Bruno Milano has raised Rs. 7.5 crore in a fresh funding round led by Sauce VC. Titan Capital also participated in the round, along with angel investors including Arjun Purkayastha, Roman Saini and Kitty Agarwal.

The Noida-based D2C watch brand is trying to build a space for itself in India’s affordable premium watch market. Its focus is clear – stylish watches that look polished, feel modern and do not cross into very expensive pricing.

This funding comes at a time when Indian consumers are buying fashion online more confidently. Watches are no longer seen only as time-telling devices. For many young buyers, they are now part of personal style, office dressing, gifting and everyday fashion.

What Bruno Milano does

Bruno Milano is a direct-to-consumer watch brand. That means it sells mainly through online channels such as its own website, ecommerce platforms and quick commerce channels.

The brand offers quartz and chronograph watches. Quartz watches are battery-powered and are usually easier to maintain. Chronograph watches come with stopwatch-style dials, which give them a sportier and more detailed look.

Bruno Milano’s product range includes collections such as Vittorio Chrono, Ambrosiana Chic and Duomo Heritage. The brand also offers customized watches for corporate gifting.

Its watches are generally priced between Rs. 2,000 and Rs. 5,000. This is an important price band because it sits between basic budget watches and expensive premium brands. For many buyers, this range feels aspirational but still reachable.

Founders and founding year

Bruno Milano was founded in 2024 by Rachit Jain and Saurabh Agarwal.

The startup is based in Noida and is building itself as a modern Indian watch brand with a design-led approach. Its website presents the brand around three simple ideas – timeless design, honest craftsmanship and fair pricing.

That positioning is useful because many buyers want a watch that looks premium but does not feel overpriced. Bruno Milano is trying to fill that gap.

Purpose of the Rs. 7.5 crore funding

The fresh funding will be used to expand Bruno Milano’s market presence across India.

The company also plans to launch more watch collections and designs. In fashion and accessories, fresh designs matter a lot because customers often buy based on look, occasion and personality. A watch that works for office wear may not be the same as one used for parties, gifting or casual weekends.

Bruno Milano will also use the funds to improve availability across ecommerce and quick commerce platforms. This is a practical move. Today, many buyers discover brands through marketplaces, social media ads, creator videos and quick delivery apps. Being present across these channels can help the brand reach more customers.

For example, someone may first see a Bruno Milano watch on Instagram, compare it on an ecommerce platform, and later buy it from the brand website or a quick commerce listing if gifting is urgent. The stronger the distribution, the easier it becomes to convert interest into sales.

Why investors may be interested

The Indian D2C market has seen many brands grow by focusing on one clear category. Watches are an interesting category because they combine fashion, utility and gifting.

A watch is also a repeatable product in a different way. A customer may buy one for daily use, another for formal wear, and one more as a gift. This gives brands room to build collections and seasonal launches.

Investors may also like Bruno Milano’s price positioning. The Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 5,000 range is not too cheap, but it is not luxury either. It targets buyers who want a better-looking watch without spending heavily on international labels.

If Bruno Milano can keep quality consistent, improve brand recall and control customer acquisition cost, it can build a strong D2C business.

Competitors in the market

Bruno Milano operates in a competitive watch market. It faces competition from Indian watch startups as well as older and larger brands.

Competitors include Rotoris, Argos Watches, Jaipur Watch Company and Bangalore Watch Company. These brands serve different parts of the market, from affordable luxury to heritage-inspired and premium watches.

Bruno Milano also competes indirectly with Titan, Fastrack, Timex, Casio, Fossil and smartwatch brands from Noise, boAt and Fire-Boltt. This makes the market challenging because consumers have many options.

Its edge will depend on design, price, quality, delivery experience and after-sales service. A watch may look great in photos, but customers will return only if it feels good in real life.

What Bruno Milano needs to get right

For a watch brand, trust is everything.

A customer buying online wants clear product photos, accurate case size, strap details, warranty support and easy returns. If the watch feels lighter, cheaper or different from what was shown online, the brand can quickly lose trust.

Bruno Milano will also need to keep its pricing sharp. In the Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 5,000 category, buyers compare a lot. They may look at design, brand name, discount, warranty and delivery speed before choosing.

The company’s website mentions hand-finishing, quality checks, one-year warranty and pan-India shipping. These points can help, but the real test will be consistent customer experience at scale.

Why this funding matters for D2C India

Bruno Milano’s funding shows that investors are still interested in focused consumer brands. The broader D2C market has become more selective now. Investors are not only looking for fast growth. They also want clearer positioning, stronger margins and better repeat purchase potential.

A watch brand can work well if it builds emotional value. People do not buy watches only for time. They buy them for style, confidence, gifting and memory. That gives Bruno Milano a chance to create a brand story beyond discounts.

Conclusion with key takeaways

Bruno Milano’s Rs. 7.5 crore funding round gives the young D2C watch brand more fuel to expand across India. With Sauce VC leading the round and Titan Capital also joining, the company now has stronger backing to launch new collections and grow through online channels.

The brand’s aim is to make stylish, premium-looking watches available at fair prices. If Bruno Milano can keep design quality, customer trust and pricing balanced, it can build a strong position in India’s affordable premium watch market.

Key takeaways –

• Bruno Milano has raised Rs. 7.5 crore in funding.
• The round was led by Sauce VC.
• Titan Capital and angel investors also participated.
• The brand was founded in 2024 by Rachit Jain and Saurabh Agarwal.
• Bruno Milano sells affordable premium watches priced around Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 5,000.
• The funding will support market expansion, new collections and ecommerce availability.

Facts Input- Entrackr, Indian Startup News

Zaydn has raised US $681K in seed funding to scale its sneaker business, giving the homegrown footwear brand fresh support at a time when India’s sneaker culture is growing fast.

The brand is focused on trendy, affordable sneakers for young Indian buyers. Its pitch is simple – sneakers should look stylish, feel comfortable and still remain within reach for everyday customers. That matters in a market where many college students and young professionals want fashionable shoes but may not want to spend Rs. 4,000 or Rs. 5,000 on one pair.

Zaydn was founded in 2021 by Ankit Dass, also known as Ankit Singh Dass. The company is based in New Delhi and operates as a direct-to-consumer sneaker brand.

What Zaydn does

Zaydn sells sneakers through its online platform. The brand focuses on men’s sneakers, streetwear-inspired designs and affordable pricing.

The idea behind Zaydn is not to sell luxury sneakers. Instead, it wants to offer good-looking daily sneakers that young people can wear to college, casual outings, office, travel or social events.

For example, a student who wants sneakers to match different outfits may not want to buy one expensive pair. Zaydn’s positioning gives that customer a more budget-friendly choice.

The brand also has a manufacturing background. Reports suggest that Zaydn benefits from in-house production, which helps it keep costs under control. This is important because footwear is a tough category. If a brand depends too much on outside suppliers, pricing and quality can become harder to manage.

Why Zaydn raised funding

The new seed funding is expected to help Zaydn scale its sneaker business. For a D2C footwear brand, scaling usually means improving production, building inventory, reaching more customers, strengthening marketing and making the shopping experience smoother.

Sneakers are not like basic utility footwear anymore. For many young buyers, shoes are part of identity and style. A brand must keep launching fresh designs, maintain comfort, manage sizes properly and deliver on time.

Funding can help Zaydn invest in these areas. It may also help the brand expand its product range, improve its website experience, work on brand campaigns and serve more customers across India.

The timing is interesting because Indian sneaker culture is becoming more local. Buyers are no longer looking only at global brands. Many are also open to Indian sneaker labels if the product looks good, feels reliable and is priced fairly.

Zaydn’s aim as a startup

Zaydn’s broader aim is to build an Indian sneaker brand for the mass market.

The brand appears to be targeting a gap between cheap, basic shoes and expensive branded sneakers. This is a large space. Many young customers want stylish footwear, but they also think carefully about price.

Zaydn wants to make sneakers more accessible without making them look ordinary. Its brand language is built around youth, confidence and everyday fashion.

The company’s LinkedIn profile says it focuses on trendy and comfortable sneakers with quality and design. The founder has also spoken publicly about building a brand that gives Indian consumers better options at reasonable prices.

In simple words, Zaydn wants to give buyers a reason to choose an original Indian sneaker brand instead of buying first-copy or counterfeit shoes.

Why this space is growing

India’s sneaker market is changing because fashion habits are changing.

Sneakers are no longer only sports shoes. People now wear them with jeans, cargos, shorts, oversized shirts, streetwear and even semi-casual outfits. Young buyers want shoes that can move between college, cafés, office Fridays and weekend plans.

Social media has also made sneaker choices more visible. A shoe is not just something people wear. It often appears in photos, reels and outfit videos.

This shift gives Indian D2C brands a chance. If they understand local pricing, Indian feet, youth style and online buying behaviour, they can build loyal communities.

Zaydn is trying to ride this change with affordable sneakers and a direct online model.

Competitors in the sneaker market

Zaydn competes with both Indian and global brands.

Its direct competitors include Indian sneaker and footwear brands such as Comet, Gully Labs, 7-10, Neeman’s, RapidBox, The Souled Store footwear range, Campus and Red Tape. In the wider market, it also competes with Nike, Adidas, Puma, Reebok, Skechers and New Balance.

However, Zaydn’s strongest fight may not be with only premium brands. It also competes with unbranded shoes and first-copy sneakers. Many price-sensitive buyers choose fake versions of popular global shoes because they want the look without the high cost.

If Zaydn can offer original designs, decent comfort and fair pricing, it can attract customers who want style but do not want counterfeit products.

What Zaydn needs to get right

Footwear is a repeat business only when the first product experience is good.

Zaydn will need to focus on comfort, sizing, durability and returns. A sneaker may look attractive online, but if it feels uncomfortable after a few days, the customer may not return.

The brand also needs strong inventory planning. Popular sizes can sell out quickly, while slow-moving designs can block money. Funding can help, but execution will decide how well the money is used.

Marketing is another key area. Sneaker brands do not grow only through discounts. They grow through identity, design stories, creator partnerships, customer photos and community. Zaydn will need to keep building a strong youth connect.

Conclusion with key takeaways

Zaydn’s US $681K seed funding is a useful step for the Indian sneaker startup. The brand is working in a growing category where young buyers want affordable, stylish and original footwear options.

Founded in 2021 by Ankit Dass, Zaydn is trying to build a homegrown sneaker label that can stand against both expensive global shoes and first-copy alternatives. The funding should help it scale production, improve reach and strengthen its D2C business.

Key takeaways –

1. Zaydn has raised US $681K in seed funding.
2. The startup was founded in 2021 by Ankit Dass.
3. Zaydn sells affordable and trendy sneakers through a D2C model.
4. The funding will help the company scale its sneaker business.
5. Its competitors include Comet, Gully Labs, Neeman’s, Campus, Red Tape, Nike, Adidas and Puma.

Facts Input- Apparel Resources, Zaydn-LinkedIn profile, ThePrint report on Indian sneaker subculture