The round was led by Mr Pradip Burman, Chairman of Mobius Foundation and senior member of the Dabur family.
A new and exciting D2C sustainable hygiene brand, The Woman’s Company has raised $1.4 million in a Pre-series A round led by Mr. Pradip Burman, Chairman of Mobius Foundation and senior member of the Dabur family. The round was also participated by two US investors, Ms. Malini Saba, Chairman of Saba Corporation and Ms. Anuradha Gupta – Angel investor. Dr. Malini Saba, along with Ms Donna George (USA) and Mr. Surya Bhatia, will also soon be joining as board members at The Woman’s Company. DPNC Advisors, the transaction advisory arm of Dewan P N Chopra & Co., was the exclusive financial advisor to The Woman’s Company in the transaction.
The Woman’s Company was launched in March, 2020 by Founder & CEO Anika Parashar and Co-Founder & COO Roopam Gupta with the goal of addressing serious gaps in the feminine hygiene industry in India, which was estimated at INR 33 billion in 2020 and is expected to double by 2025. With one woman contributing an average of 125kg of plastic waste over her menstruating years, this industry has seen a huge shift in consumer mindset towards sustainable living. In line with the shift in demand, the brand has innovated products that are fully biodegradable, eco-friendly and dioxin-free.
Since its inception, the D2C brand has seen 40% growth month-on-month which is largely driven by its e-commerce website contributing to the majority of its overall sales. The brand has also established a strong presence on leading e-commerce marketplaces such as Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, Nykaa and Zivame.
The Woman’s Company plans to deploy capital to deepen penetration into Tier 1, 2 and 3 cities in India and also position its ‘Made in India’ products in North America under the D2C model supported by an on-ground team. The brand’s vision is to be the leading player in the women’s hygiene industry with an omni channel presence and an outreach of over a 100 million women across the globe over the next 5 years.
Sharing her thoughts on the funding, Anika Parashar Founder & CEO The Woman’s Company commented, “This new infusion of funds will be used to build a safe community for women to engage, access information and sustainable essential products catering to their health, whilst preserving the environment. In addition to increasing our Indian market share, we will be establishing a significant presence in the US where our vision is to create impact across every household with our quality eco-friendly products as well as our healthcare platform.”
“The Woman’s Company is a wonderful initiative, started by Women entrepreneurs to produce Indian made biodegradable hygiene products for the health and wellness of females which are easily available and affordable. I am happy to support The Woman’s Company and to help make it a success.”, said Mr. Pradip Burman, Chairman – Mobius Foundation
Dr Malini Saba, Founder & Chairman, Saba Group, said ‘This investment is aimed at ensuring that along with making menstruation a comfortable phase of women’s lives, there is also greater awareness of feminine hygiene products that are free of chemicals, parabens, and plastics. The usage of such ‘green’ products will not only reduce environmental damage but also promote women’s health and build a sustainable menstrual hygiene ecosystem. My presence on the board of ‘the Woman’s Company’ will give impetus to the process of developing a holistic approach towards increasing awareness and the enhanced adoption of ‘green’ menstrual hygiene products by following a two-pronged approach.’’
Angel investor Ms. Anuradha Gupta, added “I am delighted to be associated with The Woman’s Company, an inspiring organization that puts women firmly at the center of its ethos, while remaining mindful of the environment. I look forward to seeing what comes next for The Woman’s Company and am excited to be a part of the ongoing journey.”
Source: Business World