Brands
Parle Agro adds Kesar Badam to Smoodh dairy line-up
The flavoured milk is priced at Rs 10 and Rs 20 and rolls out nationwide
NATIONAL: Parle Agro has expanded its dairy portfolio with the launch of Smoodh Kesar Badam, a new flavoured milk variant under its flagship Smoodh brand.
The product brings together almonds and saffron in a creamy milk base, tapping into one of India’s most familiar flavour profiles. Positioned as an indulgent yet accessible offering, Smoodh Kesar Badam is priced at Rs 10 for 80 ml and Rs 20 for 150 ml, and is aimed at everyday consumption across age groups.
The launch marks a strategic push by Parle Agro to capitalise on rising demand in the flavoured milk segment, where traditional tastes are increasingly being reworked into modern, on-the-go formats. The company said the variant would be available across urban and rural markets through general trade, modern trade, digital platforms and quick commerce channels.
Commenting on the launch, Parle Agro joint managing director and CMO Nadia Chauhan, said the flavour was a natural extension of the brand’s strategy to blend cultural familiarity with contemporary consumption habits. She added that Smoodh continues to focus on making indulgent dairy beverages widely accessible while strengthening its leadership in the category.
The rollout is supported by an integrated marketing campaign spanning out-of-home, digital, social media, influencer partnerships and in-store visibility. Parle Agro said the campaign aims to drive rapid awareness and trial, positioning Smoodh Kesar Badam as a premium yet mass-market choice.
With the addition of Kesar Badam, Smoodh’s flavoured milk portfolio now includes Chocolate, Chocolate Hazelnut, Toffee Caramel and Kesar Badam, alongside the company’s broader dairy play in lassi.
Brands
Aman Gupta’s OFF/BEAT secures Rs 100 crore seed funding round
Bessemer backs new venture betting on AI and India’s digital shift
MUMBAI: Aman Gupta has raised Rs 100 crore in seed funding for his new venture OFF/BEAT, with Bessemer Venture Partners leading the round as it bets on a new wave of AI-led, consumer-first businesses in India.
The funding marks an early but significant push for OFF/BEAT, which is positioned to tap into a rapidly evolving market shaped by a digitally native generation and advances in artificial intelligence. The venture aims to build at the intersection of culture and technology, where brand identity and innovation increasingly go hand in hand.
Gupta, best known for co-founding boAt and scaling it into a Rs 3,000 crore-plus business, is now looking to apply those learnings to a new playbook. His focus this time is not just on building a consumer brand, but on leveraging AI and global networks to accelerate growth.
OFF/BEAT founder Aman Gupta said, “Having built from scratch before, I know what capital can do and what it cannot. This time, I was looking for partners with a global perspective who can help me leverage technology and AI, because that is where the future lies. Bessemer’s track record with companies like Anthropic, Shopify, Canva and LinkedIn says it all.”
The choice of investor reflects that ambition. Bessemer Venture Partners has backed global technology players such as Anthropic, Shopify, Canva and LinkedIn, bringing not just capital but strategic support and global reach.
Bessemer Venture Partners partner Anant Vidur Puri said, “We back founders who see around corners. Aman saw how a new India would come to think about aspiration, identity and quality, and built boAt as proof. He is now applying that same instinct to a market being reshaped by AI and by a generation with entirely new expectations.”
The investment comes at a time when India’s startup ecosystem is being reshaped by both consumer behaviour and technological disruption. Founders are increasingly expected to understand not just products, but the cultural shifts that drive adoption.
For OFF/BEAT, the journey is just beginning, but the signal is clear. In a market where attention is fleeting and expectations are rising, building something truly distinctive may be the only way to stay on beat.
