hunar Online.
