Mumbai-based startup Kathy’s Beverages, which operates the bubble tea and beverage brand Bobakat, has raised Rs 6 crore in a pre-Series A funding round as it looks to strengthen its presence across India’s rapidly growing beverage market.
The company said the fresh capital will be used for product innovation, expanding its team, increasing marketing efforts, and accelerating offline retail expansion. Bobakat currently runs compact-format outlets located in food courts and high-street retail locations.
Founded in 2024 by Dr Rupali Ambegaonkar and Sannjeev Rao, Bobakat focuses on bubble tea and modern beverage offerings designed for urban consumers. The startup claims to have already served over 10 lakh customers within a short period of launch.
The company is now aiming to achieve Rs 100 crore in net sales value within the next 36 months as demand for premium and experiential beverage brands continues to rise in India.
According to the founders, India’s beverage market is expected to grow significantly from nearly $80 billion in 2025 to around $155 billion by 2035, creating strong opportunities for innovative beverage startups and café chains.
Before launching Bobakat, Dr Rupali Ambegaonkar founded Tea Culture of the World, which expanded to more than 200 stores across the country. Co-founder Sannjeev Rao also brings extensive retail industry experience, having worked with major brands including Future Group, Aditya Birla Retail, Landmark Group, Raymond, and Being Human.
Bobakat says its business strategy focuses on high-quality beverages, carefully designed in-store customer experiences, youth-focused branding, and scalable store models that can expand quickly across multiple cities.
As part of its growth roadmap, the startup plans to launch 35 new stores during FY27, followed by another 50 outlets each in the next two financial years. The expansion strategy will target both metro cities and emerging urban markets across India.
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