Indian Tech Firms Champion Sustainability Through Innovation, Data, and Community Action on World Environment Day

Qlik – Julie Kae, VP Sustainability and Impact, Executive Director of Qlik.org

“At Qlik, we see plastic pollution not just as an environmental issue, but as a solvable data challenge. Across our global offices, we’ve eliminated single-use plastics and adopted eco-friendly practices across events, sourcing, and operations. But our greater impact lies in helping others act. Through partnerships with C40 Cities, UNFCCC, and Van Oord, we support real-world, data-driven solutions – from tracking plastic use to identifying smarter ways to reduce waste and build climate resilience. We’re proud to work with nonprofits and public sector organizations that turn data into impact, whether it’s supporting climate dashboards, open-access tools, or smarter recycling systems. These are more than pilot projects – they demonstrate what’s possible when insight drives action.

As we continue this journey, our commitment to achieving net zero by 2030 remains central to how we innovate, operate, and empower others.”

Automation Anywhere – Neeti Mehta Shukla, Co-founder and Chief Social Impact Officer

“At Automation Anywhere, we believe technology must be a force for good – not only in transforming how work gets done, but in protecting the planet we all share.

Over the past year, in collaboration with WWF-India, we have been leveraging automation to enhance marine litter monitoring and accelerate environmental impact. Our solutions have enabled the identification of over 4,400 plastic pollution hotspots along Odisha’s coastline, empowering conservation teams to collect, analyze, and act on data more efficiently than ever. We plan to expand these efforts in the coming months to further amplify impact and scalability. This work builds on our broader commitment to purpose-driven innovation, as reflected in our 2025 Impact Report, which highlights thousands of volunteer hours and growing employee participation in global sustainability initiatives.

Every organization has a role to play. By embedding sustainability into the heart of innovation, we can solve some of our planet’s most urgent challenges.”

UST – Vishnu Rajasekharan Nair, Director, Sustainability and Culture

Over the years at UST, sustainability has shifted from being just a strategic focus to something that quietly influences how we work, how we build teams, and how we make decisions. What has moved it forward is the steady effort of many people choosing to act together in ways that make sense for their teams, their roles, and the communities around them.

We’ve seen this take shape through everyday actions like the zero-waste hackathons, afforestation drives, and paperless workstreams. Not because they were mandated, they happened because people cared and felt trusted to take the lead.

One example is our Colors platform. Built on behavioral science, it gives our associates the space to lead projects around sustainability, wellbeing, and community. Over the past year, that’s meant transforming unused spaces into herb gardens, switching to reusables in cafeterias, and helping local women to launch sustainable micro-businesses. Taken together, these grassroots efforts, alongside broader systemic changes, contributed to a 20% reduction in our Scope 1 and 2 emissions, while our facilities reached 50% renewable electricity usage by the end of 2024.

Across the organization, we also saw more than 16,300 volunteering hours logged through over 170 community-based projects, with initiatives that impacted 127,000 lives globally, a reflection of what happens when sustainability becomes part of the culture, not just the strategy.

This World Environment Day is a moment to pause and notice the quiet efforts happening all around us. It’s in the way people choose to act sometimes in small, simple ways that add up to something meaningful over time. That’s how a culture shifts. Not all at once, but together.

Mphasis – Deepa Nagraj, Head of ESG and CSR

At Mphasis, we firmly believe that long-term progress must be ethical, inclusive and sustainable. Environmental considerations are an essential part of how we grow as a business and engage with the communities around us. Organisations today have a responsibility to move beyond short-term metrics and invest in building long-term ecological and social value.

Our collaboration with United Way of Bengaluru reflects this commitment. Since 2022, we have constructed over 1,300 percolation wells across Bengaluru. Each well conserves more than 1.28 lakh litres of rainwater annually, contributing to over 171 million litres of groundwater recharge every year. This initiative is helping restore the city’s water resilience while strengthening urban sustainability.

Equally significant is our ‘Mangrove Matters’ initiative in Pulicat, where we are restoring 70 acres of mangrove forest while creating sustainable livelihoods for the Irular tribe through their involvement in sapling care and ecosystem maintenance. The project not only improves biodiversity and climate resilience but also supports community upliftment through nature-positive action. These efforts reflect our belief that sustainability must be rooted in both environmental responsibility and inclusive development.

KPIT – Manasi Patil, Lead for Sustainability Initiatives

At KPIT, sustainability is deeply embedded in our vision to Reimagine mobility with you, for the creation of a cleaner, smarter, safer world. The mobility ecosystem is evolving rapidly, with software and electronics redefining vehicle architecture, and in this shift, sustainability must be foundational — not reactive. As we enable global OEMs to develop software-defined, electric, and intelligent vehicles, we also believe our responsibility lies in ensuring that the way we work, grow, and contribute mirrors the future we’re helping to build.

Our social responsibility is driven by Education, Environment, and Energy, with Employee Engagement as the core of all focus areas. This organisation-wide commitment is backed by measurable action. Under our sustainability roadmap EcoVoyage 2030, we are progressing toward net-zero emissions, and our campuses are steadily transitioning to renewable energy sources. At our Pune campus alone, over 2,800 indigenous trees have been planted across the green belt and hill slopes, supporting soil retention and ecological balance—leading to an increase in biodiversity, including renewed migratory birds.

We want to make sure we all leave a positive legacy through our work and have some wonderful stories of impact to share with our families. In FY25, KPITians collectively undertook more than 15,000 actions, including planting trees, carpooling, eating less meat, and more. This number being higher than our headcount, it averages at least one action per person. Moreover, when tracked at an individual level, 40% of employees reported undertaking at least one sustainability initiative last year, with this percentage rising further when factoring in all our CSR activities.

Our environmental initiatives also extend into communities. Through afforestation and water conservation work in rural areas, over 61,000 trees have been planted with a survival rate exceeding 95%, and nearly 44 million liters of water have been conserved, directly benefitting more than 46,000 individuals.

Errol Musk Wraps Up India Visit, Applauds Green Tech and Culture

Errol Musk Concludes Transformative 6-Day India Visit, Praising India’s Green Tech Leap and Cultural Depth

NEW DELHI, INDIA – June 7, 2025: After a highly productive and culturally enriching 6-day trip, Errol Musk, Global Advisor to Servotech Renewable Power System Ltd., concluded his visit to India today. Accompanied by his daughter, Alexandra Musk, the visit, which began on June 1st, significantly underscored India’s pivotal role in the global green technology and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure revolution.

Hosted by Servotech Renewable, Musk’s itinerary was packed with high-profile engagements designed to accelerate India’s sustainable development. His journey included headlining the India–Global Green Tech Vision Forum in New Delhi, where he shared his global insights on green technology. He also toured Servotech’s state-of-the-art manufacturing plant, gaining firsthand insight into India’s indigenous capabilities in EV chargers and solar solutions.

A unique aspect of his visit involved profound spiritual and cultural immersion. Musk engaged in sacred visits to the Ram Mandir and Hanuman Garhi Temple in Ayodhya and ISKCON Delhi. At ISKCON, he actively participated in a Tulsi plantation drive, performed arti, and reverently partook of the ‘Chappan Bhog’ prasad, highlighting the deep connection between sustainability and Indian traditions. During his spiritual interactions, he openly praised the timeless teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.

Reflecting on his journey, Errol Musk stated, “This trip has been truly eye-opening, witnessing India’s dynamic progress in green tech and its rich cultural depth. I leave incredibly optimistic about India’s future and its role on the global stage, and I look forward to returning soon to explore more of India’s beautiful places.”

Raman Bhatia, Managing Director, Servotech Renewable Power System Ltd., expressed, “Hosting Errol Musk has been an immense privilege and a pivotal moment for Servotech and India’s green energy sector. His strategic insights and personal embrace of India’s cultural values have been incredibly validating, further solidifying our commitment to accelerating India’s journey towards a cleaner, more sustainable, and self-reliant future.”

Musk’s departure marks the culmination of a visit that has not only strengthened Servotech’s global partnerships but also vividly amplified India’s narrative as a burgeoning leader in both sustainable innovation and spiritual harmony.

NSE Sustainability Ratings and Analytics Ltd Launches ESG Ratings for Listed Companies

6th June 2025: NSE Sustainability Ratings and Analytics Ltd announces the launch of its ESG ratings for listed companies, marking a significant milestone in advancing sustainable business practices in India. NSE Sustainability focuses on assessing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance, providing stakeholders with vital information to make informed decisions.

NSE Sustainability received its certificate of registration from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to operate as a Category I ESG Rating Provider (ERP). As a wholly owned subsidiary of NSE Indices Limited which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE), NSE Sustainability embodies the principles of transparency and actionable insights.

Shri Ashishkumar Chauhan, MD and CEO, NSE, said NSE Sustainability’s mission is to provide stakeholders including investors, businesses, regulators and the public with accurate, comprehensive and unbiased evaluations of corporate sustainability practices.”

The ESG ratings are derived from a thorough evaluation of company practices, policies, and disclosures across relevant sectors and industries. NSE Sustainability employs a transparent, data-driven, and materiality-based ESG ratings methodology aligned with both national and international standards and best practices. By integrating a wide array of parameters, NSE Sustainability ensures its ESG ratings reflect a balanced and objective perspective, free from biases related to size, scale, or industry.

Shri Aniruddha Chatterjee, CEO, NSE Indices, said “The launch of ESG ratings by NSE Sustainability Ratings and Analytics Ltd underscores our commitment to innovation in sustainable finance and we believe that our ESG ratings, data and analytics will set a benchmark in advancing ESG practices across industries.”

EDAG Smart Industry Summit 2025 Concludes in New Delhi

EDAG Smart Industry Summit 2025 Concludes in New DelhiEngineering the Digital Future of Manufacturing

New Delhi, June 6, 2025 – EDAG India proudly concluded its Smart Industry Summit 2025 in co-operation with Indo-German Chamber of Commerce (IGCC) & IMA, held on 4th and 5th June at Roseate House, Aerocity, New Delhi. The two-day summit brought together industry leaders, technology innovators, and policymakers to explore the future of smart manufacturingdigital engineering, and sustainable industrial ecosystems.

The summit highlighted EDAG’s position as a system integrator for industrial transformation, combining its expertise in cross-domain engineering, production system development, and automation technologies. With a focus on enabling end-to-end digitalization across the factory lifecycleEDAG showcased how its solutions -spanning from digital planning and virtual validation to scalable and sustainable production – are shaping the future of smart manufacturing.

Summit Highlights:

Smart Product: Demonstrated how embedded software, electrification, and connected systems are reshaping modern engineering – leveraging EDAG’s competencies in electronics development, digital integration, and product lifecycle support.

Smart Factory: Showcased the evolution from automated to adaptive production environments, enabled through digital twins, process simulation, and intelligent automation technologies.

Smart People: Focused on human-machine interaction, digital enablement, and building a future-ready workforce equipped for Industry 5.0 and beyond.

Smart Ecosystem: Emphasized how integrated, data-driven ecosystems can increase flexibility, transparency, and resilience across the entire value chain – connecting products, systems, partners, and platforms through seamless digital threads.

Industrial Metaverse Experience: The EDAG Metaverse live demonstrations enabled visitors to engage with virtual representations of production systems, simulating real-time environments to accelerate decision-making, reduce risks, and improve cost efficiency.

Collaborative Tech ShowcasesEDAG’s technology partners – NVIDIA, Siemens, Phoenix Contact, SAP, and EKS and EY – demonstrated solutions in AI-driven simulation, industrial connectivity, and cloud-integrated operations.

Speaking at the summitMr. Rainer Wittich, CEO of EDAG Production Solutions GmbH & Co. KG, said:

“India plays a key role in EDAG’s global innovation roadmap. The Smart Industry Summit reflects our commitment to co-engineering solutions with local partners, fostering a future-ready, resilient manufacturing landscape – aligned with the Make in India vision.”

PepsiCo India and The Social Lab Scale Sustainable Waste Solutions Across Four Cities with ‘Tidy Trails’

National, June 6, 2025: PepsiCo India, in collaboration with The Social Lab (TSL), has announced the expansion of its flagship plastic circularity initiative, Tidy Trails—a community-driven program focused on responsible plastic waste management through collection, segregation, and recycling to drive long-term environmental impact.

The initiative has now been launched in New Delhi’s Chandni Chowk and Pune’s FC College Road, with further expansion in Agra and Guwahati, building on the success of earlier editions in these cities. This strategic rollout reinforces PepsiCo India’s commitment to fostering cleaner, more sustainable urban environments.

Guided by its Partnership of Progress philosophy, Tidy Trails brings together local administrations, market associations, shopkeepers, and consumers to drive meaningful behaviour change around plastic waste segregation and recycling—creating a collaborative model for circularity at the community level.

As part of the initiative, a special mobile van will be deployed to collect post-consumer plastic waste from local establishments. The effort aims to encourage citizens to maintain cleaner surroundings and foster a culture of tidiness—setting positive examples and inspiring other communities to adopt responsible waste practices.

At the heart of the Tidy Trails initiative is a powerful idea: transforming plastic waste into purpose. Collected plastic is repurposed into functional items such as benches and chairs, which are installed in public spaces like parks, community centres, and marketplaces. These installations not only enhance the utility and aesthetics of these areas but also serve as daily reminders of the value of sustainable living.

Through on-ground campaigns, informative signage, and interactive community engagement, Tidy Trails is driving visible and lasting behavioral change—ensuring that plastic waste is not discarded, but reimagined into something meaningful for the community.

Speaking on the expansion, Ms. Yashika Singh, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer and Sustainability Head, PepsiCo India and South Asia, said, On World Environment Day, the launch of Tidy Trails in Delhi and Pune, along with its expansion in Agra and Guwahati, underscores our commitment to scaling sustainable, community-led solutions for post-consumer plastic waste management. Guided by our Partnership of Progress philosophy, we believe meaningful change is only possible through collective action. The success of Tidy Trails in Agra and Guwahati—driven by strong community engagement and support from local administrations—has laid a solid foundation for this next phase. We’re proud to collaborate with partners like The Social Lab and local municipalities to deliver real, on-ground impact.”

Mr. Sahil Arora, Chief Executive Officer, The Social Lab (TSL), said, “We are proud to partner with PepsiCo India for this noble initiative. At TSL, we are committed to protecting the environment and supporting circular economy efforts through programs like Tidy Trails. Plastic waste is one of the biggest environmental challenges today, but when reused and recycled, it can offer valuable solutions. Through this initiative, we aim to bring together communities, businesses, and policymakers to encourage the responsible use, recycling, and reuse of plastic.

Since its inception, the Tidy Trails initiative has collected over 68,000 kg of plastic waste, driven by active participation from local shopkeepers and communities. The program currently facilitates the daily collection of approximately 274 kg in Agra and 386 kg in Guwahati—demonstrating consistent, grassroots-level impact.

With a reach of over 1.9 lakh people, the initiative continues to drive behavioral change around responsible plastic waste management through sustained community engagement and awareness efforts.

As Tidy Trails expands its footprint, it stands as a compelling example of how collective action—across local communities, municipal bodies, and socially responsible businesses—can accelerate the transition toward a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future.

RBI Rate Cuts to Boost Auto Sector and Consumer Demand

By – Mr. Venkatram Mamillapalle, Country CEO & Managing Director, Renault India 

“The Reserve Bank of India’s decision to reduce the repo rate by 50 basis points to 5.5%, marking a cumulative 100 bps cut in recent months (25bps cut in Feb 2025, followed by 25bps in April 2025 and 50 bps in June ), is a welcome and timely move.

Combined with a significant 100 bps reduction in the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), which releases ₹2.5 lakh crore into the banking system, this policy is expected to strengthen liquidity and accelerate the transmission of lower interest rates to consumers, which will spur demand in the economy. For the automotive sector, this translates directly into improved access to affordable vehicle financing, especially in the entry and mid-level segments.

The reduction in CPI inflation forecast to 3.7% for FY26 will likely increase real disposable income, supporting consumer sentiment. With private consumption already on a healthy trajectory and the festive season on the horizon, we expect this policy environment to drive demand further. Moreover, robust gross FDI despite global headwinds reaffirms India’s attractiveness as a long-term investment destination.

The RBI’s proactive measures are poised to spur automotive retail, enhance customer affordability, and strengthen the economic cycle. We are optimistic that FY2025-26 will see an upward growth trajectory for the auto industry, powered by favorable macroeconomic indicators, strong fundamentals, and evolving consumer confidence.”

Marriott India strengthens the Green Commitment on World Environment Day 2025

6th June 2025, Thursday: Marriott India proudly achieved its ambitious goal for World Environment Day 2025, a commitment to plant 100,000 trees across its extensive portfolio of over 150 hotels nationwide. This significant undertaking marked a powerful escalation of Marriott India’s dedication to sustainability and ecological restoration, building upon the success of its previous environmental initiatives.

This landmark endeavor was built upon the successful foundation of last year’s “Two Trees per Room” initiative, launched on World Environment Day 2024. That program, a cornerstone of Marriott India’s environmental stewardship, saw over 32,600 trees planted by more than 4,900 volunteers. This year, Marriott India exponentially scaled its impact, with over 15,000 volunteers planting 100,000 trees. This monumental achievement reinforced its commitment to tangible environmental action and a healthier planet.

To achieve this ambitious goal, each Marriott India property actively participated in localized tree-planting initiatives. This collective effort, in collaboration with reputable reforestation organizations, was designed to dramatically expand our collective green footprint. Trees were strategically planted in areas optimized for ecosystem restoration, biodiversity enhancement, and climate change mitigation, while also providing vital support to local communities.

“Marriott India is incredibly proud to have successfully achieved our goal of planting 100,000 trees, a testament to our profound dedication to environmental responsibility,” said Sanjay Gupta – Chairman of the Marriott India Business Council. “This ambitious goal truly underscores our belief that sustainability is not just a passing trend, but a fundamental pillar of responsible hospitality. We are committed to making a lasting, positive impact on our environment for generations to come.”

JW Marriott Kolkata participated enthusiastically in this initiative, planting 25 saplings on World Environment Day in the presence of Arun Kumar – Market Vice President, North India, Bhutan & Nepal, along with the hotel’s leadership and volunteers. As part of their year-long pledge, the hotel will plant a total of 1,124 trees, aligning with the commitment of four trees per room. This ongoing effort highlights the property’s long-term vision of nurturing green spaces and leading by example in the heart of the city.

Marriott India’s dedication extends beyond this signature initiative. We continue to implement a wide array of innovative practices aimed at minimizing our ecological impact, including energy-efficient operations, robust waste reduction programs, and responsible sourcing. By leading through example, Marriott India is committed to setting new benchmarks for sustainable hospitality within the industry.

Experience Premium Lighting with Hafele’s Stanford Series

Hafele’s Loox Range has been meeting the demands for lighting in furniture as well as the growing needs for networking and digitalization since the last 10 years. The solutions offered within this range maximize simplicity and flexibility as well as assure high reliability. The range presents itself as a unique combination of elegant design and state-of-the-art technology making it the perfect choice for any home furniture application, be it Task Lighting for Kitchen cabinets and plinths, Decorative Lighting for Living Room Showcases, Mood Lighting for Bedroom Applications or pure Functional Lighting in Wardrobes.

With the ever-increasing demands for quality and specialized lighting solutions not just for furniture but also for rooms, Hafele in 2019 expanded its range offering to include ceiling cove lighting which incorporates our high-quality strip lights. It was during this period that we realized that among the numerous ceiling light types available in the market, interior architectural lighting had a huge demand, however there weren’t many prominent brands that offered these solutions. On one side, there existed local market players that offered these solutions without effective quality assurances, while on the other there were international brands that only catered to projects with no stable price offering or service support. This left majority of the customers without a viable choice in the market. Identifying this distinct gap early on as an opportunity, Hafele initiated the research and engineering for a range of lights that enhances the design of architectural spaces as well as provides opportunities of achieving different illumination techniques and functionalities. As a brand, Hafele understands design and is known for its bend towards innovation.

It also understands the importance of home ergonomics, lifestyle conveniences and ease of mobility within your surroundings. Our efforts towards this exercise led to the development of a versatile range of architectural lights; Hafele Architectural Lights was brought into existence. With Hafele’s New Architectural Lights Range, you will find all your lighting needs taken care of. Whether it is lighting up a small area, highlighting a wall texture, emphasizing a work of art, illuminating the floor space at night or simply ensuring even distribution of light across the entire space – these lights have got you covered. The range, consisting of 9 series, covers various applications, installation techniques and design themes. Each series comes with a comprehensive offering of the different types of interior lights, be it down lights, spotlight or wall washers, which allows you to implement a consistent design theme (in terms of the lighting fixtures) across the space available, even with differentiated illumination techniques. The biggest advantage this range carries is the absolutely low Unified Glare Rating (UGR). The lower the UGR rating, the lower the glare from the light fittings which therefore results in comfortable illumination in your living spaces. The convenient plug and play assembly, impressive product specifications, flexibility in ordering components, luminaire finishes, and availability of glare reduction accessories provide an overall customized option tailored to your specific requirements. Engineered on the same philosophy of ‘easiness’ and ‘flexibility’ as the Loox furniture lighting system, Hafele can now be your holistic lighting solutions provider, delivering premium ambient, task and accent lighting for your living spaces.

The Stanford Series                                                                                    

Designed on the concept of modularization, Hafele’s Stanford series offers you customization options like never before. The ordering process involves selecting the type of Light Engine, Baffle and Mounting Bracket, enabling the series to offer 42 different luminaire combinations. Selections in terms of wattage, beam angle, tilt angle and shape give you unmatched possibilities in ensuring a unified look for your interiors. The 7 trendy baffle colour options provide creative flexibility for incorporating elegant pops of colours that effortlessly highlight your ceiling or provide a seamless look that immaculately blends with your interior design. Enhancing this experience is the addition of Multiwhite Light Engine to the series which offers unmatched flexibility in tuning the colour temperature to suit your needs.

The luminaries from the Stanford Series are suitable for use as spotlights and down lights. They have a low UGR (Unified Glare Rating) which enhances the visual clarity and provides comfortable aesthetics in the living spaces. With easy installation and wide customization options, the Stanford series is your ideal solution for contemporary aesthetics.

Aroma Magic Launches Hydra Pro Serum and Mocha Facial Kit

 
New Delhi, 6th June 2025 – Blossom Kochhar Aroma Magic, the leading aromatherapy-based beauty brand, is thrilled to introduce two brand new, deluxe skincare innovations designed to bring hydration, glow, and rejuvenation to your everyday routine: the Hydra Pro+ Advanced Serum Kit and the Mocha Skin Rejuvenation Facial Kit.
Hydra Pro+ Advanced Serum Kit: Deep Hydration and Age-Defying Results
An advanced hydration system that combines Hyaluronic Acid, Pro-Vitamin B5, Rose Essential Oil, and Aloe Vera for a deeply nourishing and calming effect. This kit is skillfully crafted to combat dryness, irritation, and early signs of ageing while restoring moisture balance and defending the skin against environmental stressors. Suitable for all skin types, it works best when used alongside Aroma Magic’s Grapefruit Face Wash, Cucumber Sunscreen, and Insta Radiance Green Tea Face Pack for long-lasting results.
Mocha Skin Rejuvenation Facial Kit: Detox, Brighten, and Energize Your Skin
The Mocha Skin Rejuvenation Facial Kit is a decadent experience, powered by mocha extracts, essential oils, and hydrating botanicals. It’s designed to cleanse, exfoliate, nourish, and restore dull, tired skin, leaving it visibly brighter and firmer. From the Aromatherapy Prep Gel to the Mocha Massage Cream and Mocha Face Pack, each step promotes relaxation while detoxifying and energizing your skin. It is perfect for dull, dry, and dehydrated skin that craves a radiance boost.
“Hydration and rejuvenation are the foundation of youthful and glowy skin—especially during harsh summers and humidity-filled monsoons,” says Dr. Blossom Kochhar, Founder of Blossom Kochhar Aroma Magic. “With the Hydra Pro Plus Kit, we’re delivering modern skin science backed by aromatherapy to provide deep, lasting hydration. The Mocha Facial Kit is our love letter to those who want kind skincare with results; they both represent our commitment to clean beauty and seasonal wellness.”
The harsh environment of summers, monsoons, stress, and daily exposure to pollutants can deplete the skin of its life. The Hydra Pro+ Advanced Serum Kit helps soothe and moisturise with additions like Hyaluronic Acid, whilst the Mocha Facial Kit energizes and protects with antioxidant-rich coffee extracts.
Both products represent a perfect balance of tradition, innovation, and wellness, made for skincare lovers who value quality and purity in skincare.

Naagin Raises INR 18 Crores in Pre-Series A Round Led by 360 ONE Asset

Mumbai, India: Naagin, the flavourfirst food brand known for shaking up India’s condiment landscape, has raised ₹18 Crores in a preSeries A funding round led by 360 ONE Asset. The round also saw participation from returning investor 8i, now backing Naagin for the third time alongside a collective of 12 current and new angel investors.

Founded in 2019 by Mikhel Rajani (ex-Francesco’s Pizzeria and Mandala), Arjun Rastogi (ex-BlackRock, EY), and Kshitij Neelakantan (ex-public policy and operations, SOAS alumnus), Naagin was born out of a simple frustration: Why were Indian flavours missing from the global mainstream? That question turned into a mission, to put Indian chillies on the world map and make Indian flavour profiles the hero again.

This fundraise marks a significant step forward in Naagin’s journey to redefine how India and the world experience flavour. The capital will be deployed to scale operations across key verticals including factory expansion, team expansion, R&D and marketing, while accelerating growth across B2B, Ecommerce, and D2C. With multiple new products and category expansions in the pipeline, the brand is poised to deepen its domestic presence while strategically building out its export roadmap.

“We aligned with 360 ONE instantly on our bold vision for the future. They’ve been very supportive from the get-go and we are excited to continue our journey to create products people truly love, be the flavour provider for the next generation of HORECA brands right here in India and expanding globally to put Indian Hot Sauce on the world map,” said Mikhel Rajani, Co-Founder of Naagin.

Naagin has already built a cult following among consumers and chefs alike, delivering bold, distinctly Indian flavours in formats designed for modern kitchens. With over one million customers served and a strong presence across ecommerce, Qcomm and Horeca, the brand has emerged as a category disruptor. Collaborations such as the viral Bhoot Chips with TooYumm! have further cemented its cultural relevance.

This round reflects growing investor confidence in Naagin’s differentiated approach, one that blends chef-crafted innovation, farmer-led sourcing, and a brand built for the new-age consumer. The company continues to invest in deepening its regional sourcing networks and strengthening its farm-to-flavour supply chain to ensure transparency, traceability, and impact at scale.

Naagin isn’t simply bottling heat, it’s distilling India’s rich chilli heritage into a fresh, addictive flavour experience that belongs on tables from Mumbai to Brooklyn. Their relentless focus on craft, clean ingredients, and punchy brand storytelling positions them to redefine the global hot-sauce aisle, and we’re fired up to help fuel that journey,” said Abhishek Nag, Head of Early Stage VC at 360 ONE Asset.

Naagin’s long-term vision is rooted in elevating Indian flavours to global icons. By combining authentic culinary heritage with bold, modern branding and world-class execution, the brand is on a mission to create a new benchmark for what ‘Made in India’ means in the world of food.