Team StartupCity

• Koriken raises Rs 4 crore in Seed Funding led by Rukam Capital to accelerate its Korean QSR expansion in India.
• Funding to boost product innovation, new outlets, kitchen scale-up, and brand building, strengthening its authentic Korean street-food offering.
• Rising K-culture demand and 50% YoY surge in Korean food orders position Koriken for aggressive nationwide growth.

Koriken is a next-generation Korean QSR brand that has just raised Rs 4 Crore in a Seed Funding Round led by early-stage venture capital firm Rukam Capital, who are known to back high-potential consumer brands. The investment marks a significant milestone for Koriken as it aims to bring authentic Korean flavours to India's rapidly evolving QSR landscape.

The new capital will be used to drive product innovation, build flagship and high-street outlets, strengthen operational systems, increase brand marketing, and fortify talent acquisition. Emphasizing speed, consistency, and authenticity, Koriken intends to scale its kitchen infrastructure while reinforcing its commitment to high-quality Korean street food across the country.

Hasan Patel, Founder & Chief Executive Officer at Koriken, exuded confidence in the company’s growth trajectory: “At Koriken, we are on a mission to make Korean street food a mainstream dining choice in India. With India's young population increasingly seeking new flavours and experiences, we see an incredible opportunity to build a category-defining brand. Our focus is on consistency, affordability, and innovation, while staying true to the essence of Korean food culture”.

Koriken already has an exhaustive signature menu of Korean fried chicken, ramen, mandu, and many more expertly crafted to give a palatable Seoul street-food experience with a modern QSR approach. The last fundraise merely strengthens the commitment of Rukam Capital to back innovation consumer brands that shape new dining culture in India.

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Archana Jahagirdar, Founder & Managing Partner at Rukam Capital, said, "India's young consumers are embracing global flavours like never before. The Korean food wave presents a powerful cultural opportunity, and Koriken is well-positioned to turn it into an everyday dining habit. This intersection of a fast-growing QSR industry and Korea's cultural momentum creates a unique high-growth opportunity".

Entertainment, K-pop influence, and global food curiosity have further accelerated India's evolving preference for Korean cuisine. On platforms like Swiggy and Zomato, the ordering of Korean food has witnessed nearly 50% YoY growth, while Gen Z contributes more than 25% of the total orders. Korean restaurants and QSRs have seen demand surge upwards of 59%, expanding from major metros to tier-2 cities such as Surat, Vadodara, Mysuru, Mangaluru, and Thiruvananthapuram.

In this regard, Koriken intends to aggressively scale up the business with this strategic investment and make authentic Korean cuisine a household favorite in India, adding to the country's vibrant and diverse QSR ecosystem.