Epigamia Cofounder Rohan Mirchandani Passes Away

D2C food and beverages brand Epigamia’s cofounder Rohan Mirchandani passed away due to a heart attack, sources told Inc42. He was 41 years old. 

Mirchandani cofounded Epigamia in 2015, along with Uday Thakker, Ganesh Krishnamoorthy, and Rahul Jain.

In a statement, Epigamia parent Drums Food said, “It is with deep sorrow that Drums Food International confirms the untimely passing of its beloved founder Rohan Mirchandani, who suffered a cardiac arrest yesterday.”

Mirchandani held a bachelor of science in finance and international business from NYU Stern School of Business. He did his MBA from The Wharton School (2010-2012).  

While Epigamia began operations as a greek yogurt brand, it expanded its product portfolio over the years and now also sells products like smoothies, protein drinks, and desserts.

In the statement, Drums Food said Epigamia’s senior leadership, led by COO and founding member Ankur Goel and cofounder and director Thakker, will continue to steer the startup’s day-to-day operations.

“… Rohan was our mentor, friend, and leader. We remain steadfast in our determination to carry forward his dream with strength and vigour. Rohan’s vision and values will continue to guide us, as we work together to honor the foundation he built and ensure that his dream continues to flourish,” Goel and Thakker said in a joint statement. 

Meanwhile, the board of Epigamia said, “Rohan was not only a visionary leader but also an inspiration to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. His unwavering commitment, boundless energy, and deep passion for Epigamia have left an indelible mark on all of us. We will work closely with the leadership of the company to take Rohan’s legacy to greater heights.” 

Epigamia last raised a major funding round in 2019, when it bagged $26 Mn in Series C round. Overall, it has raised a total funding of around $60 Mn till date. It counts the likes of Verlinvest, Danone Manifesto Ventures, DSG Consumer, Deepika Padukone, and Innoven Capital among its backers. 

Earlier this year, it was reported that Verlinvest, which owns around 30% stake in Epigamia, was looking to sell a part of its stake in the D2C startup. The exit was said to take place in parallel with Epigamia raising a primary round to further expand its product portfolio.

Mirchandani’s demise comes as another major loss to the Indian startup ecosystem, which has lost several founders and leaders this year.