Supply Chain & Distribution Network Firm RubanBridge raises $2.5 million led by C4D Partners & Other Investors
RubanBridge (1Bridge), a Bengaluru-based last-mile supply chain and distribution network focused on villages in rural India, announced on Tuesday that it has raised $2.5 million in new capital led by C4D Partners, a Netherlands-based impact investor.
New investors such as KAAJ Ventures, angel investors such as Prashanth Prakash (Founding Partner, Accel Partners); Puneet Jetli (Co-founder of Happiest Minds); and Aradhana D Chatterjee – a seasoned PE/VC executive — also participated in the round. This round included existing angel investor Prashanth Boccasam, a serial digital entrepreneur and investor headquartered in the United States.
In a secondary deal, C4D Partners and Prashanth Boccasam purchased an additional stake, allowing a few early stockholders to exit.
With this round of funding, 1Bridge wants to expand its reach as a supply chain and distribution network to another 10,000 towns over the following 18 months by hiring 10,000 more entrepreneurs. It also intends to open 500+ ‘1Bridge Experience Centres' across various Tehsil/Block towns, where customers would be able to touch and feel aspirational products.
It also seeks to grow its product and service offerings by forming strategic alliances with consumer durables brands, as well as fintech and lending organisations aiming to expand into rural areas.
improve its technology and data platform so that ‘1Bridge Advisors,' or local micro-entrepreneurs, may provide rural outreach and aided commerce services.
Commenting on this investment, Arvind Agarwal, CEO, C4D Partners, said,
“We have been actively participating in the evolution of 1Bridge – almost since its inception back in 2016, to now a leader in village commerce. The foundations of the company are built with a strong emphasis on rural consumer experience, assisted commerce platform, terrific execution capabilities, and a focus on being capital efficient. We are delighted to continue supporting the team as they embark on their next stage of scale and impact.”
Prashanth Boccasam said, “With 1Bridge’s presence in thousands of villages through its entrepreneur network and technology platform, it is uniquely positioned to understand the needs and aspirations of rural India through the data they generate. I am excited to continue working closely with the team to generate insights that can truly transform access, choice, and convenience for our villages.”
New investors such as KAAJ Ventures, angel investors such as Prashanth Prakash (Founding Partner, Accel Partners); Puneet Jetli (Co-founder of Happiest Minds); and Aradhana D Chatterjee – a seasoned PE/VC executive — also participated in the round. This round included existing angel investor Prashanth Boccasam, a serial digital entrepreneur and investor headquartered in the United States.
In a secondary deal, C4D Partners and Prashanth Boccasam purchased an additional stake, allowing a few early stockholders to exit.
With this round of funding, 1Bridge wants to expand its reach as a supply chain and distribution network to another 10,000 towns over the following 18 months by hiring 10,000 more entrepreneurs. It also intends to open 500+ ‘1Bridge Experience Centres' across various Tehsil/Block towns, where customers would be able to touch and feel aspirational products.
It also seeks to grow its product and service offerings by forming strategic alliances with consumer durables brands, as well as fintech and lending organisations aiming to expand into rural areas.
improve its technology and data platform so that ‘1Bridge Advisors,' or local micro-entrepreneurs, may provide rural outreach and aided commerce services.
Commenting on this investment, Arvind Agarwal, CEO, C4D Partners, said,
“We have been actively participating in the evolution of 1Bridge – almost since its inception back in 2016, to now a leader in village commerce. The foundations of the company are built with a strong emphasis on rural consumer experience, assisted commerce platform, terrific execution capabilities, and a focus on being capital efficient. We are delighted to continue supporting the team as they embark on their next stage of scale and impact.”
Prashanth Boccasam said, “With 1Bridge’s presence in thousands of villages through its entrepreneur network and technology platform, it is uniquely positioned to understand the needs and aspirations of rural India through the data they generate. I am excited to continue working closely with the team to generate insights that can truly transform access, choice, and convenience for our villages.”
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