A networking community for India’s direct-to-consumer (D2C) sector - D2C Insider - has made investments of up to INR 1 crore each in three early-stage startups, namely The Paan Legacy, Hemptyful, and Polr.Care. These investments were part of the Elevate Cohort 2 Demo Day. This is one promising initiative within D2C Insider’s Early Stage Growth Cohort program, wherein, it is aimed at supporting emerging D2C brands.

Furthermore, these selected startups, which specialize in innovative consumer goods, were part of a 12-week accelerator program. To talk about this program, it is designed to help them refine their business strategies and scale their operations further.

Also to note, the program is backed by industry veterans such as Aneesh Seth, Vedang Patel, and Kunal Bahl, providing the startups with the much needed mentorship, business insights, and opportunities to pitch to a jury of investors. Here, the jury included prominent figures such as Amit Jain, Founder at CarDekho, and representatives from DSG Consumer Partners, Mumbai Angels, and Indian Angel Network.

Now if we look at this accelerator program, it  also provides participants with over INR 25 lakh in credits from leading enablers such as WebEngage, Shiprocket, and Unicommerce. As a 12-week curriculum, it included live sessions, one-on-one mentorship, and peer networking opportunities; thereby offering critical support to the startups.

Founded in 2019, D2C Insider has always been committed to growing India’s D2C ecosystem. Till date, the platform has supported over 40 brands, providing them with mentorship and funding opportunities through this accelerator program. Furthermore, the third cohort of the program is expected to launch in November 2024. This will welcome a new batch of early-stage D2C brands.