Yoga Bar co-founder Suhasini Sampath has partnered with Singapore-based VC firm Better Bite Ventures to launch First Bite India, a INR 25 crore (USD 260,000) fund for the country’s earliest-stage food founders. Applications close September 23.
The fund targets brands in functional food and beverage, healthy snacking, and better-for-you staples, including modern takes on classic foods. It’s open to pre-launch or newly-selling brands, with no revenue, deck or incorporation required. Startups mid-fundraise remain eligible, with Better Bite open to co-investing.
Better Bite has backed 30-plus startups across Asia-Pacific, including Greenest, Shaka Harry and Phyx44, often as the first cheque. The selected founder will also get Sampath as a mentor and investor introductions.
Sampath scaled Yoga Bar to INR 1,000 crore before its sale to India’s second-largest FMCG player. Better Bite’s Michal Klar cited rising investor interest in India’s functional food segment, driven by health-focused Gen Z demand and quick commerce lowering entry barriers for new brands.
“I built Yoga Bar from a first batch to an exit. Now I want to back the person who’s about to start that journey,” said Suhasini Sampath, Co-Founder, Yoga Bar.
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