Whizzo Accelerates Fabric Innovation with $15 Million Series A Funding
Fundamentum Partnership has taken the lead in a significant $15 million Series A investment round for Whizzo. This Bengaluru-based materials science startup specializes in creating advanced fabrics for diverse industries.
Whizzo serves sectors including packaging, agriculture, infrastructure, and protective workwear. The company guides clients through the entire development process, from initial concept and laboratory research to prototyping and full-scale manufacturing.
Investor Confidence and Strategic Backing
The funding round attracted notable participants. Korea's LB Investment made its first direct investment in India through this deal. Existing investors Lightspeed Venture Partners and BEENEXT also contributed additional capital.
Whizzo announced these details in an official press release on Tuesday. The startup previously secured $4.2 million in seed funding during January 2025.
The Founder's Vision and Operational Model
Shrestha Kukreja established Whizzo in 2024 after his tenure at Zetwerk. He now leads the company as chief executive. Kukreja identified a critical inefficiency in traditional textile workflows.
"Laboratories, manufacturing units, and buyers often work in complete isolation," Kukreja explained. "This separation creates delays and coordination challenges throughout the development cycle."
Whizzo addresses this problem by integrating the entire process. The company maintains its own materials science laboratory for research and development. For large-scale production, Whizzo collaborates with a network of partner factories.
This integrated approach delivers remarkable speed. Whizzo reduces typical development timelines from twelve to fifteen months down to just a few weeks.
Investor Perspective on Whizzo's Potential
Ashish Kumar, co-founder and general partner at Fundamentum, explained their investment rationale. "Whizzo perfectly aligns with our 'revenue first' philosophy for applied deep technology," Kumar stated.
The company represents a relatively undiscovered category within the manufacturing sector. Kumar emphasized three key factors that made Whizzo attractive:
- Focus on applied deep technology
- Operation in a non-overcrowded market space
- Leadership with strong market understanding
"This is a revenue-generating company in the deep-tech manufacturing segment," Kumar added during an interview.
Business Model and Market Traction
Whizzo operates as a contract development and manufacturing organization, or CDMO. This model is well-established in pharmaceuticals but innovative for specialized fabrics.
The company combines in-house research capabilities with outsourced production. Clients benefit from a single partner managing both development and manufacturing.
Whizzo has already served over one hundred customers. Kukreja expects this number to reach approximately one hundred thirty by January's end.
International business represents a significant component of their operations. The startup currently supplies products to around eighteen countries across multiple regions:
- Latin America: Colombia and Mexico
- Middle East: Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE
- Europe: Germany and Italy
Whizzo aims to expand its export footprint to thirty to thirty-five countries by the current financial year's conclusion.
Sustainable Growth and Competitive Differentiation
While specific revenue figures remain undisclosed, Kukreja highlighted strong customer retention. "Sixty percent of our current revenue comes from existing clients," he revealed. "Repeat customers also constitute seventy percent of our order pipeline."
Kumar addressed potential risks in manufacturing-focused businesses. "Without intellectual property protection, companies can quickly become commoditized," he cautioned.
Fundamentum's investment thesis centers on Whizzo's ability to develop differentiated products through research. Sustainable competitive advantage requires more than just manufacturing efficiency.
Over the next six to twelve months, Fundamentum expects Whizzo to execute its business plan effectively. The startup should refine working capital cycles in selected categories. Generating monetizable research beyond client-specific projects represents another priority.
Broader Investment Trends in Manufacturing Technology
Whizzo's funding reflects a growing investor interest in manufacturing and industrial technology. Multiple private capital firms are establishing dedicated funds for this sector.
Recent months have witnessed several significant deals in advanced manufacturing. Specialty chemicals platform Scimplify secured $40 million in Series B funding during March 2025. Advanced manufacturing startup Ethereal Machines raised $13 million in a June 2024 Series A round.
These investments signal increasing confidence in India's manufacturing innovation potential. Companies combining technological research with production capabilities are attracting substantial capital.
