Shark Tank India Featured Malaki Raises INR 5.7 Crore Led by Venture Catalysts

The innovative beverage brand, featured on Shark Tank India, will use funds to expand its presence in Quick Commerce, premium hospitality, and scale its patented Crystal Bottle.

Malaki, an innovative and sustainable premium beverage brand, today announced the successful closing of its Seed funding round, raising INR 5.7 crores. The funding round was led by Venture Catalysts, India's premier early-stage investor, along with strategic participation from Maarc Ventures & Dadachanji Family Office.

Founded in 2020 by brothers Mohit and Ashish Bhatia, Malaki rose to prominence with its distinctive brand identity, design-forward detailing, highlighted by its patented Malaki Crystal Bottle.

This fresh infusion of capital will accelerate Malaki's expansion into new markets, strengthen its Online presence, amplify its sustainability initiatives, and build a deeper connection with young India’s growing demand for high-quality alternatives to legacy brands

Commenting on the fundraise, Mohit Bhatia, Co-founder, Malaki said, “Malaki was born from our belief that Indian consumers deserve world-class products crafted by homegrown brands innovating for a new generation. This isn’t just a better drink. It’s a reminder that India can lead, not follow. Invent, not imitate. And taste, without compromise to build the next iconic consumer brand, proudly stocked in every fridge.”

Ashish Bhatia, Co-founder of Malaki, said, “At Malaki, we're building a brand that stands for quality, innovation, and purpose. This round not only validates our vision but also equips us to scale faster across the country. With deep roots in a legacy family business, we understand the nuances of building long-term value in F&B, and we’re excited to bring a fresh perspective to hydration.”

Venture Catalysts, India’s leading early-stage investment platform, has previously supported prominent consumer startups like Beardo, Pee Safe, and BharatPe.

Commenting on their investment, Dr. Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, Co-founder, Venture Catalysts, remarked, “Malaki exemplifies innovation and sustainability in a rapidly growing premium beverage market. We believe strongly in the founders’ capabilities and see tremendous growth potential in their vision to create India’s next big consumer brand.”

Additionally, Akshat Chhabra, Director, Maarc Ventures, said, “From our first interactions, it was clear that Ashish and Mohit have the passion and long-term vision to build something truly enduring. We believed in their conviction and were keen to support them and the Malaki team.”

Malaki has established an impressive footprint with over 500 premium HORECA outlets, partnering with leading hospitality brands such as Singapore Airlines, Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt and has rapidly built an impressive footprint across premium hospitality chains (HORECA) in Mumbai, Pune, and Goa. It is now gearing up to launch in major metro markets including Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Jaipur, and Bengaluru. The company plans to leverage this funding to significantly enhance distribution channels and expand consumer reach through digital commerce.

The Indian premium beverage market is projected to grow exponentially, driven by increasing consumer preference for premium, healthier alternatives and sustainability. With strategic backing from esteemed investors and industry veterans, Malaki is poised to become a dominant player in this thriving market.

About Malaki

Malaki, founded by entrepreneurs Mohit and Ashish Bhatia, offers a premium range of beverages designed for new-age, health-conscious consumers. The brand combines global beverage trends with sustainable practices, offering high-quality products packaged in sustainable glass bottles. The brand portfolio includes tonic waters, alkaline waters, sparkling waters, and ginger ales. Malaki aims to elevate the beverage experience for consumers, focusing on both taste and responsibility.

About Venture Catalysts

Venture Catalysts is India’s first integrated incubator. It typically invests $250K – $2 Mn in early-stage start-ups with the potential to create enduring value for a long period of time. Founded in 2016 by Dr Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, Anuj Golecha, Anil Jain and Gaurav Jain, Venture Catalysts has invested in over 300+ startups since inception. The cumulative valuation of the startups invested by Venture Catalysts is $10 billion+. Venture Catalysts has a presence across 55 cities in 9 countries and is one of the most active early-stage investors globally.

From Pre-seed to Late Stage Funding - Sources of Every Funding Stage

As the business grows, it requires funding for expansions and research. There are different stages of funding that respond to the different needs of a growing business.

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