1 week Ago By Krithika K L
Cricketer Jasprit Bumrah has invested in eco-friendly luggage brand uppercase through a separate bridge funding round, though financial details remain undisclosed Bumrah will take an active role in product development, designing sports-specific backpacks and gym bags slated to launch within the next 3-5 months The Mumbai-based startup, which raised $9 Mn in Series B funding last year, aims to expand from 1,600 to 4,000 points of sale and targets INR 250 Cr revenue by 2026 Mumbai-based luggage brand uppercase has roped in Indian cricketer Jasprit Bumrah as its investor. Although the startup did not disclose the financial terms of the deal, but its cofounder and managing director Sudip Ghose told Inc42 that the investment comes as a separate bridge funding round. ET reported the development first.
“As a part of this expanded partnership, Bumrah will take an active role in product development. He wants to design a backpack and a gym bag which is exclusively needed for sports,” Ghose said. The startup plans to launch this new product line in the next 3-5 months.
The design process has already been started, with Ghose adding that it typically takes 2-5 months, from design to iterations, to launch the product. Founded in 2021 by Ghose, Uday Sodhi, Arnob Mondal Kumar, Shivaprasad Eregowda, Nidhi Rajora and Dheeraj Goyal, uppercase designs and manufactures eco-friendly travel gear including hard luggage, backpacks, duffel bags, and office satchels. The company’s products are global recycling standards (GRS) certified.
In August last year, the startup raised $9 Mn in its Series B funding round led by Accel, along with investors, including Sixth Sense Ventures and Enam Holdings promoter Akash Bhansali. The company claims to currently sell through 1,600 points of sale across India and aims to expand to 4,000 points in the coming years. It targets a revenue of INR 250 Cr by 2026 and plans to break even by FY27.
uppercase competes with established players like VIP Industries, Samsonite, and Safari Industries, as well as newer D2C brands such as Mokobara, Nasher Miles, EUME, and ICON. (The story will be updated).
