KisaanSay raised ₹34 crore (approximately $3.6 million) in its Series A funding round. NABVENTURES led this massive investment through the AgriSURE Fund (Agri Fund for Startups and Rural Enterprises). Other investors were also active participants in the funding round and shared the vision of the brand regarding the future of the food industry.

This investment is a significant move towards the Gurugram-based startup on its way towards building a stronger presence and influence in the agricultural domain and food industry of India.

Strong foundation and capital utilization

This Series A is the continuation of a successful seed fund round of KisaanSay. In January last year, the startup raised $2 million in a pre-seed round. The first round was led by Jungle Ventures in their First Cheque@Jungle program. 

Another advantage of the pre-seed round was the involvement of several senior leaders in the food industry, who not only contributed to the financial resources of the company but also brought a wealth of industry experience since the time of its foundation. This series of funding rounds illustrates the ongoing interest and belief that institutional investors and industry observers have in KisaanSay and its ability to scale its business over the long-run.

KisaanSay has developed an elaborate plan to deploy the newly acquired funds to achieve sustainable growth and operational excellence. One of the main points that the company will emphasize is the expansion of its distribution channel and targeting more consumers. The new fund will be invested in reinforcing the marketing and branding campaigns that are critical to creating a strong presence in a competitive market. 

The startup will increase its staff and create a more scalable organization to help with its expanding business. It will be capable of sustaining its future operations. A large percentage of the investment will be directed towards the implementation of a complete technology infrastructure that is supposed to automate the activities and improve the efficiency of the entire supply chain.

Core philosophy and multi-channel approach

KisaanSay was founded in 2022 by the trio of Nitin Puri, Vaishali Mehta, and Manoj Karki. KisaanSay has created its brand identity based on the availability of a variety of natural, 100% single-origin foods. The philosophy of the brand is based on the desire to fill the current void between producers and consumers by making provenance central to their activities. This strategy is not only about product quality but also about empowering the sustainable lives of the farming fraternity. 

The company aims at single-origin models so that the products are grown, minimally processed, and packed at the source by the farmer enterprises in their own units. This will guarantee that the value produced at the source will remain with the producers, creating a fairer food system.

The scale of operations of KisaanSay is already remarkable, as the company possesses more than 100 stock-keeping units (SKUs) and represents 12 different categories of food. The company adopts a collaborative model whereby it has co-brand and co-profit relations with 25 farmer enterprises. Their network encompasses about 50,000 farmers in nine states, which is indicative of the extensive reach of their action. 

Regarding distribution, the brand employs the multi-channel concept involving its direct-to-consumer webpage, major online trading platforms, and mainstream quick-commerce solutions. KisaanSay has already made its mark in select retail outlets within the Delhi-NCR area, and consequently, its single-origin products are available to a wide variety of urban consumers.

Conclusion

The ₹34 crores Series A round, led by NABVENTURES, is a turning point in KisaanSay. The brand is pioneering a new transparency and sustainability approach in the food industry with an emphasis on provenance and empowerment of farmer enterprises.

The new capital provides the company with a platform to strengthen its technological power, expand its reach, and strengthen its influence on the lives of tens of thousands of farmers in India. Since KisaanSay is still occupying the space between the field and the fork, its expansion is a trial to single-origin, farmer-focused business models as valid in the contemporary economy.