Captain Zack, a pet grooming startup owned by EM Personal Care has secured $1.5 million in Pre-Series A round. The Mumbai-based startup plans to use the newly funds in marketing and brand awareness.
The funding is led by industrialists Kushal Desai and Chaitanya Desai through their family office. Japan Vyas, co-founder of Sixth Sense Ventures, who had been an angel investor in the company. Other investors participating in the round include Naval Bir Kumar – erstwhile head at IDFC Asset Management & Standard Chartered Asset Management, Sunil Agarwal, owner – entrepreneurat Joy Cosmetics and experienced investment banker Ketan Shah, who manages Panini Advisors LLP.
Talking to ETTech, Mohit Lalvani, MD & Founder of EM Personal Care says that this industry is very nascent in India. He adds that Captain Zack cautiously selects its products which are not harmful and made out of exotic materials. The toxin-free brand’s range of products comprises specially made formulations that are paraben-free and vegan.
The company sells its products via its own platform as well as other e-commerce platforms like Flipkart, Amazon.
The startup currently comprises of 22 members and has a presence across the major metros. The pet care market in India is expected to hit the $270 million mark by 2019.
Although the funding will be primarily used for Captain Zack, part of it will also be used for Coccoon, the other brand owned by EM Personal Care, which offers unique beauty formulations using exoticfruits and plants, such as a non-invasive wrinkle filler, high end night serum, radiance cream. . “Coccoon is a brand that seeks to protect and pamper through innovative haircare and skincare products that use natural actives instead of harmful chemicals,” said Mohit.