Brands
indē wild secures $5 million investment to fuel global expansion
MUMBAI: indē wild, the beauty brand pioneering Ayurvedistry skincare and haircare, has secured $5 million in a funding round led by Unilever Ventures, the company announced on 6 Marc 2025.
The investment round saw significant reinvestment from existing backers SoGal Ventures and True, marking a pivotal moment for the brand co-founded by entrepreneur and media personality Diipa Büller-Khosla.
Within just two years of launching, indē wild’s signature Champi Hair Oil has claimed the top bestseller position on Nykaa, India’s leading beauty e-commerce platform, outperforming established brands including Olaplex, L’Oréal and Kama Ayurveda.
The brand, which blends traditional Ayurvedic principles with modern chemistry, has achieved remarkable growth across India, the US and UK markets. Its community-driven approach involves extensive consumer engagement through focus groups across these regions, ensuring products align with consumer needs.
“Today’s generation seeks brands that reflect their identity,” said indē wild founder Diipa Büller-Khosla. “The most impactful brands are built on deep listening, constant evolution, and empowering communities to co-create their journey.”
Since its exclusive launch on Nykaa in India and direct-to-consumer platforms in the US and UK 18 months ago, indē wild has reported selling more than one unit per minute. This momentum has driven revenue growth of 400 per cent, with the company achieving double-digit contribution margins and EBITDA profitability during select periods last year.
Unilever Ventures partner Rachel Harris, who led the deal, commented: “By blending the age-old wisdom of Ayurveda with the efficacy of modern science,indē wild meeting the holistic needs of today’s beauty consumer in an accessible way.”
The fresh capital will primarily fund indē wild’s international expansion plans, focusing on its existing partnership with Sephora in the UK and upcoming launch in Sephora US. The company has also appointed Archit Vijoy, who served as the exclusive financial advisor on the funding deal, as finance director.
“With Unilever Ventures’ expertise in the beauty space and deep understanding of consumer needs, ind? wild will scale even faster in this rapidly evolving market,” added Oleg Büller-Khosla, CEO of indē wild.
SoGal Ventures managing partner Pocket Sun described iindē wild as “more than a beauty brand—it’s a symbol of the global South Asian community’s rise,” that honours heritage while embracing global ambition.
The brand’s recognition continues to grow, having been invited to join Sephora’s prestigious Accelerate program alongside securing a strategic retail partnership with the beauty giant.
Brands
Faber-Castell India appoints Sunaina Haldar as director – marketing
With stints at Tata, SleepyCat and ADF Foods under her belt, Haldar is primed to redraw Faber-Castell’s brand story
MUMBAI: Faber-Castell India has poached Sunaina Haldar from ADF Foods, appointing her director – marketing as the German stationery brand looks to muscle up in a category that is rapidly reinventing itself around creativity and self-expression.
Haldar hit the ground running. “My first couple of weeks have been incredibly energising, understanding consumers, visiting markets, engaging with retailers and immersing myself into the world of Faber-Castell Group,” she said.
She arrives with considerable firepower. At ADF Foods, Haldar ran marketing across India and international markets for a portfolio spanning Ashoka, Aeroplane, Camel and ADF Soul. Before that, she was vice-president – marketing at direct-to-consumer mattress brand SleepyCat, where she helmed brand, content and performance marketing. Her résumé also includes a stint leading marketing, new product development and CRM for Tata SmartFoodz at Tata Consumer Products, no small proving ground.
Between corporate roles, Haldar also operated as a fractional CMO for early-stage startups, building marketing strategy and operational structures from scratch, a signal that she knows how to move fast with limited resources.
With 18 years straddling FMCG, D2C and the startup world, Haldar now takes the reins at a brand that has long owned the classroom but is clearly hungry for the living room. In a stationery market where the pencil has become a lifestyle statement, Faber-Castell has picked someone who knows exactly how to sell that story.
