Chennai-based food startup Cookd has raised Rs 16 crore (around $2 million) in a pre-Series A funding round. The round was led by Spring Marketing Capital, with additional backing from Eternal Capital, PeerCheque, and Sun Icon Ventures.
The new investment will help Cookd expand its presence in Tamil Nadu and enter other southern markets like Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. The funds will also support product development for their growing range of cooking aids such as masalas, gravies, and ready-to-use kits.
Cookd: South India Expansion
Founded in 2020, Cookd blends packaged food innovation with a strong digital presence. The brand has built a massive community of over 6 million followers across YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Its monthly video views often cross 150 million, allowing the company to directly engage with food lovers and collect feedback for product improvements.
According to Cookd founder Aathitiyan V.S., the company is focusing first on deepening its reach in Tamil Nadu. Based on video viewership trends and product demand, they will also expand operations to Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, where the brand already enjoys a solid fan base.
Innovates with Recipe Kits
Cookd offers a variety of cooking essentials, such as biryani kits, ready-made masalas, cooking pastes, and curated recipe kits. One of its key successes has been its unique biryani kit offering, which has outperformed regular biryani masalas in the market. Aathitiyan explained that their all-in-one biryani kit stood out because it offered both convenience and quality in a single package.
With the newly raised capital, Cookd plans to create a new line of food products that balance authenticity, convenience, and user control. “We want to make home cooking joyful and frequent,” he added.
Plans After Funding
Currently, Cookd’s products are available in more than 1,600 physical retail stores. It also sells through online platforms, including direct-to-consumer sales and quick commerce partners like Swiggy Instamart, Blinkit, and Zepto. The startup has become a category leader in biryani kits on these platforms, thanks to its chef-driven model and unique content strategy.
After fresh funding, Cookd aims to further build its brand by tapping into new consumer needs and refining its content-to-commerce loop.
What is Cookd?
Cookd is a Chennai-based consumer food startup that combines digital content with a growing line of food products. Founded in 2020, the brand is known for its innovative recipe kits, masalas, and engaging cooking videos. Cookd’s mission is to inspire more people to cook at home using easy-to-follow recipes and high-quality products. With a strong presence in both offline stores and online delivery platforms, Cookd is redefining convenience in Indian home kitchens.
