Specialty coffee brand First Coffee has raised $1.2 million in its seed funding round, led by venture capital firm BEENEXT. The funding round attracted participation from notable investors, including Ashish Gupta (Helion Venture Partners), AngelList India, Dr. Ritesh Malik (founder of Innov8), Sahil Malik (founder of Da Milano), Chandini Purnesh (Owner of Harley Coffee Estate), Aman Arora and Agastya Dalmia (Keventers), Aman Bahel (Apex Group), Nakul Dev Chawla (Art Mumbai), and Dr. Shriram Nene.
The raised capital will be utilized to fuel First Coffee’s expansion efforts, primarily focused on bringing its premium speciality coffee experience to key urban locations across New Delhi, NCR, and Tier I cities in North India. By the second quarter of the next fiscal year, the company plans to open 35 small-format quick-service outlets (QSRs) in high-footfall areas such as malls, corporate parks, high streets, and metro stations. Additionally, the funds will support hiring initiatives and increased marketing efforts.
Founded in 2024 by Sohrab Sitaram and Shiv Dhawan, First Coffee aims to blend premium coffee with a unique design and cultural experience, integrating AI-powered data analytics to enhance customer engagement. The company is committed to sustainable coffee production, using eco-friendly methods such as shade-grown coffee, man-made lakes for irrigation, and traditional insect traps to reduce its environmental footprint.
As India’s coffee market is expected to grow at a 9.87% CAGR and reach $1227.47 million by 2032, First Coffee is positioning itself to capitalize on this expanding sector, aiming to offer a premium and sustainable coffee experience in the fast-growing market.
