NBC Raises $2.3M Pre-Series A for India Expansion
Nothing Before Coffee (NBC) , an Indian coffee company, raised $2.3 million in a Pre-Series A funding led by Prath Ventures, and backed by SYL Investments. The capital will be utilized to expand its reach, increase technology, and improve operational efficiency, especially in Tier-II and Tier-III underpenetrated markets.
Started in 2017 in Jaipur by Ankesh Jain, Anand Jain, Akshay Kedia, and Shubham Bhandari, NBC has become a national retail chain with more than 85 stores. The chain aims at India's aspirational youth through its affordable, quality coffee in trendy spaces.
While most Indian cafés target Tier-I cities and high-end products, NBC is focusing on mid-sized and smaller cities, where it sees considerable growth potential. The brand has built a loyal customer base through India-specific innovations such as the "Shrappe" and competitively priced offerings without compromising on quality.
"This funding milestone confirms our vision and business model. At Nothing Before Coffee, we've built a brand which combines affordability, quality, and cultural saliency—particularly in Tier-II and Tier-III cities. With robust unit economics and customer loyalty, we're ready for explosive growth. This capital will enable us to increase our footprint, invest in tech and people, and go into the next phase of growth as we seek to become India's most loved and affordable coffee chain," said Ankesh Jain, NBC Co-founder.
Piyush Goenka, Founder of Prath Ventures, stated, “We believe in the growing demand for coffee and vibrant café experiences across India—not just in metros, but beyond Tier-1 cities. NBC stood out for its vibrant cafés, affordable pricing, and quality offerings. The passion of the founding team made this an exciting opportunity for us.”
Shikha Toshniwal, Pareto Capital's Co-Founder and Head of Investment Banking, commented, "Indian café industry is waiting for innovation, and emerging players like NBC are spearheading the trend. As bankers, it is our job to finance such disruptors as they scale their business. NBC has rapidly established strong brand recall, and we wish them all the best to become India's go-to coffee café brand."
While NBC continues to expand, it is looking to capitalize on value pricing, local market offerings, and community-oriented store formats, expanding access to great coffee in under-served markets and establishing itself as a scalable competition to metro and global players.
Started in 2017 in Jaipur by Ankesh Jain, Anand Jain, Akshay Kedia, and Shubham Bhandari, NBC has become a national retail chain with more than 85 stores. The chain aims at India's aspirational youth through its affordable, quality coffee in trendy spaces.
While most Indian cafés target Tier-I cities and high-end products, NBC is focusing on mid-sized and smaller cities, where it sees considerable growth potential. The brand has built a loyal customer base through India-specific innovations such as the "Shrappe" and competitively priced offerings without compromising on quality.
"This funding milestone confirms our vision and business model. At Nothing Before Coffee, we've built a brand which combines affordability, quality, and cultural saliency—particularly in Tier-II and Tier-III cities. With robust unit economics and customer loyalty, we're ready for explosive growth. This capital will enable us to increase our footprint, invest in tech and people, and go into the next phase of growth as we seek to become India's most loved and affordable coffee chain," said Ankesh Jain, NBC Co-founder.
Piyush Goenka, Founder of Prath Ventures, stated, “We believe in the growing demand for coffee and vibrant café experiences across India—not just in metros, but beyond Tier-1 cities. NBC stood out for its vibrant cafés, affordable pricing, and quality offerings. The passion of the founding team made this an exciting opportunity for us.”
Shikha Toshniwal, Pareto Capital's Co-Founder and Head of Investment Banking, commented, "Indian café industry is waiting for innovation, and emerging players like NBC are spearheading the trend. As bankers, it is our job to finance such disruptors as they scale their business. NBC has rapidly established strong brand recall, and we wish them all the best to become India's go-to coffee café brand."
While NBC continues to expand, it is looking to capitalize on value pricing, local market offerings, and community-oriented store formats, expanding access to great coffee in under-served markets and establishing itself as a scalable competition to metro and global players.
