Roadies’ Fame Rannvijay Backs Beverage Startup Rockit In Sauce.vc-Led Round

New Delhi-based beverage startup Rockit has raised INR 6 Cr (around $700K) in a pre-seed funding round led by Sauce.vc, along with participation from Roadies fame Rannvijay Singha. 

With this, Rockit has also roped in Singha as the brand ambassador. 

Rockit’s founder Vedant Garg told Inc42, “We plan to use this for scaling our offline distribution in North India and create brand awareness and increased presence in the market.”

Founded in 2023 by Garg, Rockit is a beverage startup in the energy drink segment. It sells its products through retail distribution and B2B ecommerce platforms like Udaan, ApnaKlub, and Walmart among others, at a price range of INR 10-20. 

Garg held the role of Associate Director in GRM Overseas Ltd and has done his masters from Bayes Business School under the University of London.

Rockit’s CEO Neelesh Patodi is an IIT Bombay alumni with experience in running a fruit-based carbonated beverage brand called Frooters. 

Garg said, “The Indian consumer preference is changing, aligning itself with global standards. We like to offer similar product with Indian taste and convenience to the youth of Tier II and III cities. Distribution is the key in India and as a family we have garnered the same through our five decades old family legacy in the food business.” 

Garg added that the company will expand its product offering from energy drinks to fruit-flavoured drinks and hydration products over time.

Yash Dholakia, Partner at Sauce VC, said, “The team at Rockit has deep distribution expertise and has created a high-quality product at the right price. We are very impressed by the early pre-launch feedback for the product and believe a large and highly profitable beverage brand can be built here.”

Sauce.vc  is an early-stage consumer VC fund managing over INR 800 Cr across four funds, with 25 investments. It comprises startups like Hocco Ice Creams, Mokobara, The Whole Truth Foods, XYXX, Supertails, and Innovist in its portfolio.

Rockit will compete with domestic brands like Lahori, Rockclimber, Jimmy’s Cocktails, Raskik, Paper Boat and global brands like Red Bull and Body Armor among others. 

Rockit’s funding marks the latest among the investments fused by investors into the beverage segment. 

Earlier in March, alcoholic beverage startup Woodsmen Mountain Whiskey raised a funding of $1.5 Mn in its Series A round, led by FinFirst Group and Anthill Ventures.

Last year, another D2C food and beverages startup Radiohead Brands, the parent of Jimmy’s Cocktails secured an additional funding of $1.3 Mn as part of its extended pre-Series A round.