Bakery startup, The Baker's Dozen (TBD), has raised Rs 33 crore ($3.98 million) in its Pre-series A round of funding from investors like Wipro Consumer Care - Ventures, Fireside Ventures, Mirabilis Investment Trust, and She Capital, said the company on Thursday, January 11, in a press note.
 
TBD will use the fresh funding to expand its presence beyond metros, targeting growing markets in non-metro and Tier-1 cities. The company will also utilise money for marketing and brand-building initiatives and will also focus on enhancing the mass-premium segment of TBD’s product range.
 
Commenting on the investment, Sumit Keshan, managing partner, Wipro Consumer Care - Ventures, said, "We believe that TBD has created a strong franchise for artisanal bakery products which are greatly liked and admired by its consumers. TBD is looking to create an organised play across multiple categories in bakery within packaged food, which is showing strong traction as a sector. Their approach towards authentic ingredients, no compromise on quality, as well as consistency through a strong focus on modern manufacturing technology and processes, makes them a standout with the potential to make it big."
 
Aditi and Sneh launched The Baker's Dozen in 2013. It is one of the largest artisan bakeries, producing breads, cakes, cookies, crackers, and premixes from natural ingredients. In India, the brand has a presence in over 40 cities and 3000 contact points. The Baker's Dozen is multichannel, selling from 50 of its own stores, over 600 modern and general trade retailers, and through E-commerce and quick commerce platforms like Instamart, BlinkIt, Big Basket, Zepto, Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy, Zomato, and others.
 
A look at recent developments in startup space
Today, AI-first ed-tech startup ConveGenius also announced that it had raised $7 million funding from  Optimus Foundation and Mount Judi Ventures along with existing investors.
 
Another Bengaluru-based warehouse robotics startup, Accio Robotics, raised $1.8 million funding in its Pre-Series A round led by BIG Capital, according to a company's statement on Tuesday, December 9. 
 
Meanwhile, Google on Monday, January 8,  announced the second cohort of the GNI Startups Lab- a 12-week catalyst programme that aims to help the next generation, independent, early-stage Indian news startups achieve financial and operational sustainability.