Bengaluru, India – January 2026: Materials science-based manufacturing startup Whizzo has raised $15 million (approximately ₹125 crore) in a Series A funding round led by Fundamentum Partnership, with participation from Korea-based deep-tech investor LB Investment and existing investors Lightspeed Venture Partners and BEENEXT.
The latest funding marks LB Investment’s first direct investment in India, highlighting global investor confidence in the country’s emerging advanced materials and technical textiles sector.
Whizzo previously raised $4.2 million in its seed round in January 2025 from Lightspeed and BEENEXT.
Accelerating Materials Science Innovation
According to the company, the newly raised capital will be strategically used to:
Advance materials science research and expand the startup’s R&D infrastructure.
Develop in-house intellectual property (IP) focused on non-woven technologies and composite materials.
Strengthen supply chain and manufacturing capabilities across key hubs in India, Vietnam, China, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.
The Bengaluru-based startup also plans to expand its science and engineering team, hiring researchers with expertise in polymer chemistry, sustainability, and advanced composites.
India’s First CDMO for Technical Textiles
Founded in 2024 by former Zetwerk executive Shrestha Kukreja, Whizzo positions itself as India’s first Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) specializing in technical textiles.
Whizzo’s vertically integrated platform brings together:
Materials research and formulation
Prototyping and process engineering
Commercial-scale production for B2B manufacturers
This integrated model allows the company to accelerate innovation cycles while maintaining consistent quality across global supply chains.
Expanding Global Reach
Whizzo currently partners with over 120 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and MSME manufacturers across India and exports to 15 countries. With the new funding, the startup aims to double its international footprint to 30+ export destinations within the next year.
Its client base spans sectors including:
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Geotextiles for infrastructure and environmental applications
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Agricultural textiles for crop protection and soil management
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Protective and flame-retardant materials for industrial safety
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Specialty yarns and engineered apparel textiles
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Industrial composites for construction and automotive industries
Currently, 40% of Whizzo’s revenue is derived from exports, underscoring its strong international demand and competitive positioning in the global technical textiles market, which is projected to surpass $260 billion by 2030.
Building a Deep-Tech Manufacturing Ecosystem
Whizzo operates with a 65-member team, with 10% dedicated to research and innovation in materials science and sustainability. Its state-of-the-art R&D lab in Gurgaon anchors its research initiatives, focusing on developing eco-friendly, high-performance textile materials.
The company also plans to file multiple patents as part of its ongoing innovation pipeline.
Founder and CEO Shrestha Kukreja emphasized Whizzo’s long-term vision:
“Our mission is to build a global materials science company from India that empowers manufacturers to innovate faster, produce sustainably, and compete globally. With this funding, we’ll accelerate R&D, strengthen our IP portfolio, and expand our international footprint.”
Industry Outlook: Technical Textiles in India
India’s technical textiles industry is among the fastest-growing manufacturing sectors, driven by rising infrastructure spending, defense applications, and sustainability mandates. Supported by the government’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and the National Technical Textiles Mission, the sector is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 12% through 2030.
Whizzo’s deep-tech focus on next-generation composite materials positions it as a frontrunner in this evolving landscape, bridging R&D, engineering, and scalable manufacturing — a capability still rare in India’s industrial ecosystem.
Conclusion
With strong investor backing and a clear focus on innovation, Whizzo is redefining how advanced textiles are designed, developed, and produced in India. Its integrated CDMO model and global partnerships are setting the foundation for India’s emergence as a hub for science-driven, sustainable manufacturing.
Ruchi Kumar is the associate editor at Entrepreneur News Network and TVW News India, where she leads editorial strategy, brand storytelling, and startup ecosystem coverage. With a strong focus on innovation, business, and marketing insights, he curates impactful narratives that spotlight India’s evolving entrepreneurial landscape.