India's Marmalade raises $630,000 seed for craft whiskey push
What's the deal? Delhi-based alco-bev startup Marmalade has raised 60,000,000 INR (about $630,000) in a seed round from a group of angel investors, including Ashok Chokalingam, Robert Sellares, Ishank Gupta, and HomeLane founders Srikanth Iyer and Tanuj Choudhry.
Founded in 2025 by Udit Mediratta and Surojit Bhattacharya, Marmalade builds "easy-drinking, flavour-forward" spirits aimed at younger Indian consumers. Its flagship, Brightside, is a craft whiskey developed with Amrut DistilleriesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and master blender Chokalingam.
What's the endgame? The proceeds will go towards expanding distribution, brand-building, and strengthening sales and operations. Marmalade plans to move into Mumbai and the wider Maharashtra market, where Brightside sells for 1,750 INR per 750ml bottle.
Why now? The company says it is on track for an annualised revenue run rate of 50,000,000 INR in September 2026, targeting 150,000,000 INR by December 2026 — threefold growth across two cities in under four months.
What could go wrong? Brightside targets a 1,500–2,200 INR price band that Marmalade describes as thinly served. Hitting its aggressive ARR goal depends on winning premium buyers in a crowded, heavily regulated market.
The signal: India's alco-bev startups are experimenting with craft whisky, gin, agave spirits, and liqueurs, leaning on modern branding, smoother profiles, and premium-but-approachable pricing. Recent raises include Feline Spirits'Dealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → 52,000,000 INR pre-Series A, Raincheck Earth Co.Dealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →'s $1.2 million for Cherrapunji Craft Gin, and Nuvola SpiritsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →' 15,700,000 INR — a sign investors see room for a new generation of homegrown drinks brands.
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Image credit: Nicholas Doumani
